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a waiver to operate within certain airspace (Class B, C, No, the lights found on certain consumer-focused
D, E surface area). The current civil COA application drones, including the Phantom or Solo, do not meet
requires the registration number of the aircraft that the requirements.
will be used. The FAA has stated that a Certificate
of Waiver process will be established for Part 107. My business uses custom-built UAVs,
At press time, it remains to be seen whether that Q
application will apply to only one aircraft. so we don’t have owner’s manuals or
documented maintenance procedures.
Should we create these?
Q Is Part 107 only for UAVs under 55 lbs The FAA has not specified a requirement for owner’s
or does it cover heavier UAVs as well?
or maintenance manuals. That said, Part 107 gives
Part 107 specifically applies to aircraft under 55 lbs. the FAA the authority to inspect your procedures and
That is one of the provisions that is not waiverable. records at any time. If an FAA inspection determines
that you are not in compliance with Part 107 or that
Q Which UAV was recently approved your operations are unsafe, this may have negative
for night ops? consequences for your business. Evidence of safe
operating procedures will protect you. Even more
Industrial Skyworks received the first night exemption importantly, owner’s manuals and standardized
granted by the FAA. The exemption is for use with operating and maintenance procedures will ensure
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the Aeryon Labs Skyranger, but it should be noted that your commercial drones jobs are completed
that the conditions imposed are not aircraft-specific. professionally and safely. The aviation industry is
There are specific visibility requirements, but they unforgiving of lax flight discipline.
aren’t unique to that specific aircraft.
Q Do lights on common drones, such as the
Phantom and Solo, comply with the civil
twilight lighting requirements?
28 | Navigating Part 107
