3-8 CBOs may consider including a safety incident reporting program for recreational flyers. Gathering such data may provide substantial benefits to CBOs, as the data would enable better understanding of the trends and risks that may be posed by UA operations. CBOs could then use the data to identify appropriate mitigations
3.3.2.9 Safety Guidelines for Certain UA Operations. In addition to general guidelines addressed throughout this AC, comprehensive safety guidelines should include safety procedures, standards, limitations, and guidelines for specific types of operations that will be conducted by recreational flyers operating under that CBO’s safety guidelines, such as, but not limited to:
1. UA more than 55 pounds including the weight of anything attached to or carried by the aircraft.
Note: CBO standards and limitations for UA more than 55 pounds must be approved by the FAA. Large UA may only be operated from a fixed site. Refer to 49 U.S.C. § 44809(c)(2).
2. Turbine engine operations.
3. Combat simulations.
4. Racing operations.
5. Aerobatics.
6. Training.
7. Research conducted by institutions of higher education.
Note: Whether or not the specific operations listed here are considered recreational depends on the specific situation. Each individual pilot bears the responsibility for compliance with the 49 U.S.C.
§ 44809(a)(1) requirement that the operation must be conducted for a recreational purpose.
3.4 Requests for Fixed Sites.
3.4.1 Interested parties may request authorization for a fixed site by submitting their request through the FAADroneZone website at https://faadronezone.faa.gov/.
3.4.2 Compliance with the requirements of part 89 for remote identification is required at fixed sites. For more details, see paragraph 1.7.4.
3.4.3 As stated in paragraph 3.1.1 above, a CBO “provides assistance and support in the development and operation of locally designated model aircraft flying sites.”
3.4.4 A CBO does not have to request the establishment of a fixed site as part of the CBO recognition process. However, a CBO may submit a request to the FAA for the authorization of a fixed site. When a fixed site has received FAA authorization,
3-9 r ecreational flyers will be able to use the site to conduct recreational operations using small UA or UA more than 55 pounds, or participate in a CBO-sanctioned event in such controlled airspace (i.e., Class B, C, or D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport), without additional airspace authorizations. These operations are subject to the parameters of a mutually agreed upon operating procedure with the ATC facility. Interested parties may request authorization for a fixed flying site by submitting their request through the FAADroneZone website at ht tps://faadronezone.faa.gov/.
Any request submitted to the FAA for the authorization of a fixed site should include the following information:
1.
Latitudes and longitudes that define the boundaries of the proposed site. Text, picture, and geographic files are generally acceptable file formats for depicting the requested area.
2. Maximum altitudes requested for operations at the site.
3. Hours of operation at the site.
4. Description of any unique operations, if applicable, including:
• Large (more than 55 pounds) UA operations.
• Turbine engine operations.
• Combat simulations.
• Racing operations.
• Aerobatics.
5. Airspace classification.
6. Nearest airport.
7. Photos of site location.
8. Previous Letter of Agreement or Authorization, as applicable.
3.4.5 A request submitted to the FAA to allow operations at a fixed site should clearly indicate the kinds of operations anticipated to take place at the fixed site, such as aerobatics or air races, and include any information pertinent to the operations, such as additional safety procedures. These safety procedures should address the kinds of operations anticipated and how they will be followed at the fixed site. The FAA will review the submitted documents and determine whether it is appropriate to issue an authorization for the fixed site. If the FAA needs additional information, the FAA will contact the requester.
3.5 CBO-Sponsored Events.
3.5.1 Authorization for CBO-Sanctioned Event(s).
3.5.1.1 If a planned, UA-only event will occur at a fixed site in Class B, C, or D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, the CBO must request a fixed site authorization for the time and place of the event. Refer to 49 U.S.C.
3-10 § 44809(c)(1). Requesters should submit all of the site-specific information in paragraph
3.4.4 above and the dates and duration of the event via the FAADroneZone website (ht tps://faadronezone.faa.gov/) at least 90 days in advance of the event for authorization. CBOs intending to conduct events in Class G airspace that may exceed 400 feet AGL must contact the FAA for further information.
3.5.1.2 UA-only aviation events conducted under the 49 U.S.C. § 44809 exception, such as UA races or aerobatic displays, must adhere to CBO safety guidelines developed in coordination with the FAA or in the case of operations involving UA weighing more than 55 pounds, approved by the FAA. If a CBO wishes to conduct such sanctioned events periodically, the FAA recommends that the CBO develop safety guidelines for CBO-sanctioned events as part of its guidelines submitted for recognition. For any public event, the FAA strongly recommends including procedures to protect nonparticipants from all UA participating in the event and identify persons responsible (e.g., safety officer, contest director) for ensuring the safety of the operations conducted onsite.
Note: As mentioned in paragraph 2.2.1, the FAA will not predetermine that all participants in an event are compliant with 49 U.S.C. § 44809(a). Each individual pilot maintains responsibility for compliance with the 49 U.S.C. § 44809(a) requirement for recreational purpose.
3.5.1.3 When a CBO makes an application for a sanctioned event at a fixed site in DroneZone, the CBO should provide its safety guidelines for the sponsored events as part of the application. If a CBO has not incorporated sanctioned events into its safety guidelines, then that CBO should include in its application how it will conduct the event safely protecting nonparticipants from all UA participating in the event.
Advisory Circular Feedback Form If you find an error in this AC, have recommendations for improving it, or have suggestions for new items/subjects to be added, you may let us know by contacting the General Aviation and Commercial Division at 9-AFS-800-Correspondence@faa.gov or the Flight Standards Directives Management Officer at 9-AWA-AFB-120-Directives@faa.gov.
Subject: AC 91-57C, Exception for Limited Recreational Operations of Unmanned Aircraft Date: _____________________ Please check all appropriate line items:
An error ( proc edur al or typographical) has been noted in paragraph ____________ on page _______.
Recommend paragraph _____________ on page __________ be changed as follows:
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ In a future change to this AC, please cover the following subject:
(Briefly describe what you want added.)
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Other comments:
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ I would like to discuss the above. Please contact me.
Submitted by: Date: ______________________