# Certification of Authorization,

COA, Process

Alfred A. Gates

1 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA

# FAA Websites

• https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headq 

# uarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/ aaim/organizations/uas/coa /

• https://ioeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa /



# • https://www.faa.gov/uas/public_operations/

2 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA

# New Requirement

• Registering you aircraft



# • All unmanned aircraft systems are required to be registered http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry /



# • The size of small UAS limits the letter and number identification. An exemption for alternative markings is required.

3 Certification of Authorization, COA4 Certification of Authorization, COA

# Before you can get access to the FAA

online COA application

• Prove that your agency is affiliated with the 

# federal or state government or is a municipality

– This can be done with a letter from the assistant 

# attorney general



# • Prove that your agency owns the aircraft being
used

– Done with a letter from your attorney

5

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA

# FAA COA Rep.

• Skip Regan

• (610) 595

- 1500 EX 232

• Contact Mr. Regan and verify that two letters
must be sent to the FAA.



# • Obtaining the letter may have to be done through the town manager.

6

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA7

Standard Letter: proof that CCSU owns the aircraft From your attorney

Your name
here and change to
Guilford Fire department

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA8 Letter from the

Assistant Attorney
General Stating that

you are a municipality,
state or federal

agency

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA9 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA10 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA11 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA12 Logging
on to the

COA
website

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COAEach item is an online form or requires information to be uploaded. The next several slides
covers the items

13 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COAOnce you get your user ID and password you can start uploading information The person responsible for the operation is the proponent

Proof that your organization is a municipality

14 Department, person in charge

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COAMake sure you provide your cell phone the FAA is swamped with applications Most likely you will not be able to answer their questions with out pulling up
the application. Also the terminology is difficult to understand.

15 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COAWhat you will be doing
The effective period is for 2 years Check yes for VFR Operations Day and Night. Say the you will be using a multicopter

16

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COA17

Program Executive Summary XXXXX Fire Department would like to use a unmanned aircraft, UA, for fire and safety activities. The flights will be conducted in class G airspace and a
DJI Phantom quadrotor will be used as the unmanned aircraft.

Operational Summary The UA will be used for training and for fire and safety activities in the town
of XXXXX. The UA will not be flown over 400ft AGL. The maximum radial distance from the pilot and observer will be .1 nautical miles. The maximum flight time of the UA is 15 minuets.

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA18

See example provided for the X4P

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COA19 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COA20 Airworthiness

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA21 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA22 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA23 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA24 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COA25 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA26 Does the Phantom have proper lights

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA27 Air Traffic Control

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA28 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA29 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA30 Select no here

Flight Operations Area: This you will have to determine the GPS positions, Lat , Long, of the town boundaries. Before you do that discuss with the FAA since your area is so large. Also do not include major roads/ highways.

Upload information here

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA31

This is defining the boundary of a flying area

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COA32 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA33 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA34 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA35 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA36 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Certification of Authorization, COA37 Special Circumstance Northeast Utilities approves of unmanned aerial systems flights, in support of UAS research involving performance and transmission structure inspection, conducted by qualified personnel from Central Connecticut State University, CCSU, Department of Engineering and Northeast Utilities. Northeast Utilities approves of CCSU department of engineering using the UAS performance data for analysis and evaluation. Northeast Utilities supports publications resulting from this research addressing the feasibility of UAS applications for increasing the reliability of the transmission grids with in the United States. Prior to any UAS flight Northeast Utilities representatives will provide a written letter of authorization to the flight crew listing the location, type of experimental activity, and a time frame for the allowed operation of the UAS. The status of the lines, energized or non

- energized, will be provided in the letter along with the energized level if energized.

An engineering and safety study for UAS flight next to 115KV power lines for the Daraganflyer X4

- P has been performed. The Draganflyer X4

- P has be found to be capable of flight next to 115KV power lines. See attached for the engineering and safety study.

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COA38 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Certification of Authorization, COA39

Typically the FAA will call to discuss the needed changes. Make the necessary changes and resubmit the application.

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014
Certification of Authorization, COA