Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your FAA questions.
A responsible person is not required to hold an airman certificate issued under Part 107 to apply for or be issued a waiver. The responsible person must ensure that the person operating the UAS or drone under the waiver holds the required airman certificate and meets the currency requirements of Part 107.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
No. The Department of Transportation's (DOT's) procedural regulation, 49 CFR part 40, § 40.25(b), states that the prospective employer must request records from the individual's previous DOT-regulated employers who have employed the individual within the two years before the application or transfer date. This requirement did not change.
The 'aviation' suggested form changes Section II-A of the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) form to say 'While employed' versus 'In the two years prior to the date of the employee's signature (in Section I), for DOT-regulated testing'. This small change clarifies that the 'two-year' period does not apply to the date of the actual information or the date the employee signed the release. Consequently, the previous employer may respond with information that dates beyond two years. The DOT's procedural regulation, 49 CFR part 40, does not limit a previous employer from releasing more than the previous two years of records regarding an employee's positive drug test results or alcohol violations.
Although an employer is not required to use the DOT or FAA suggested forms, we believe it is a best practice to eliminate the language "In the two years prior..." from the form. Otherwise, an employer may risk getting a "No" response although the employee may actually have a previous drug or alcohol violation.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulation:
No. The FAA no longer reviews or approves drug and alcohol testing programs for employers or C/TPAs. Employers certify their compliance when they sign the drug and alcohol testing paragraph (A449) in their Operations Specifications or when they register their program with the FAA Drug Abatement Division. C/TPAs do not submit documentation to the FAA. Consequently, an employer's or C/TPA's claim that it is "FAA-approved" is no longer valid.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about the program.
Applicable regulations:
Testing of appliances outside of restricted airspace is a challenge. I suggest you look up some current waivers and speak to those who obtained the BVLOS waivers. Many of the successful waiver applicants use a chase aircraft or multiple visual observers.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Anti-collision lights are only required between periods of civil twilight - 107.29(b).
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Only the UAS or drone crew are considered participants, not the emergency response personnel. You may need to use the Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process for a temporary, emergency waiver if operating under Part 107. If you fly as a Public Aircraft Operator (PAO), you have that ability in life safety situations.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
As far as the flight rules are concerned, when flying as a public aircraft, the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) is responsible (See 91.3(b)). When flying as a civil aircraft, the RPIC is responsible (See 107.19). When flying as a contractor to a public entity, refer to Advisory Circular 00-1.1B, Public Aircraft Operations, which provides information about the process you must go through to get public aircraft status given to you by the entity. The RPIC and responsible person are responsible for compliance with the flight rules to ensure everyone's safety.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Yes, the DoD has been briefed on the UAS Facility Map process. The FAA currently manually processes requests into controlled airspace delegated to DoD facilities. UAS Operators are responsible for staying clear of 99.7 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
Unfortunately, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not maintain or distribute a listing of available service agents. We recommend that employers talk to other local aviation employers, search the local yellow pages or the Internet, or visit the Department of Transportation's website.
For lists of qualified MROs, visit the American Association of Medical Review Officers (AAMRO) website or the Medical Review Officers Certification Council (MROCC) website.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at (202) 267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov.
Please visit our website to learn more about the program.
As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that the urine and/or oral fluid collector, screening test technician (STT), and/or breath alcohol technician (BAT) you use meet the qualifications outlined in 49 CFR §§ 40.15, 40.33, 40.35, and 40.213 to conduct drug and alcohol test collections. While a collector, STT, and/or BAT may provide you with a certificate of training to demonstrate that he or she is qualified, that may not be sufficient if it does not include the proficiency requirements. We encourage you to ask for additional documentation to ensure you and your collection personnel are complying with the federal testing requirements. The following are examples of what you might ask your collector, STT and/or BAT to provide to demonstrate they meet the proficiency requirements:
- For a collector, you may obtain copies of the following:
- Federal Custody and Control Forms (CCFs) completed during the five (5) mock error-free collections to demonstrate the collector conducted two (2) uneventful collections, one (1) insufficient quantity collection, one (1) temperature out of range collection, and one (1) collection involving a donor's refusal to sign or initial the specimen bottle seal.
- Documentation indicating that the five (5) mock collections were monitored by a qualified collector with one (1) year practical experience as a collector, or one (1) year experience training other collectors, or successful completion of a "train the trainer" course.
- Written statement from the person who observed the mock collections and can attest that they were error-free and monitored in person or "real-time". The statement should include the number and type of scenarios/events covered during the mock exercises and other relevant information.
- For an STT and/or BAT, you may obtain copies of the following:
- Alcohol Testing Forms completed during the seven (7) consecutive error-free mock breath alcohol tests or five (5) error-free saliva tests. The mock tests must be performed using the alcohol testing devices that will be used by the BAT/STT and adequately gauge the BAT/STT's knowledge, skill and ability pertaining to the device's messages, commands or displays including error messages or device malfunctions, as well as the procedures for performing air blank and external calibration checks.
- Documentation indicating that the seven (7) mock breath alcohol tests (and/or five (5) mock saliva tests) were monitored by a qualified instructor with one (1) year practical experience performing as a BAT/STT, or one year as a BAT/STT trainer, or successful completion of "train the trainer" course.
- Written statement from the person who observed the mock collections and can attest that they were error-free and monitored in person or "real-time". The statement should include the number and type of scenarios/events covered during the mock exercises and other relevant information.
- Other documents, which may include course materials and descriptions, checklists, etc.
For more information on this topic, please visit the DOT’s website and review the Q&As about the collector and BAT/STT requirements.
If you have any further questions or need additional guidance that is more specific to your situation, please contact the FAA Drug Abatement Division at 202-267-8442 or drugabatement@faa.gov. Please visit our website to learn more about our program.
Applicable Regulations:
You can find information about clear title searches on our website.
You can write:
Aerospace Medical Certification Division, AAM-300
Federal Aviation Administration
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
P.O. Box 25082
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
You must include your legal name and your date of birth.
You can call (405) 954-4821
You can also contact the Regional Flight Surgeons' offices.
You must call the airline to find out if they allow pets in the passenger cabin. Please visit our website for more information about flying with pets.
You can search for names of FAA-certificated pilots and mechanics on our Airmen Inquiry Site.
If you don’t have enough information to conduct a search, contact your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
The Privacy Act limits the amount of information that may be publicly released.
You can search for names of FAA certificated pilots and mechanics on our Airmen Inquiry Site.
If you don’t have enough information to conduct a search, contact your local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
The Privacy Act limits the amount of information that may be publicly released.
A list of Knowledge Testing Centers is available.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.
You can find information to replace your lost or destroyed knowledge test report on our website.
For additional information, please email our Civil Aviation Registry.
You can find the TCDS for an aircraft on our website.
You can also contact your nearest Flight Standards District Office, Aircraft Certification Office, or Manufacturing Inspection District Office.
The AMCS Pre-Exam Report allows AMEs to see an overview of an applicant’s FAA medical exam history. The Pre-Exam Report contains details such as the date of the applicant’s previous exam, the certification status of that exam, a list of any Medical History Items previously marked as “Yes,” any Physical Exam findings marked abnormal on previous exams, and the most recent ECG information.
The Pre-Exam Report is available immediately after importing an application from MedXPress and it remains available until you transmit the exam to the FAA. You can access the Pre-Exam Report by clicking the FAA Examination History button on the import confirmation screen. You can also access it by clicking on the Hx icon in the Actions column of the Pending Exam screen.
Under the Small UAS Rule (part 107), operators must pass an aeronautical knowledge test to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate. This test will quiz prospective operators on how to use aeronautical charts to determine airspace classifications.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Please feel free to contact the UAS Support Center for general questions and comments.