Micro Drone Safety and Innovation Act of 2016

To provide for the operation of micro unmanned aircraft systems. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Micro Drone Safety and Innovation Act of 2016 2. Operation of micro unmanned aircraft systems (a) In general Subtitle B of title III of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–95 49 U.S.C. 40101 337. Special rule for micro unmanned aircraft systems (a) Requirements for operation of micro unmanned aircraft systems (1) In general A micro unmanned aircraft system and the operator of that system shall qualify for the exemptions described under subsections (b), (c), and (d) if the system is operated— (A) at an altitude of less than 400 feet above ground level; (B) at an airspeed not greater than 40 knots; (C) within the visual line of sight of the operator; (D) during the hours between sunrise and sunset; and (E) except as provided in paragraph (2), not less than 5 statute miles from the geographic center of an airport with an operational air traffic control tower or an airport denoted on a current aeronautical chart published by the Federal Aviation Administration. (2) Operation within 5 statute miles of an airport A micro unmanned aircraft system may be operated within 5 statute miles of an airport described in paragraph (1)(E) if, before the micro unmanned aircraft system is operated within 5 statute miles of the airport, the operator of the micro unmanned aircraft system— (A) provides notice to the airport operator; and (B) in the case of an airport with an operational air traffic control tower, receives approval from the air traffic control tower. (b) Exemptions for operators of micro unmanned aircraft systems Notwithstanding sections 44703 and 44711 of title 49, United States Code, part 61 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, or any other provision of a statute, rule, or regulation relating to airman certification, any person may operate a micro unmanned aircraft system in accordance with subsection (a) without being required— (1) to pass any aeronautical knowledge test; (2) to meet any age or experience requirement; or (3) to obtain an airman certificate or medical certificate. (c) Exemption from airworthiness standards Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 447 (d) Exemptions from operational regulations (1) Part 91 regulations Sections 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 91.405(a), and 91.407(a)(1), paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 91.409(a), and subsections (a) and (b) of section 91.417 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not apply with respect to the operation of a micro unmanned aircraft system in accordance with subsection (a). (2) Certificate of waiver or authorization A micro unmanned aircraft system operated in accordance with subsection (a) may be operated by any person without a certificate of authorization or waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration. (3) Future regulations A micro unmanned aircraft system operated in accordance with subsection (a), and the operator of such a system, shall be exempt from any additional requirements that may be prescribed pursuant to this subtitle after the date of the enactment of the Micro Drone Safety and Innovation Act of 2016 (e) Alternative regulations Instead of being operated in accordance with subsection (a), a micro unmanned aircraft may be operated pursuant to any form of authorization, operational rules, or exemptions pertaining to unmanned aircraft systems prescribed by the Administrator, except that a micro unmanned aircraft and its operator shall be exempt from any requirement for an airman certificate or medical certificate. (f) Micro unmanned aircraft system defined In this section, the term micro unmanned aircraft system . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents for the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 336 the following: Sec. 337. Operation of micro unmanned aircraft systems. .

Summary: Micro Drone Safety and Innovation Act of 2016 This bill amends the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 to make a special rule for any micro unmanned aircraft system whose aircraft component, including payload, weighs at most 4.4 pounds (micro drone). A micro drone and its operator shall qualify for exemptions from certain airman certification, airworthiness, and operational regulations if the system is operated: at an altitude under 400 feet above ground level, at an airspeed under 40 knots, within the operator's visual line of sight, between sunrise and sunset, and at least five statute miles from the geographic center of an airport that either has an operational air traffic control tower or is denoted on a current aeronautical chart published by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). A micro drone may also be operated within five statute miles of such an airport if, beforehand, the operator notifies the airport operator and receives approval from the air traffic control tower, if the airport has one. Under the exemptions of this bill, any person may operate a micro drone without being required to: pass any aeronautical knowledge test, meet any age or experience requirement, or obtain an airman certificate or medical certificate. In an alternative to the requirements of this bill, a micro drone may be operated pursuant to any form of FAA-prescribed authorization, operational rules, or exemptions pertaining to unmanned aircraft systems; but both the aircraft and its operator shall remain exempt from any requirement for an airman certificate or medical certificate.