The FAA Has Established the TRUST Test Required For Recreational Fliers

The rule for operating uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) or drones under 55 pounds in the National Airspace System (NAS) is 14 CFR Part 107, referred to as the Small UAS Rule. However, for the flight of a drone for purely recreational purposes, there is a limited statutory exception that provides a basic set of requirements.

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, P.L. 115-254 (October 5, 2018) introduced new requirements for recreational pilots. The exception for limited recreational operations of uncrewed aircraft is codified in 49 U.S. Code § 44809. Inter alia, § 44809 provides in subsection (7)  that, assuming all other sections have been complied with, the exception for limited recreational operations of uncrewed aircraft applies if “The operator has passed an aeronautical knowledge and safety test described in subsection (g) and maintains proof of test passage to be made available to the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.”

In response the FAA has recently created the Recreational UAS Safety Test or TRUST.  TRUST provides education and testing for recreational flyers on important safety and regulatory information. In order to comply with 49 U.S. Code § 44809, recreational flyers must pass the TRUST test before engaging in recreational operations of uncrewed aircraft.

Access to the TRUST test is available through the FAA website.  The TRUST test is administered by FAA-approved, third-party test administrators. The list of administrators (and links to them)  is found on the FAA website and is comprised of the following:

• Chippewa Valley Technical College
• Community College of Allegheny County – West Hills Center
• CrossFlight Sky Solutions
• Drone Launch Academy LLC
• Drone Trust
• Drone U
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU)
• HSU Educational Foundation
• Lake Area Technical College
• Pilot Institute
• Proctorio Incorporated
• Tactical Aviation
• The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)
• The Boy Scouts of America
• UAV Coach
• University of Arizona Global Campus
• Volatus Aerospace Corp

For further information contact Robert E. Kelly, Esq., at kellylawuas@gmail.com.

 

New Procedures Concerning Recurrent Training Courses for Drone Pilots.

 

The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) in Washington D.C. has announced new procedures concerning recurrent training courses for drone pilots.  Specifically, drone pilots who have Part 107 remote pilot certification can now take their required training courses online effective April 6, 2021. The recurrent training courses have been updated to ensure that drone pilots will have the knowledge necessary to operate in accordance with the new Operations Over People rule when that rule becomes effective on April 21, 2021. The online recurrent training will be offered free of charge to remote pilots on the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) website.

Drone pilots who do not hold a current Remote Pilot Certification and want to operate under Part 107 must take the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test online through an FAA-Approved Knowledge Testing Center.  See here.

For general inquiries on these new regulations and other UAS inquiries, the FAA suggests calling 844-FLY-MY-UA or emailing the FAA.