By: Ben Gielow



On 23 Jan., the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Office of Aviation Services entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
with the FAA allowing for some operations small UAS in Class G Airspace
without a certificate of authorization (COA). The MOA applies to sUAS
weighing less than 55 lbs, flying below 400 AGL, and used in natural
resource and scientific applications as well as search and rescue
missions.  All other missions, including wildland fire and law
enforcement operations still need a COA before they can fly.