Get Ready For New Small Drone Rule

Next week a new rule go into effect for commercial small unmanned aircraft systems or UAS use. Joe Morra, FAA Manager of the UAS Safety, Data Management and Flight Operations, shares more details about the new rule known as Part 107 which is the first rule that establishes a certificate to allow operations to occur with less than a manned pilot certificate.

Morra: "So the small rule — part 107 — this operational rule really permits routine use of small UAS. Small UAS by the congressional definition is aircraft weighting less than 55 pounds and that includes any payload or anything attached to it. This becomes effective next Monday, August 29th. So with this new rule, we have created a new certificate that doesn't require the practical testing component of that because this rule is based in size, weight speed operational capabilities of these operations going on. What is required is knowledge test."

Operations under this rule, must be visual line of sight, and conducted in 400 feet or below in uncontrolled airspace. The UAS must also be registered. Morra continues

Morra: "The demand we've seen and the operations that can be conducted — especially in the farming industry — this opens up a whole new world of possibilities and the entrance to this world is on average a $150 knowledge test if you weren't otherwise a manned pilot."