Navigating the evolving landscape of commercial drone operation is complex, especially in restricted airspace. This session will detail the latest shifts in drone law and explore how developments with state UAS laws and privacy concerns should be addressed. It will also provide critical insights into safe legal flight in sensitive areas like airports, military zones, and federal lands. Attendees will get the specifics they need to ensure their drone operations are not just compliant, but have the foundation needed to enable scale and expansion.
Updates and Developments in Drone Law
Drone law is evolving almost as rapidly as the technology. In addition to developing FAA and federal regulations, state and local regulations are undergoing significant development and revision. State and local regulations can be inconsistent, making it difficult to implement a consistent policy across markets. Further, ongoing challenges to state laws on constitutional and other grounds are currently being litigated. How can businesses, industry groups, and communities work together to establish and implement plans for urban and regional air mobility in the face of this uncertainty? This panel will focus on…
- The current state of the law developing trends.
- To what extent low altitude UAS flights are considered trespassory.
- State UAS laws.
- Privacy as it relates to scaling operations in urban and suburban areas.
Presenters will offer their unique perspectives in the rapidly evolving field of drone law to address common misconceptions on a number of issues including ownership of airspace. Attendees will come away with clarity regarding the ever-changing rules and policies governing them and their companies.
Presenters: Tyler Hazen, Zaida McGhee
UAS Authorizations and Access Requests to Restricted Areas
Operating drones near sensitive infrastructure or in restricted airspace—such as near airports, military zones, or federal lands—requires a clear understanding of FAA regulations and company protocols. This session provides an in-depth look at the legal and procedural requirements for gaining access to controlled airspace and operating within FAA-restricted zones under Part 107.
This session will cover:
- Understanding Controlled and Special Use Airspace: How to identify restricted zones on sectional charts and digital platforms (e.g., LAANC, B4UFLY, Aloft).
- FAA Authorization Processes: Guidance on requesting airspace access through LAANC or the FAA DroneZone portal, including situations where a waiver is required. We’ll also touch on long-term COAs (Certificates of Authorization) used in enterprise operations.
- Risk Management and Accountability: Pilots flying under any authorization must fully understand and comply with all limitations and requirements imposed by the FAA or internal UAS policy.
Attendees will come away with insights that will help ensure safe, legal, and professional drone operations at cell tower sites and airport properties.
Presenters: Thomas Reese, Scott Rinkenberger
