§44806 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

Summary

Requires the Secretary of Transportation to write clear rules to make it easier for public agencies to get approval to fly public drones, to help them set up FAA‑limited test ranges, and to explain what they must do when flying a drone without a civil airworthiness certificate. The Secretary must also make agreements with public agencies so reviews are faster: the FAA must decide yes or no within 60 business days, allow a quick appeal if denied, let similar operations be approved one time for a set period, and allow public safety agencies to fly drones that weigh 4.4 pounds or less beyond the operator’s visual line of sight if they fly below 400 feet, in daylight, in Class G airspace, and more than 5 statute miles from any airport or other aviation site. The FAA Administrator must allow and may give rules for actively tethered drones used by public safety groups. Those drones may operate at or below 150 feet in most airspace classes (not above any ceiling shown on FAA UAS maps), may enter zero‑grid areas only for life‑saving or emergency work with prior notice, and may go above 150 feet only with FAA permission. They must stay in the operator’s line of sight, not fly over non‑participating people, and yield to other aircraft. When flown under these rules, tethered systems do not need FAA authorizations, pilot certificates (section 44703), or airworthiness certificates (section 44704), and are exempt from section 44805; the FAA can still make new safety rules. Public safety organization means groups like police, fire, and EMS.

Title 49, §44806

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Transportation shall issue guidance regarding the operation of a public unmanned aircraft system—

(1)to streamline and expedite the process for the issuance of a certificate of authorization or a certificate of waiver;

(2)to facilitate the capability of public agencies to develop and use test ranges, subject to operating restrictions required by the Federal Aviation Administration, to test and operate public unmanned aircraft systems; and

(3)to provide guidance on a public agency’s responsibilities when operating an unmanned aircraft without a civil airworthiness certificate issued by the Administration.

(b)(1)The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with each appropriate public agency to simplify the process for issuing a certificate of waiver or a certificate of authorization with respect to an application for authorization to operate a public unmanned aircraft system in the national airspace system.

(2)An agreement under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)with respect to an application described in paragraph (1)—

(i)provide for an expedited review of the application;

(ii)require a decision by the Administrator on approval or disapproval not later than 60 business days after the date of submission of the application; and

(iii)allow for an expedited appeal if the application is disapproved;

(B)allow for a one-time approval of similar operations carried out during a fixed period of time; and

(C)allow a government public safety agency to operate an unmanned aircraft weighing 4.4 pounds or less if that unmanned aircraft is operated—

(i)within or beyond the visual line of sight of the operator;

(ii)less than 400 feet above the ground;

(iii)during daylight conditions;

(iv)within Class G airspace; and

(v)outside of 5 statute miles from any airport, heliport, seaplane base, spaceport, or other location with aviation activities.

(c)(1)The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall permit, and may issue guidance regarding, the use of actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems by a public safety organization for such systems that are—

(A)operated—

(i)at or below an altitude of 150 feet above ground level within class B, C, D, E, or G airspace, but not at a greater altitude than the ceiling depicted on the UAS Facility Maps published by the Federal Aviation Administration, where applicable;

(ii)within zero-grid airspaces as depicted on such UAS Facility Maps, only if operated in life-saving or emergency situations and with prior notification to the Administration in a manner determined by the Administrator; or

(iii)above 150 feet above ground level within class B, C, D, E, or G airspace only with prior authorization from the Administrator;

(B)not flown directly over non-participating persons;

(C)operated within visual line of sight of the operator; and

(D)operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any other aircraft.

(2)Public actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems may be operated—

(A)without any requirement to obtain a certificate of authorization, certificate of waiver, or other approval by the Federal Aviation Administration;

(B)without requiring airman certification under section 44703 of this title or any rule or regulation relating to airman certification; and

(C)without requiring airworthiness certification under section 44704 of this title or any rule or regulation relating to aircraft certification.

(3)Actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems operated within the scope of the guidance issued pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the requirements of section 44805 of this title.

(4)Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from issuing new regulations for public actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems in order to ensure the safety of the national airspace system.

(d)The Administrator shall assist Federal civilian Government agencies that operate unmanned aircraft systems within civil-controlled airspace, in operationally deploying and integrating sense and avoid capabilities, as necessary to operate unmanned aircraft systems safely within the national airspace system.

(e)In this section, the term “public safety organization” means an entity that primarily engages in activities related to the safety and well-being of the general public, including law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and other organizations that protect and serve the public in matters of safety and security.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in subsecs. (a) and (b) of this section were contained in section 334(a) and (c) of Pub. L. 112–95, which was set out in a note under section 40101 of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, § 346(b)(2), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3295. The remainder of the note comprised of subtitle B of title III of Pub. L. 112–95 was transferred and is set out under section 44802 of this title.

Amendments

2024—Pub. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(1), inserted “and public safety use of tethered unmanned aircraft systems” after “systems” in section catchline. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(A), inserted “Safety Use of” after “Public” in heading. Text quoted in directory language of amendment was editorially conformed to the style of the heading. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(B)(i), in introductory provisions, substituted “The” for “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the”, “permit” for “permit the use of”, struck out “public” before “actively tethered”, and inserted “by a public safety organization for such systems” after “unmanned aircraft systems”. Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(B)(ii), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “operated at an altitude of less than 150 feet above ground level;”. Subsec. (c)(1)(B) to (E). Pub. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(B)(iii), (iv), redesignated subpars. (C) to (E) as (B) to (D), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “operated— “(i) within class G airspace; or “(ii) at or below the ceiling depicted on the Federal Aviation Administration’s published UAS facility maps for class B, C, D, or E surface area airspace;”. Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(2)(C), substituted “Actively” for “Public actively”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 118–63, § 926(a)(3), added subsec. (e).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Public UAS Access to Special Use Airspace Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, § 368, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3310, provided that: “Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 5, 2018], the Secretary of Transportation shall issue guidance for the expedited and timely access to special use airspace for public unmanned aircraft systems in order to assist Federal, State, local, or tribal law

Enforcement

organizations in conducting law

Enforcement

, emergency response, or for other activities.”

§44806 Public unmanned aircraft systems and public safety use of tethered unmanned aircraft systems

Summary

Title 49, §44806

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Enforcement

Enforcement

Citations & Metadata