FAA UAS Updates

[Tom Herrin]

Looks like FAA is raising the blanket COA altitude for UAS flights from 200' AGL to 400' AGL. Great news as this will eliminate many COA applications for 333 exemption holders for work in 'clean' airspace. See this article on the FAA site:

https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=85264

[Tom Herrin]

This article makes reference in several locations to this also applying to 'governmental operations', but as far as I know, there have not been any blanket COA's issues for public (government) operations, like there have been for civil operators who hold a 333 exemption. Can anyone shed any light on this??

[Warren Smith]

It may refer to law enforcement activity pursuant to a search warrant by indirect means. Pending legislation speaks to this aspect.

[Tom Herrin]

The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the final Small UAS Rule this morning. The press release is available at:

https://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases ... wsId=20515.

Please note that all provisions of the Rule, including all pilot requirements and operating rules, will be effective in August 2016, 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal Register.

Details about the rule are available on the FAA’s UAS website.