(a) Guidance.—The Secretary of Transportation shall issue guidance regarding the operation of a public unmanned aircraft system—
(1)
to streamline and expedite the process for the issuance of a certificate of authorization or a certificate of waiver;
(2)
to facilitate the capability of public agencies to develop and use test ranges, subject to operating restrictions required by the Federal Aviation Administration, to test and operate public unmanned aircraft systems; and
(3)
to provide guidance on a public agency’s responsibilities when operating an unmanned aircraft without a civil airworthiness certificate issued by the Administration.
(b) Agreements With Government Agencies.—
(1) In general.—
The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with each appropriate public agency to simplify the process for issuing a certificate of waiver or a certificate of authorization with respect to an application for authorization to operate a public unmanned aircraft system in the national airspace system.
(2) Contents.—An agreement under paragraph (1) shall—
(A) with respect to an application described in paragraph (1)—
(B)
allow for a one-time approval of similar operations carried out during a fixed period of time; and
(C) allow a government public safety agency to operate an unmanned aircraft weighing 4.4 pounds or less if that unmanned aircraft is operated—
(v)
outside of 5 statute miles from any airport, heliport, seaplane base, spaceport, or other location with aviation activities.
(c) Public Actively Tethered Unmanned Aircraft Systems.—
(1) In general.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall permit the use of, and may issue guidance regarding, the use of public actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems that are—
(2) Requirements.—Public actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems may be operated—
(A)
without any requirement to obtain a certificate of authorization, certificate of waiver, or other approval by the Federal Aviation Administration;
(B)
without requiring airman certification under section 44703 of this title or any rule or regulation relating to airman certification; and
(C)
without requiring airworthiness certification under section 44704 of this title or any rule or regulation relating to aircraft certification.
(3) Safety standards.—
Public actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems operated within the scope of the guidance issued pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be exempt from the requirements of section 44805 of this title.
(4) Savings provision.—
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to preclude the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from issuing new regulations for public actively tethered unmanned aircraft systems in order to ensure the safety of the national airspace system.
(d) Federal Agency Coordination to Enhance the Public Health and Safety Capabilities of Public Unmanned Aircraft Systems.—
The Administrator shall assist Federal civilian Government agencies that operate unmanned aircraft systems within civil-controlled airspace, in operationally deploying and integrating sense and avoid capabilities, as necessary to operate unmanned aircraft systems safely within the national airspace system.