- As the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation continues to evolve, unmanned aircraft – more popularly known as drones – have the potential to be a useful tool to perform important services.
- Specifically, the FAA supports using drones for response efforts to provide public safety and support benefits.
- If you’re thinking about flying your drone to support this effort, you have several options:
- Fly under part 107, with or without a waiver – the most broadly applicable option
- Obtain a Special Government Interest (SGI) approval for operations in controlled airspace or beyond line of site – in immediate emergency circumstances only
- Fly as a public aircraft operation (PAO) – for law enforcement, first responders, or other public safety/government officials
- When considering your options, be sure to remember that:
- Delivering goods by drone is allowed under part 107 (sUAS rule) as long as you maintain visual line-of-sight with the drone and comply with all aspects of the rule
- Never carry hazardous materials unless you’ve received authorization from the FAA
- Drone operators needing to fly in controlled airspace that is not currently included in LAANC, or a disaster temporary flight restriction, must contact the FAA’s System Operations Support Center (SOSC) by emailing 9-ATOR-HQ-SOSC@faa.gov.
- Whatever operational path you take, the FAA strongly recommends you coordinate with local government and/or public health officials, and/or the community you are intending to serve, before flying in support of COVID-19 response efforts. This is a pre-requisite for the FAA to expedite approvals outside of normal processes.
- The FAA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed. The FAA’s UAS Support Center is also available to help if you have questions at 844-FLY-MY-UA or uashelp@faa.gov.
ANSI UAS Roadmap 2.0 Released for Public Comment
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) released today for public review and comment a working draft of the Standardization Roadmap for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Version 2.0) being developed by the Institute’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Standardization Collaborative (UASSC).
Praxis Aerospace Concepts International, Incorporated (PACI) is pleased to announce our participation in the UASSC, both as a corporation and in concert with our CEO’s work within ASTM.
Read the official press release from ANSI here
