TSA Extends Background Checks for Drone Pilots
Published Date: 11/26/2025
Notice
Summary
The TSA is extending its info collection for the Airspace Waiver Program, which checks the backgrounds of people flying drones or manned aircraft in restricted areas. This means pilots and drone operators will keep sharing info to help keep the skies safe. You’ve got until December 26, 2025, to share your thoughts, but no new fees or big changes are coming.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
TSA Keeps Airspace Vetting Requirement
TSA will continue collecting information to run security threat assessments for pilots, crewmembers, passengers (including armed security officers), and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operators who apply for airspace waivers or flight authorizations to operate in restricted U.S. airspace. The agency estimates 9,687 respondents and 7,173 annual burden hours for this information collection.
No New Fees or Major Changes Announced
TSA indicates the information-collection extension does not introduce new fees or large changes to the Airspace Waiver Program; it is an extension of the currently approved collection. The public may still comment on the extension by December 26, 2025.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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