Required Documentation for an FAA Drone Pilot

To exercise your privileges as a remote pilot, you need to have certain documents in your possession. If the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approaches your for an in the field inspection during drone operations, you must be able to present your FAA sUAS pilot certificate. Side Note: this is a certificate and not a license. If someone from the FAA or law enforcement asks to see your pilot certificate, you are required to present it for inspection. Whether you are a certified drone pilot or simply a hobbyist, you still need to register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration and have proof of that registration. You also need to display your registration number on the exterior of the drone, where it would be visible for inspection. You should also print out a hard copy of the registration and keep it on hand. It’s a good idea to have a dedicated binder containing all the documents, which would be easily accessible in case of a field inspection.

About Remote ID

If you happen to be operating a drone outside of a Federal Aviation Administration recognized identification area, your drone is required to be equipped with a remote identification (I.D.). Remote I.D. is the ability of a drone in flight to broadcast its identification and location information during flight. Certain large retailers such as Amazon plan on using remote I.D. in the future to facilitate product delivery services. Remote I.D. paves the way for more complex drone operations. The main idea behind remote I.D. is to enable local law enforcement as well as the FAA and other federal agencies to locate the control station of a particular drone when the aircraft appears to be flying in an unsafe manner. It would also help identify an sUAS which may be flying in an area which is off limits. This allows authorities to contact the drone owner to provide recommendations to correct the unsafe or illegal operations. There was a recent instance in which a drone landed in the middle of a baseball field of a Major League baseball game. Note that at most high profile sporting events, the FAA issues temporary flight restrictions for these areas.

Additional documentation requirements

Not only does you binder contain proof of your remote pilot certificate and drone registration, but it should also include a record of drone maintenance and flight log book. The main reason is that there was an incident with your drone, one of the first things the FAA is going to demand is proof that the drone has been properly maintained.

Drone Maintenance Log Book

Most people do their own drone maintenance on their drones. Drone maintenance would include making sure the propellers are in good shape and the battery compartment is free of corrosion. Drone repairs might include replacing a broken payload clamp or replacing a broken propeller. Any time we make any modifications to the drone, these events should be recorded in the maintenance log book. Be sure to include the date of the maintenance event or repair, the type of repair or modification, and the name of the person who performed the work. Some drone manufacturers recommend that you ship the drone back to them for maintenance, other manufacturers will void the warranty if maintenance is not performed by the manufacturer. If you don’t have the technical skills on the aircraft – find a professional that can do the work and document it.

Flight Log Book

You are required to keep a record of all flights using a flight log book. The flight log book will record where the flight was done, for what duration, perhaps who was the “Pilot in Command” and who was the “Visual Observer”, and how long the drone was in operation. The length information is used to establish maintenance schedules for the drone. Logging the time also helps protect you if something bad does happen, like an accident. The first thing the FAA will inquire is whether the drone pilot was following best practices for safety and drone maintenance. You will need to prove that you were aware of the location, surroundings and kept a complete record of each flight in your log book and keep it in your flight bag. In general, make sure all the bases are covered, and set a good example for the other drone operators out there, it only takes one accident, once careless pilot mishap to ruin things for the rest of us. We are flying drones in the National Airspace System. it is a great responsibility and it requires a high level of professionalism.