The FAA has updated its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) rules information provided to Air Traffic Organization service units. Its purpose is to provide information and guidance on air traffic policies and prescribes procedures for the planning, coordination, and services involving the operation of UAS in the national airspace system (NAS). In other words, it is informing your opposites in the FAA of the current rules.
The updated document provides a lot more details then the previous document (N JO 7210.882) released in July 2015.
Here are a few highlights relative to commercial operations, but please make sure you read the entire document.
“7. Scope. This notice covers UAS operations in the NAS. For the purposes of this notice, a small UA is defined as weighing less than 55 pounds; a UA weighing 55 pounds or more is considered large.
8. Policy. FAA policy for UAS operations is that no person may operate a UAS, including tethered UAS, outside of active restricted, prohibited or warning areas in the NAS without specific authority, with the exception of a model aircraft flown for hobby or recreational purposes or an Optionally Piloted Aircraft that has a pilot on board. The authority given the FAA by Congress to regulate UA operations is dependent upon the use of the UAS; therefore, the Agency’s oversight role is based upon the intended use of the UA, not the type of UA.”
“[9]b. Civil.
(1) Any operation that does not meet the statutory criteria for a public aircraft operation is considered a civil aircraft operation and must be conducted in accordance with all FAA regulations applicable to the operation.
(2) For UAS operating as civil aircraft, the authority is a special airworthiness certificate or FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA) Section 333 exemption. In addition, a COA is also required.
(a) FMRA Section 333 Exemption – a grant of exemption in accordance with Section 333 and a COA may be used to perform commercial operations in low-risk, controlled environments. When the Section 333 exemption is granted, the petitioner will be issued a Blanket COA. If the requested operation does not meet the requirements of a Blanket COA, the proponent must apply for a Standard COA.
(b) Blanket COAs. When the Section 333 exemption is granted, a “Blanket COA” is automatically issued to the proponent; this COA allows small UAS (less than 55 pounds) operations during daytime Visual Flight Rule (VFR) conditions at specific altitudes and outside of certain distances from airports and heliports. The Blanket COA allows the proponent to operate: 2 10/27/2015 N JO 7210.889 (i) 5 nautical miles away from an airport with an operating control tower. (ii) 3 nautical miles from an uncontrolled airport with an instrument approach procedure. (iii) 2 nautical miles from all other airports, heliports and seaports. (iv) At or below 200 feet AGL.
(c) Standard COAs. For any Civil UAS operation that does not fit into the parameters of the Blanket COA, the proponent must complete the process to obtain a Standard COA. A waiver request to a Blanket COA will not be approved.”
“[10 a](13) Flights below FL180 must have a dedicated observer. These duties may be performed by a ground based observer or chase plane.
(a) Daisy chaining of observers or observers on a moving platform may be authorized on a case by case basis.
(b) When a ground based/chase plane observer is required a pilot may not perform concurrent duties as the pilot and an observer.
(c) UA pilots and observers must be responsible for only one UA at a time, unless authorized in the COA.”
“[10] b. UAS Operations in Class A. UAS operations in Class A airspace are required to operate under instrument flight rules and a Standard COA.
c. UAS Operations in Class B (1) UAS operations within Class B will only be considered under exceptional circumstances. (2) A standard or emergency COA is required.
d. UAS Operations in Class C. A Standard COA is required.
e. UAS Operations in Class D.
(1) A Standard COA or a Class D notification in accordance with a using agency/FAA memorandum of agreement is required.
(2) Small UAS operations should be confined to a specific geographic area based upon a Fix Radial Distance from the Airport Reference Point, or a supplemental point such as “the water tower in Hastings”. Consideration of traffic patterns and traffic flows for the airport involved must be considered by ATC specialists.
f. UAS Operations in Class E. A Standard or Blanket COA is required.
g. UAS Operations in Class G. A Blanket COA, Standard COA or a Class G notification in accordance with a using agency/FAA memorandum of agreement is required.”
Section 11 outlines the process for getting a authorization or waiver.
The entire document can be found here.
If you are a hobbyist, I strongly suggest you read Section 9c.
Have a good flight.