FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Page 1 of 6 

Blanket COA for any Operator issued a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER OR AUTHORIZATION 

ISSUED TO 

Any Operator with a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption 

This certificate is issued for the operations specifically described hereinafter. No person shall conduct 

any operation pursuant to the authority of this certificate except in accordance with the standard and special 

provisions contained in this certificate, and such other requirements of the Federal Aviation Regulations not 

specifically waived by this certificate. 

OPERATIONS AUTHORIZED 

Operation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems in accordance with the operators' Section 333 Grant of 

Exemption at or below 200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) in the National Airspace System (NAS). 

LIST OF WAIVED REGULATIONS BY SECTION AND TITLE 

N/A 

STANDARD PROVISIONS 

I. A copy of the application made for this certificate shall be attached and become a part hereof. 

2. This certificate shall be presented for inspection upon the request of any authorized representative of the 

Federal Aviation Administration, or of any State or municipal official charged with the d"uty of enforcing 

local laws or regulations. 

3. The holder of this certificate shall be responsible for the strict observance of the terms and provisions 

contained herein. ' 

4. This certificate is nontransferable. 

Note-This certificate constitutes a waiver of those Federal rules or regulations specifically referred to 

above. It does not constitute a waiver of any State law or local ordinance. 

SPECIAL PROVISIONS 

Special Provisions are set forth and attached. 

This certificate has the same effective dates as the Grant of Exemption and is subject to cancellation at any 

time upon notice by the Administrator or his/her authorized representative. 

BY DIRECTION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR 

lSI 

FAA Headguarters, AJV -115 Jacgueline R. Jackson 

(Region) (Signature) 

Manager, UAS Tactical 0Qerations Section 

(Title) 

This COA terminates two years from the date of a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption, unless sooner 

superseded, rescinded, or cancelled. 

FAA Form 7711-1 (7-74) 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for 

Commercial Purposes July 201 5 
FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Page 2 of 6 

Blanket COA for any Operator issued a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption 

STANDARD PROVISIONS 

A. General. 

I. The approval of this COA is effective only with an approved Section 333 FAA Grant of 

Exemption. 

2. A copy of the COA including the special limitations must be immediately available to all 

operational personnel at each operating location whenever UAS operations are being 

conducted. 

3. This authorization may be canceled at any time by the Administrator, the person 

authorized to grant the authorization, or the representative designated to monitor a 

specific operation. As a general rule, this authorization may be canceled when it is no 

longer required, there is an abuse of its provisions, or when unforeseen safety factors 

develop. Failure to comply with the authorization is cause for cancellation. The operator 

will receive written notice of cancellation. 

B. Safety of Flight. 

I. The operator or pilot in command (PIC) is responsible for halting or canceling activity in 

the COA area if, at any time, the safety of persons or property on the ground or in the air 

is in jeopardy, or if there is a failure to comply with the terms or conditions of this 

authorization. 

See-and-Avoid 

Unmanned aircraft have no on-board pilot to perform see-and-avoid responsibilities; 

therefore, when operating outside of active restricted and warning areas approved for 

aviation activities, provisions must be made to ensure an equivalent level of safety exists 

for unmanned operations consistent with 14 CFR Part 91 §91. 111 , §91.11 3 and §91.115. 

a. The pilot in command (PIC) is responsible: 

• To rema in clear and give way to all manned aviation operations and activities at 

all times, 

• For the safety of persons or property on the surface with respect to the UAS, and 

• For compliance with CFR Parts 91.111, 91.113 and 91.115 

b. UAS pilots wi ll ensure there is a safe operating distance between aviation activities 

and unmanned aircraft (UA) at all times. 

c. Visual observers must be used at all times and maintain instantaneous communication 

with the PIC. 

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Commercial Purposes July 2015 
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Blanket COA for any Operator issued a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption 

d. The PIC is responsible to ensure visual observer(s) are: 

• Able to see the UA and the surrounding airspace throughout the entire flight, and 

• Able to provide the PIC with the UA's flight path, and proximity to all aviation 

activities and other hazards (e.g., terrain, weather, structures) sufficiently for the 

PIC to exercise effective control of the UA to prevent the UA from creating a 

collision hazard. 

e. Visual observer(s) must be able to communicate clearly to the pilot any instructions 

required to remain clear of conflicting traffic. 

2. Pilots are reminded to follow all federal regulations e.g. remain clear of all Temporary 

Flight Restrictions, as well as following the exemption granted for their operation. 

3. The operator or delegated representative must not operate in Prohibited Areas, Special 

Flight Rule Areas or, the Washington National Capital Region Flight Restricted Zone. 

Such areas are depicted on charts available at 

http://www.faa.f!ov/air traffic/flight info/aeronav/ . Additionally, aircraft operators 

should beware of and avoid other areas identified in Notices to Airmen (NOT AMS) 

which restricts operations in proximity to Power Plants, Elect~ic Substations, Dams, 

Wind Farms, Oil Refineries, Industrial Complexes, National Parks, The Disney Resorts, 

Stadiums, Emergency Services, the Washington DC Metro Flight Restricted Zone, 

Military or other Federal Facilities. 

4. All aircraft operated in accordance with this Certificate of Waiver/Authorization must be 

identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have 

identification (N-Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. 

Markings must be) as large as practicable. 

C. Reporting Requirements 

I. Documentation of all operations associated with UAS activities is required regardless of 

the airspace in which the UAS operates. NOTE: Negative (zero flights) reports are 

required. 

2. The operator must submit the following information through 

mailto:9-AJY-115-UASOrganization@faa.gov on a monthly basis: 

a. Name of Operator, Exemption number and Aircraft registration number 

b. UAS type and model 

c. All operating locations, to include location city/name and latitude/longitude 

d. Number of flights (per location, per aircraft) 

e. Total aircraft operational hours 

f. Takeoff or Landing damage 

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Blanket COA for any Operator issued a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption 

g. Equipment malfunctions. Reportable malfunctions include, but are not limited to the 

following: 

(I) On-board flight control system 

(2) Navigation system 

(3) Powerplant failure in flight 

(4) Fuel system failure 

(5) Electrical system failure 

(6) Control station failure 

3. The number and duration of lost link events (control, performance and health monitoring, 

or communications) per UA per flight. 

D. Notice to Airmen (NOT AM). 

A distant (D) NOTAM must be issued when unmanned aircraft operations are being 

conducted. This requirement may be accomplished: 

a. Through the operator's local base operations or NOT AM issuing authority, or 

b. By contacting the NOTAM Flight Service Station at 1-877-4-US-NTMS (l-877-487-

6867) not more than 72 hours in advance, but not less ~an 24 hours prior to the 

operation, unless otherwise authorized as a special provision. The issuing agency will 

require the: 

( I) Name and address of the pilot filing the NOT AM request 

(2) Location, altitude, or operating area 

(3) Time and nature ofthe activity. 

(4) Number ofUAS flying in the operating area. 

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIAL PROVISIONS 

A. Coordination Requirements. 

I. Operators and UAS equipment must meet the requirements (communication, 

equipment and clearance) of the class of airspace they will operate in. 

2. Operator filing and the issuance of required distance (D) NOT AM, will serve as 

advance ATC faci lity notification of UAS operations in an area. 

3. Operator must cancel NOTAMs when UAS operations are completed or will not be 

conducted. 

4. Coordination and deconfliction between Military Training Routes (MTRs) is the 

operator's responsibility. When identifying an operational area the operator must 

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Commercial Purposes July 2015 
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Blanket COA for any Operator issued a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption 

evaluate whether an MTR will be affected. In the event the UAS operational area 

overlaps (5 miles either side of centerline) an MTR, the operator will contact the 

scheduling agency 24 hours in advance to coordinate and deconflict. Approval from 

the scheduling agency is not required. Scheduling agencies are listed in the Area 

Planning AP/1 B Military Planning Routes North and South America, if unab le to gain 

access to AP/1 B contact the FAA at email address 

mailto:9-AJV-115-UAS0rganization(CV,faa.gov with the IRIVR routes affected and the 

FAA will provide the scheduling agency information. If prior coordination and 

deconfliction does not take place 24 hours in advance, the operator must remain clear 

ofall MTRs. 

B. Communication Requirements. 

I. When operating in the vicinity of an airport without an operating control tower. 

announce your operations in accordance with the FAA Aeronautical Information 

Manual (AIM) 4-1-9 Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports w ithout Operating Control 

Towers. 

C. Flight Planning Requirements. 

Note: For all UAS requests not covered by the conditions listed .below, the exemption 

ho lder may apply for a new Air Traffic Organization (A TO) Certificate of Waiver or 

Authorization (COA) at https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/externalluas/portal.jsp 

This COA will allow small UAS (55 pounds or less) operations during daytime VFR 

conditions under the following conditions and limitations: 

(I) At or below 200 feet AGL; and 

(2) Beyond the following distances from the airport reference point (ARP) of a public use 

airport, heliport, gliderport, seaplane base and military airports listed in the 

Airport/Facility Directory, Alaska Supplement, or Pacific Chart Supplement of the 

U.S. Government Flight Information Publications. 

a) 5 nautical miles (NM) from an airport having an operational control tower; or 

b) 3 NM from an airport having a published instrument flight procedure, but not 

having an operational control tower; or 

c) 2 NM from an airport not hav ing a published instrument flight procedure or an 

operational control tower; or 

d) 2 NM from a heliport, gliderport or seaplane base 

D. Emergency/Contingency Procedures. 

I. Lost Link/Lost Communications Procedures: 

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Commercial Purposes July 2015 
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Blanket COA for any Operator issued a valid Section 333 Grant of Exemption 

• If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UA must return to a 

pre-determined location within the private or controlled-access property and land. 

• The PIC must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies. 

2. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical 

boundaries defined in this COA must be reported to the FAA via email at 

mailto:9-AJV-115-UAS0rganizationrri),faa.gov within 24 hours. Accidents must be reported 

to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions contained on the 

NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov 

AUTHORIZATION 

This Certificate of Waiver or Authorization does not, in itself, waive any Title 14 Code of 

Federal Regulations, nor any state law or local ordinance. Should the proposed operation 

conflict with any state law or local ordinance, or require permission of local authorities or 

property owners, it is the responsibility of the operator to resolve the matter. This COA does not 

authorize flight within Special Use airspace without approval from the scheduling agency. The 

operator is hereby authorized to operate the sma ll Unmanned Aircraft System in the National 

Airspace System. · 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for 

Commercial Purposes July 2015