The FAA reports it has established an interim policy to speed up airspace authorizations for some commercial remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operators. The new policy helps bridge the gap between the past process, which evaluated every RPA operation individually, and future operations after the agency publishes a final version of the proposed small RPA rule, FAA officials explained.
Under the new policy, the FAA will grant a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for flights at or below 200 feet to any RPA operator with a Section 333 exemption for aircraft that weigh less than 55 pounds, operate during daytime Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, operate within visual line of sight of the pilots, and stay certain distances away from airports or heliports:
- 5 nautical miles (nm) from an airport having an operational control tower;
- 3 nm from an airport with a published instrument flight procedure, but not an operational tower;
- 2 nm from an airport without a published instrument flight procedure or an operational tower; or
- 2 nm from a heliport with a published instrument flight procedure
The “blanket” 200-foot COA allows flights anywhere in the country except restricted airspace and other areas, such as major cities, where the FAA prohibits RPA operations, FAA officials noted.
Previously, an operator had to apply for and receive a COA for a particular block of airspace, a process that can take 60 days. The agency expects the new policy will allow companies and individuals who want to use RPA within these limitations to start flying much more quickly than before.
Section 333 exemption holders will automatically receive a “blanket” 200 foot COA. For new exemption holders, the FAA will issue a COA at the time the exemption is approved. Anyone who wants to fly outside the blanket parameters must obtain a separate COA specific to the airspace required for that operation.