STEP 1: Tell the FAA You're Interested

Lead Applicants: The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, November 28, 2017 to submit a Notice of Intent to become a Lead Applicant has passed. Please refer to step 3.

Interested Parties: The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, December 13, 2017 for entities to request inclusion on the Interested Parties list has passed.

STEP 2 (optional): Find a Partner(s)

A list of interested parties is maintained on the FAA contracting website and is updated regularly.

All Interested Parties may include both private and public entities, UAS operators, manufacturers, and other UAS stakeholders.

Lead Applicants may also request to be listed as an Interested Party to facilitate the formation of Pilot Program teams.

The FAA will not facilitate contact between any interested parties and/or lead applicants beyond maintaining the Interested Parties List.

Note: Once an entity requests listing on the Interested Parties List, there will be no opportunity to remove the name from the list.

STEP 3: Complete Your Application (Lead Applicants Only)

Once you are granted access to the application portal, familiarize yourself with the portal and its structure prior to submitting any information. An Applicant's proposal is divided into six volumes:

  • Volume I: Identification of Lead Applicant – The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, December 13, 2017 has passed.
  • Volume II: Concept Overview – The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, December 13, 2017 has passed.
  • Volume III: Airspace and Concept of Operations – The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, January 4, 2018 has passed.
  • Volume IV: Key Considerations – The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, January 4, 2018 has passed.
  • Volume V: Team Members and Past Performance – The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, January 4, 2018 has passed.
  • Volume VI: Infrastructure – The deadline of 2:00 pm ET, January 4, 2018 has passed.

Detailed information, including how to complete each volume and what kind of information should be submitted in each, is included in the Screening Information Request.

All application materials must be submitted through the application portal. Materials that are not submitted through the application portal will not be considered as part of your proposal.

Program Selection Criteria

In making determinations, the DOT and FAA will evaluate whether applications meet or exceed the following requirements specified in the Presidential Memo:

  1. Overall economic, geographic, and climatic diversity of the selected jurisdictions
  2. Overall diversity of the proposed models government involvement
  3. Overall diversity of the UAS operations to be conducted
  4. The location of critical infrastructure
  5. The involvement of commercial entities in the proposal and their ability to advance objectives that may serve the public interest as a result of further integration of UAS into the NAS
  6. The involvement of affected communities in, and their support for, participating in the Program
  7. The commitment of the governments and UAS operators involved in the proposal to comply with requirements related to national defense, homeland security, and public safety and to address competition, privacy and civil liberties concerns
  8. The commitment of the governments and UAS operators involved in the proposal to achieve the following policy objectives:
    1. promoting innovation and economic development;
    2. enhancing transportation safety;
    3. enhancing workplace safety;
    4. improving emergency response and search and rescue functions; and
    5. using radio spectrum efficiently and competitively.

All proposal evaluation criteria can be found in the Screening Information Request.