With the increased interest and requests for the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for both commercial and private use, the FAA offers various resources of information regarding drones on their website. Understanding how, when and where you can fly a drone can seem complicated. Out team of drone law and UAV industry experts can help you navigate Section 333, FAA regulatory and compliance issues so that you can start flying fast, and do so consistent with the FAA UAV regulations. Below is a summary of those resources and the corresponding links:
General Information about Unmanned Aircraft Systems. http://www.faa.gov/uas/
FAA UAS News and Updates. This is a good starting point for understanding how and why the FAA is regulating drones. http://www.faa.gov/uas/news/
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Common questions about drone use are answered on this informative FAA web page. http://www.faa.gov/uas/faq/
Public Aircraft Operations (Governmental). FAA provides the definition of “Public Aircraft” and information on public Certificates of Waiver or Authorization to operate in a defined block of airspace and special safety provisions to that proposed operation. http://www.faa.gov/uas/public_operations/
Civil Operations or Non-Governmental to fly an UAS. Reviews the two methods of obtaining an FAA authorization to fly civil or non-governmental UAS. http://www.faa.gov/uas/civil_operations/
Model Aircraft Operations or recreational flying of an UAS. This page provides educational information and safety guidelines about using unmanned aircraft safety for hobby or recreational flying including the statutory parameters of model aircraft operation under Section 336. http://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/
Small (under 55 pounds) UAS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Reviews the proposed regulations and rules for small UAS conducting non-recreational operations. http://www.faa.gov/uas/nprm/
No Drone Zone digital toolkit. This page provides a digital toolkit with outreach materials to federal, state and other partners to educate UAS operators about flying in prohibited areas. http://www.faa.gov/uas/no_wp_p8qh37mx5s_zone/
Law Enforcement Resources for suspected unauthorized UAS operations. The FAA has guidelines for law enforcement agencies to follow when dealing with unauthorized or unsafe UAS operations. http://www.faa.gov/uas/law_enforcement/
FAA Regulations and Policies for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Here is a list of the UAS rules and regulations for UAS operation including Advisory Circulars, Policies, Orders, FAA Legal Interpretations on UAS and Forms. http://www.faa.gov/uas/regulations_policies/
FAA Publications. FAA provides information on the first annual UAS Roadmap that addresses current, and future policies, regulations, technologies and procedures which will be required as UAS operations increase. It also provides PDF files on Know Before You Fly and The Model Aircraft Do’s and Don’ts: http://www.faa.gov/uas/publications/
Public Events Information for UAS Webinars and Events. These include UAS Test Site and Center of Excellence Public Meetings and archives of past events held. http://www.faa.gov/uas/public_events/
For additional information or assistance regarding Section 333 Exemption application or regulations for flying an UAS/drone, feel free to contact our drone attorneys and UAS experts.