Q: How long does it take for the FAA to grant a Section 44807 Exemption?
A: On average, the FAA takes 90 to 120 days to review and approve a Section 44807 petition. The exact timeline depends on many factors such as the aircraft type, complexity of the proposed operation, and completeness of the documents. Other reasons such as FAA’s workload, staffing, holidays, and government shutdowns are also factors. During the early days of Covid, it took almost 2 years for the FAA to grant a 44807 exemption. After Covid, the review process fell to just a few months.
Operating a drone that the FAA has already approved can be processed as a "Summary Grant" and will expedite the process. Conversely, if the drone has never been through the FAA's safety review process, the approval will likely take more that 120 days. Operations types such as aerial cinematography and aerial data collection have established precedent and if the applicant references them and submits the appropriate documents the approval process will go as smoothly as possible.
To avoid operational delays, the FAA mandate submitting the petition at least 120 days before commercial operations are intended to commence or before your current exemption expires. The FAA no longer requires the aircraft registration to be finalized before filing the petition. As long as proof that the registration application has been submitted they will begin processing the exemption. However, all the requisite information must be submitted or the FAA will send a Request for Information (RFI) which will delay the application process and potentially cause it to be denied if the response deadline is missed.
Q: Does the FAA provide updates or an estimate on when an exemption will be granted?
A: The FAA does not send progress updates, nor do they provide time estimates for pending petitions. Once the application is submitted, it enters a high-volume federal queue where it remains unmonitored by a dedicated account manager. The application status may be checked by searching on the regulations.gov website using the unique docket ID number assigned by the FAA. The docket will show standard milestones such as "Pending," "Request for Information (RFI)," or "Decision" once a final decision is reached.
If the application has been stuck in the queue significantly past the standard 120-day mark, contact the FAA's dedicated UAS Support Center to inquire about the delay. However, they can only confirm receipt or flag missing documents rather than speed up the federal review. The public docket should be monitored weekly but it is important to understand that the process will takes as long as it takes. This is why it is important to file the application completely and accurately as soon as possible.
Q: What is the difference between a waiver and an exemption?
A: The fundamental difference between a waiver and an exemption depends on whether you are seeking permission to operate beyond an existing Part 107 flight rule or permission to operate a UAS over 55 pounds. An FAA waiver is issued under Part 107 and grants permission to bypass specific flight restrictions for standard small UAS weighing under 55 pounds. For example, flying a small UAS beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), directly over people, or inside restricted airspace requires a Part 107 waiver to prove you that operation can be conducted safely. A waiver does not change the classification of the UAS, it simply expands its standard operational limits.
In contrast, a Section 44807 Exemption focuses entirely on the weight and classification of the UAS and grants relief from traditional aircraft airworthiness certification. All UAS operations over 55 pounds require a Section 44807 exemption. Federal aviation law requires all large aircraft to hold an airworthiness certificate, so the Section 44807 exempts the operator from going through a multi-year certification process.
In summary, a waiver is required when a small UAS needs to operate beyond a Part 107 flight rule, and a 44807 exemption is required for all UAS weighing over 55 pounds.
Q: Should I apply for a Special Airworthiness Certificate or a Section 44807 petition for exemption?
A: Deciding between a Section 44807 exemption and a Special Airworthiness Certificate (SAC) depends entirely on the manufacturing origin and intended operational type. For most commercial operations using over 55-pound UAS the FAA Section 44807 Exemption is the correct choice. Under Section 44807, the FAA uses a risk-based approach to grant a "determination" that allows specific, proven unmanned aircraft to bypass traditional airworthiness certification entirely, provided operations are conducted under strict federal safety conditions and limitations. Operators with an over 55-pound UAS that the FAA has already added to its approved aircraft list should pursue a Section 44807 petition.
Conversely, you must apply for a Special Airworthiness Certificate if you are flying a prototype, conducting research and development, testing a new custom build, or performing complex, unprecedented operations. Obtaining a SAC in the Experimental category requires engineering level documentation, a detailed program letter, and a formal safety evaluation by FAA personnel. Applications for a SAC are processed at a local FAA office and involves more personal interactions than the Section 44807 exemption which is processed at the FAA UAS integration Office in Washington, D.C.
In summary, operators should pursue the 44807 exemption for commercial operations with approved unmanned aircraft, and manufacturers and developers should apply for a Special Airworthiness Certificate for UAS testing, research and development, or specialized aerospace research projects.
Q: What are the requirements for reporting flight logs?
A: When operating under a Section 44807 exemption or a Part 137 agricultural license, a flight log must be submitted to the FAA every month. These mandatory metrics must be filed using the official FAA UAS Exemption Monthly Flight Report spreadsheet and submitted no later than the tenth day of each month for the preceding month's activities. The FAA requires every operation, date, total flight time, number of flights, location of operations, and the UAS registration number to be submitted. This flight data must be reported even if the UAS was performing a non-revenue test flight or was not actively dispensing crop inputs during an agricultural operation.
It is critical to understand that routine monthly reporting is entirely separate from accident or incident reporting. If the unmanned aircraft crashes, a flight boundary violation, a loss of control, a chemical release, or significant property damage, you must submit an emergency incident report to the FAA—often within 24 hours of the occurrence. While small UAS operators flying under Part 107 are only required to report accidents that result in serious injury or exceed $500 in property damage within 10 days, over 55-pound operators must maintain daily digital logbooks to ensure both immediate safety events and routine monthly reports match perfectly.
Q: How do I obtain an N-Number for my over 55-pound UAS?
A: Obtaining an N-number from the FAA is a more formal process than small UAS registration and is required for any unmanned aircraft weighing over 55 pounds. To obtain an N-number, you must submit a paper or electronic application package to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch. This package requires a completed Aircraft Registration Application (AC Form 8050-1), a legally binding Bill of Sale or transfer of ownership document, a notarized manufacturer's affidavit detailing the drone's specifications, and a $5 processing fee.
Because the FAA Registry handles all manned aircraft, processing paper applications usually takes roughly 60 to 90 days. However, individual owners can expedite this process by taking advantage of the FAA's modernized online registration portal to upload digital records, request an N-number, and apply electronic signatures. Once the registry approves your application and issues a unique N-number, you are legally required to permanently affix the number to a clearly visible external surface of the unmanned aircraft before flight operations begin.
Q: What is a Blanket COA?
A: A Blanket Certificate of Waiver or Authorization, commonly known as a Blanket COA, is a pre-approved, nationwide airspace agreement issued by the FAA's Air Traffic Organization. When granted a Section 44807 exemption, the FAA automatically attaches a Blanket COA to the operate in Class G airspace. The blanket COA gives grants access to all uncontrolled airspace in the continental United States.
The Blanket COA has numerous operational limitations outlined in FAA Form 7711-1 such as operating below 400 feet above ground level and keeping the aircraft within your physical visual line of sight at all times. It also mandates at least a two to five nautical mile operating distance from any public-use airport, heliport, or glider port. The Blanket COA also requires a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) to be filed with local air traffic control between 24 and 72 hours before every flight.
Q: How can I operate in controlled airspace after I get a Section 44807 exemption?
A: Because the standard Blanket COA only permits flights in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace, a separate, site-specific authorization from the FAA must be obtained before flying an over 55-pound UAS within controlled airspace (Classes B, C, D, or E). The primary mechanism for this is applying for a Jurisdictional COA through the FAA Drone Zone portal. Unlike small UAS operators who rely entirely on instant automated approvals through LAANC, a detailed operational request that undergoes a formal review by local Air Traffic Control (ATC) is required.
This application requires the exact geographic coordinates, proposed flight times, a comprehensive safety justification, and a description of how the flight crew will maintain a safe buffer from manned aircraft traffic. The FAA routinely takes 30 to 90 days to evaluate these custom requests. Once a Jurisdictional COA is obtained, a digital or physical copy must be kept on-site during operations.
Q: What are the pilot requirements for operating an over 55-pound drone?
A: Flying an unmanned aircraft weighing 55 pounds requires more than just having a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. If the UAS is not highly automated or operations are conducted at night, the PIC must hold at least a current FAA third-class airman medical certificate. However, the PIC may conduct operations under this exemption without an FAA-issued airman medical certificate during the day and when the UA is operated in a highly automated manner such that control of the UA rests primarily within the UA’s automated systems, and the PIC’s manual control input is limited to launch, recovery, or abnormal/emergency situations. The mandate for passing a physical evaluation performed by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) is to verify that the pilot is free from any medical conditions that could cause sudden incapacitation or unsafe flight control errors in the national airspace system.
Beyond these baseline federal requirements, over 55-pound UAS operators must meet strict training and operational currency requirements detailed in their specific Section 44807 exemption. The pilot must successfully complete a structured ground and flight training curriculum that is specific to the exact drone make and model being flown. This specialized training must cover normal and emergency operating procedures, emergency recovery, payload management, and pre-flight risk assessments. To maintain legal currency to operate a heavy drone, the pilot must also document a minimum number of flight hours or recent takeoffs and landings within the preceding months. Finally, if the heavy drone is used to apply agricultural chemicals, fertilizers, or seed, the pilot must also hold the appropriate state-level commercial pesticide applicator license and be properly listed under a valid Part 137 Agricultural Aircraft Operator Certificate.
Q: How do I find an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME)?
A: Because standard physicians cannot issue federal pilot credentials, a doctor who has been appointed by the federal government must be seen. The only legally compliant way to locate a certified physician is through the official FAA AME Locator Tool hosted on the FAA website. On this public portal, filter your search by selecting "AME" under the designation type and narrowing down providers by location. To make your search as efficient as possible, check the filter for "First-Class AME". Doctors holding a first-class designation are authorized to perform all tiers of federal physicals, automatically qualifying them to issue the second-class or third-class medical certificates required for commercial heavy drone operations.
Once an examiner has been found, log into the official FAA MedXPress Portal to create an account, complete medical history section, and submit the electronic application form. Upon submitting the application, the system generates a unique confirmation number that must be printed or saved. This confirmation number must be given to the AME office when calling to book an appointment. Providing this number allows the examiner to legally pull up your records, conduct your physical assessment, and issue your pilot medical certificate.