FAADroneZone and the New Airspace Authorization Process

The FAA not too long ago launched a brand new portal referred to as the FAADroneZone, the place you possibly can register your drone(s) and handle your airspace authorization and waiver requests.

We’ve gotten lots of emails these days about use the new FAA web site to use for airspace authorization, so we wrote up this submit to deal with your entire questions.

Below are step-by-step directions, with screenshots included, that stroll you thru the utility course of. Feel free to skip forward to that part, or take a minute to examine what’s new on the DroneZone web site in the case of airspace authorization and waivers.

Image supply

Here’s what’s new

One of the nice issues about the FAADroneZone is that the FAA has lastly centralized all issues drone-related into one system, and is definitely offering data on the standing of airspace authorization requests.

In the previous, in the event you had been making use of for airspace authorization you may submit your request—which you in all probability labored fairly darn onerous on, and which you in all probability have quite a bit driving on, too—and then not hear something for an extended, very long time. You may wait one month, or two, all the approach as much as 90 days, and nonetheless not get any phrase about the standing of your request.

The new portal fixes this challenge.

Now you possibly can log in, see all of the drones you will have registered with the FAA, and view the standing of any excellent airspace authorization or waiver requests. That is a giant enchancment on the previous course of, the place you won’t hear something in any respect for so long as three months.

Another enchancment is that the new course of clearly helps the particular person making use of distinguish between making use of for authorization and making use of for a waiver—whenever you’re going by the utility course of, you now have to decide on one or the different.

This seems like a small factor, however it’s truly a giant assist for making certain you submit the proper type of request. We’ve heard tales from individuals who unintentionally chosen the flawed one and had their functions denied out of hand, merely as a result of that error.

One small criticism we’ve is that the FAA remains to be linking to an outdated PDF with directions that not apply to the new course of. But total, the new web site and course of undoubtedly characterize constructive change for the whole course of.

What’s the correct strategy to request managed airspace authorization from the FAA?

[Note: The following was excerpted from our post How to Request FAA Airspace Authorization for Class B, C, D, and E Controlled Airspace, which was originally published on the Drone Pilot Ground School website.]

According to the FAA, it’s best to fill out their on-line airspace authorization kind over right here. After submitting the kind the FAA “will strive to review and issue decisions on waiver/authorization requests within 90 days. Processing times will vary based on the complexity of your request.”

Make certain to learn the directions and to fill out the kind accurately, otherwise you both gained’t hear again from the FAA or will likely be denied a request and must begin over.

So how do you have to fill the kind out?

First, in the event you haven’t already arrange an account with FAADroneZone, be certain that to go forward and try this. This is the similar account you’d be utilizing on your leisure or industrial sUAS registration.

Then, when you’re logged in, click on by to your Part 107 Dashboard, navigate to the Part 107 Waivers & Authorizations part, and click on the button that claims, Create Part 107 Waiver/Authorization.

Make certain to pick out the right bullet level indicating you’d like to start out an Airspace Authorization utility.

You’ll discover that there are 4 elements to the utility.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Operation Title:

You want a major title on your supposed operation. My suggestion is to be clear and particular, so one thing like:

Ongoing Residential Roof Inspections in BNA Class C Airspace

Responsible Party:

This will often simply be you, however it doesn’t must be. The Responsible Party isn’t required to carry a Remote Pilot Certificate and might be the consultant of a company.

The Responsible Party you set down is accountable for a listing of duties, which embody sustaining information demonstrating compliance with FAA necessities; being accessible by the ATC; and sustaining a listing of pilots and make / mannequin of all plane concerned in the operation. See the full checklist on pages 1 and 2 of this FAA directions doc.

OPERATION PARAMETERS

This subsequent part of the utility is named Operation Parameters and has a bunch of knowledge you’ll must fill out.

Pay consideration to all the kind subject directions, like Dates can’t be in the previous or exceed 24 months from immediately’s date.

When it involves your Proposed Location of Operation, the extra particular you might be right here, the higher. Provide metropolis, state, and particular figuring out traits, together with landmarks.

Here is an instance:

Project middle level is intersection of ______________. Nearest avenue handle is ______________. We intend to fly over the ______________ to seize photographs and video for building progress monitoring of the highway/rail separation mission. Flight will give attention to bridge building close to this mission middle level in addition to the railroad tracks affected by this mission.

Use the Latitude and Longitude fields to establish the middle level of your mission. The middle level doesn’t essentially must be the place you’re beginning your mission, since elements equivalent to climate and terrain might make beginning in the middle of your proposed space of operation impractical.

If you need assistance changing latitude and longitude decimal measurements for a specific location to the levels, minutes, and seconds format wanted on this utility, you should use a conversion software like https://www.latlong.net/lat-long-dms.html.

THIS IS IMPORTANT: A bit of recognized—however essential!—finest observe is to make use of the middle of the airport as the GPS location and to request Blanket Area / Wide Area authorization for that airport’s whole managed airspace. This is the clearest strategy to request the most quantity of airspace round an airport doable.

Description of Your Proposed Operation, it’s necessary to notice that the directions for this open kind subject ask not only for an outline, but in addition for “Purpose of operation and method by which the proposed operation can be safely conducted.”

Although FAA directions for filling out the kind state that this justification is barely required for airspace waivers, and not airspace authorization, your finest guess is to supply a transparent security justification for an airspace authorization request as properly.

Here is the reply certainly one of our college students used for a profitable utility:

I intend to acquire web site images/video of the building development at this location which was designed by COMPANY. The sUAS described inside will likely be configured to restrict vertical AGL altitude to 200ft and horizontal journey will stay inside VLOS. We intend to make the most of a number of launch factors at this location to make sure the sUAS stays inside VLOS. Aside from requesting to fly inside this Class C airspace, we’ll adjust to all different Part 107 laws. In addition to complying with half 107, we intend to have a 2 man crew comprised of each a PIC & a chosen VO to alert the PIC of any potential plane getting into the neighborhood. ATC can attain both of us if wanted through our cell quantity offered on this request. PIC can even submit a NOTAM through www.1800wxbrief.com, a minimal of 24-hour advance discover of this flight to tell pilots and ATC of specifics of the flight which is able to seem on sectional VFRs for any events. We really feel this request will profit our mission by permitting us the freedom to function safely and as wanted on this Class C airspace.

And right here’s how one other scholar tailored their paperwork for his or her particular request of Class D airspace authorization.

Proposed space of operations:

We request that we’re in a position to fly in the Class D airspace round Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX), Sioux City, Iowa.

The airport coordinates are:

42-24-09.4000N / 096-23-03.7000W
42-24.156667N / 096-23.061667W
42.4026111 / -96.3843611
(estimated)

We intend to seize photographs and video for purchasers who’ve property inside the Class D airspace and have requested that we offer photographs and movies of their property for numerous functions equivalent to advertising and marketing, building and/or inspection. We agree that no flights will happen inside 1 mile of the airport coordinates.

Description of your proposed operation:

We intend to acquire web site images/video of assorted areas as requested by our purchasers throughout the upcoming summer season months the place our native climate permits the secure operation of our sUAS. The sUAS described inside will likely be configured to restrict vertical AGL altitude to 200ft and horizontal journey will stay inside VLOS. We will guarantee the sUAS stays inside VLOS. Aside from requesting to fly inside this Class D airspace, we’ll adjust to all different Part 107 laws. In addition to complying with half 107, we intend to have a 2 particular person crew comprised of each a PIC & a chosen VO to alert the PIC of any potential plane getting into the neighborhood. We will give strategy to all plane and will likely be particularly conscious of our distance from runway approaches.  ATC can attain us if wanted through our cell quantity offered on this request.  PIC can even present a minimal of 24-hour advance discover of this flight to ATC of specifics of the flight: location, anticipated take-off time, anticipated finish of operation, and present cellular phone numbers of PIC and VO.  PIC can even present discover at the precise time of launch and touchdown of every flight to ATC in the event that they so need. We really feel this request will profit our mission by permitting us the freedom to function safely and as wanted on this Class D airspace.  The majority of the flights we anticipate will fall close to the outer limits of the airspace.

After filling out this part of the utility, you’ll be requested to overview and then to submit your data to the FAA.

Once you submit your utility, you’ll be given a reference quantity, and you’re in a position to verify the standing of your utility at anytime by logging again into your Part 107 Dashboard and deciding on the Manage Part 107 Waivers / Authorizations button.

Still have questions? Email us at help[at]uavcoach.com.