How to Petition for a 44807 Exemption for Drones/UAS over 55 lbs

Drones weighing more than 55 lbs are not regulated by FAA Part 107, but instead by 14 CFR Part 11 and by a special authority granted to the Secretary of Transportation to allow them to operate safely in the National Airspace System (NAS). Currently, to request a 44807 exemption you must petition the FAA. Each petition is reviewed manually and can take up to 120 days to be approved (we’re seen 30-90 days on average). Let’s take a look at what’s required to request an exemption:

Petition to the FAA

Before moving forward, it’s important to note that petitions involving agricultural operations (Part 137) require the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certifica and the aircraft’s N Number, also known as tail number. 

Basic Information

• Applicant Information: Provide the applicant’s full legal name and physical address. Note that a P.O. Box is not acceptable as an address.
  
  
• Chief Supervisor of Operations: Identify the Chief Supervisor of Operations, who will serve as the primary point of contact for the FAA. This individual must be capable of promptly addressing any FAA inquiries regarding the applicant's operations. Include the following information:
  
  • Phone number and email address for the Chief Supervisor of Operations.
  • If their address differs from the applicant’s address, provide their physical address (a P.O. Box is not acceptable).
• Pilot in Command (PIC): Specify who will serve as the pilot in command for the proposed UAS operations. Include the PIC's full name and pilot certificate number (e.g., “1234567”).
  
  
• Aircraft Information: List the aircraft you plan to operate under this exemption. For each aircraft, provide:
  
  • Make and model.
  • N-number (e.g., “N123UA”).
  • Name of the owner of each aircraft to be operated under this exemption.

Required Petition Information

1. Contact Information: Provide your name, mailing address, and, if desired, additional contact details such as a fax number, phone number, or email address.
   
   
2. Regulation Details: Identify the specific section(s) of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) from which you are requesting an exemption. Here are some of the sections required:
   • §§ 61.3(a)(1)(i), 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1), 91.409(a)(2), 91.417(a), 91.417(b), 91.403(b), 137.19(c), 137.19(d), 137.19(e)(2)(ii), 137.19(e)(2)(iii), 137.19(e)(2)(v), 137.31(a), 137.31(b), 137.33(a), 137.33(b), 137.41(c), and 137.42 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).
     
     
3. Requested Relief: Clearly describe the extent of the relief you seek and explain why you are requesting it.
   
   
4. Public Interest: Outline the reasons why granting the exemption would benefit the public as a whole.
   
   
5. Safety Considerations: Explain why granting the exemption would not compromise safety or how it would maintain a level of safety equivalent to the regulation from which you are seeking relief.
   
   
6. Federal Register Summary: Provide a summary for publication in the Federal Register, including:
   
   • The specific rule from which you seek an exemption.
   • A brief description of the nature of the requested exemption.
7. Supporting Information: Include any additional information, arguments, or perspectives to support your request.
   
   
8. International Operations: If you wish to use the exemption outside the United States, explain why this is necessary.

Additional Information

You may also include the following information as additional documents:

• Concept of Operations
• Operations Manual
• Emergency Procedures
• Checklists
• Maintenance Manual
• Training Program
• Flight History (e.g., flight hours, cycles, accidents)
• Safety Risk Analysis

After your petition is ready for submission, check the FAA’s visual aid to submit it to the Federal Docket Management System. You may also check approved petitions here.

Final Thoughts

Though it’s possible to create and submit your petitions on your own, we highly recommend hiring someone to help. This will not only decrease how much time it will take but also save you from headaches and delays due to incorrect information. AckerSpray’s compliance managers are ready and capable to submit your petition fast and accurately, helping you get legal in no time. Learn more about our services here.

If you’re looking to operate an ag drone under Part 137, make sure to check out our 137 guide here.