The FAA is doubling the blanket altitude for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), permitting flight up to 400 feet. The agency previously had implemented a blanket “certificate of waiver of authorization” (COA) that allowed Section 333 exemption holders and government operators to fly small UAS up to 200 feet. The COA covers UASs that weigh less than 55 pounds and are operated for commercial and other purposes besides as model aircraft. Other restrictions, such as barring UAS flights within five nautical miles of towered airports, remain in place.
The FAA doubled the altitude after it conducted a “comprehensive risk analysis” and said the move will lighten the agency’s workload of processing individual COA applications by 30 to 40 percent. “This is another milestone in our effort to change the traditional speed of government,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “Expanding the authorized airspace for these operations means government and industry can carry out unmanned aircraft missions more quickly and with less red tape.”
Also, the FAA opened its streamlined web-based registration process to small non-model UAS operators. The agency FAA previously required all non-hobby UAS owners to register with its the agency’s aircraft registry in Oklahoma City, Okla., in addition to obtaining a 333 exemption. The FAA launched the web-based registration site for model UAS owners in late December.