FAA Streamlines Section 333 Exemption Process For Commercial UAS Operations

Jennifer Nowak is an Associate in the Washington D.C. office

Summary Grant Process Increases Approved Applications Based on Previous Exemption Similarities

HIGHLIGHTS:

• FAA has announced a new summary grant process for Section 333 UAS exemptions, resulting in more than 150 approvals in April 2015.
• The agency also has loosened certification requirements for UAS operators and created a streamlined process for airspace authorization for Section 333 exemption holders.
• FAA specified that most applications generally fall into one of two categories: film/television production and aerial data collection.

In response to pressure from Congress and the high demand for exemptions to use unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for commercial purposes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has streamlined its processes for granting Section 333 exemptions. Since April 1, 2015, FAA has issued 166 new approvals under its recently announced "summary grant" process.