AIM 

4/20/23

 

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Airspace Access for UAS

allows remote pilots to fly for recreation. Part 107 grants certain flight permissions and altitudes in excess of
those provided under 49 USC 44809, The Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of UAS, in view of
the greater vetting required for 14 CFR Part 107 certification. Eligibility requirements to fly under 14 CFR Part
107, are listed in 14 CFR Section 107.61, Eligibility.

NOTE

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The Administrator may issue a certificate of waiver authorizing a deviation from 14 CFR Section 107.31, Visual Line of
Sight Aircraft Operation, if the operation can safely be conducted under the terms of a certificate of waiver.

REFERENCE

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14 CFR Part 107, sUAS.
14 CFR Section 107.61, Eligibility.
14 CFR Section 107.31, Visual Line of Sight Aircraft Operation.

b.

Operations in Class G airspace. Part 107 remote pilots may fly in Class G airspace up to 400 feet AGL,

and within 400 feet of a structure without prior coordination with ATC. Other limitations for Part 107 operators
are described in 14 CFR Part 107.51, Operating Limitations for sUAS.

REFERENCE

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14 CFR Section 107.51, Operating Imitations for Small Unmanned Aircraft.

c.

Operations in controlled airspace through LAANC. LAANC gives the remote pilot the ability to obtain near

real

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time  airspace authorization within UASFM altitudes and stay notified of airspace restrictions and

prohibitions. See paragraph 11

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7, Resources for UAS Operators, for information on downloading LAANC.

d.

Waivers to 14 CFR Part 107:

1.

A waiver is an official document issued by the FAA which approves certain operations of UAS outside

the limitations of a regulation. These waivers allow drone pilots to deviate from certain rules under 14 CFR Part
107 by demonstrating they can still fly safely using alternative methods or safety mitigations. 14 CFR Part 107
rules which can be waived are listed in 14 CFR Section 107.205, List of Regulations Subject to Waiver. Any
subpart of 14 CFR Part 107 rule which is not specifically listed in 14 CFR Section 107.205, such as the §107.36
prohibition on the carriage or transport of HAZMAT, is not subject to waiver, and would require an exemption
under 14 CFR Part 11, General Rulemaking Procedures. See paragraph 11

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2, Exemptions Under 49 USC

44807, Special Authority for Certain Unmanned Systems, for guidance on requesting exemptions.

2.

To request a 14 CFR Part 107 waiver, refer to the FAA’s Part 107 Waiver website.

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The FAA’s Part 107 wavier website may be viewed at: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/part_107_waivers/.

REFERENCE

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14 CFR Section 107.205, List of Regulations Subject to Waiver.
14 CFR Part 11, General Rulemaking Procedures.

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3. Airspace Access for Public Aircraft Operations (PAOs)

a.

General requirements for PAO status. Governmental entities, as defined by federal law 49 USC

40102(a)(41), Definitions, can fly as a public aircraft operation as long as the flight meets the definition of a
governmental function 49 USC 40125, Qualifications for Public Aircraft Status. Public aircraft are  aircraft
owned and operated by the government of a state, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the
United States, or a political subdivision of one of these governments, except as provided in 49 USC 40125(b),
Qualifications for Public Aircraft Status. Public aircraft can also be aircraft exclusively leased for at least 90
continuous days by the government of a state, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United
States or a political subdivision of one of these governments, except as provided in 49 USC 40125(b),
Qualifications for Public Aircraft Status.

NOTE

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1.

The term “government function” refers to one of several activities undertaken by a government, such as national

defense, intelligence missions, firefighting, search and rescue, law enforcement (including transportation of prisoners,
detainees, and illegal aliens), aeronautical research, or biological or geopolitical resource management.

2.

An operation “for the public good” does not necessarily meet the qualifications for a public operation; for example,

most volunteer fire departments in the United States will not qualify as PAOs.