49 U.S.C. § 44806 — Public unmanned aircraft systems and public safety use of tethered unmanned aircraft systems

(a) Guidance. The Secretary of Transportation must issue guidance on operating public drones to (1) speed up issuing certificates of authorization or waiver, (2) help public agencies build and use test ranges, within FAA operating limits, to test and fly public drones, and (3) explain a public agency's responsibilities when flying a drone without an FAA civil airworthiness certificate. (b) Agreements With Government Agencies. (1) The Secretary must make an agreement with each appropriate public agency to simplify issuing waivers or authorizations for public drone flights in the national airspace. (2) That agreement must (A) for such applications, (i) provide expedited review, (ii) require the Administrator to decide within 60 business days of submission, and (iii) allow an expedited appeal if disapproved; (B) allow one-time approval covering similar operations over a fixed period; and (C) let a public safety agency fly a drone weighing 4.4 pounds or less if it's flown (i) within or beyond visual line of sight, (ii) below 400 feet, (iii) in daylight, (iv) in Class G airspace, and (v) more than 5 statute miles from any airport or other aviation-activity site. (c) Public Safety Use of Actively Tethered Unmanned Aircraft Systems. (1) The Administrator must allow, and may issue guidance on, public safety organizations using actively tethered drones that are (A) flown (i) at or below 150 feet in Class B, C, D, E, or G airspace, not above the ceiling shown on the FAA's UAS Facility Maps where one applies, (ii) within zero-grid areas on those maps only during life-saving or emergency situations and after notifying the FAA as the Administrator directs, or (iii) above 150 feet in those airspace classes only with the Administrator's prior authorization; (B) not flown directly over non-participating people; (C) kept within the operator's visual line of sight; and (D) flown so as not to interfere with, and to give way to, other aircraft. (2) These systems may fly (A) without a certificate of authorization, waiver, or other FAA approval, (B) without pilot certification under section 44703, and (C) without airworthiness certification under section 44704. (3) They're also exempt from section 44805's requirements while operating under the (1) guidance. (4) None of this stops the Administrator from issuing new rules for these systems later to protect airspace safety. (d) Federal Agency Coordination to Enhance the Public Health and Safety Capabilities of Public Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The Administrator must help federal civilian agencies flying drones in controlled airspace deploy and integrate sense-and-avoid capability as needed for safe operation. (e) Definition. "Public safety organization" means a group mainly focused on public safety and well-being, including law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, and similar organizations.