Frequently Asked Questions About UAVs
- What is a RC Model Aircraft?
A UAS used
by hobbyists and flown within visual
line-of-sight under direct control from the
pilot, which can navigate the airspace, and
which is manufactured or assembled, and
operated for the purposes of sport,
recreation and/or competition.
- Do I
need to get approval from the FAA to fly a
model aircraft for recreational use?
guidance does not address size of the model
aircraft. FAA guidance says that model
aircraft flights should be kept below 400
feet above ground level (AGL), should be
flown a sufficient distance from populated
areas and full scale aircraft, and are not
for business purposes.
Fact Sheet for Unmanned Aircraft
their restrictions for model airplanes?
Yes! Although a hobbyist does not need a
license of COA to fly RC model RC airplanes
and helicopters must also obey FAA Rules and
UAS Aviation Rulemaking Committee;
DOT Model Aircraft Operating Standards;
And, Model Aircraft operations that are
conducted in accordance with an FAA accepted
set of standards established and
administered by a community based
association as discussed in Section 2.2,
shall otherwise be exempt from the
requirements of any Special Federal
Airworthiness Regulation (SFAR) that results
from this recommendation as long as they are
What is a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)?
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) also
referred to as an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
is a helicopter or aircraft, which can
operate under its own control or under the
control of a remote human pilot.
aircraft (as defined by 14 CFR 1.1) that is
intended to navigate in the air without an
What is a Unmanned
Aircraft System (UAS)
aircraft and its associated elements related
to flight operation which may include
Control Stations, data communications links,
support equipment, payloads, flight
termination systems, and launch/recovery
the difference between an Unmanned Aircraft
System (UAS), a Remotely Operated Aircraft (ROA),
and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)?
ROA and UAV were terms previously used to
identify unmanned aircraft. Currently the
FAA and most of the international community
uses the term “UAS."
- Do I
need to get FAA approval for commercial use
of a UAV?
Current FAA Regulations prohibits the use of
an unmanned aircraft system for commercial
purposes. FAA Rules for opening the
National Air Space (NAS) in 2015 for
- If I
fly a UAS for business purposes, such as new
technology development, am I required to get
approval from the FAA?
Yes. There are presently two methods of
gaining FAA approval for flying UAS: Special
Airworthiness Certificates - Experimental
Category (SAC-EC) for civil aircraft, and
Certificates of Waiver or Authorization (COA)
for public aircraft.
What’s the difference between public and
aircraft is one that is only for the United
States government or owned and operated by
the government of a state, the District of
Columbia, or a territory or possession of
the U. S. or a political subdivision.
Operators of public aircraft include DOD,
DOJ, DHS, NASA, NOAA, state/local agencies
and qualifying universities. Civil aircraft
means other than a public aircraft.
Grade UAVs *
Need FAA Approval?