New FAA Interpretation of Governmental Function Limitations on UAS

In a recent FAA legal interpretation (see link below), the limitations on governmental function restrictions specifically to UAS are no longer valid. This means that for those UAS programs operating as a public aircraft operation (PAO) under a Certificate of Authorization (COA) are no longer restricted in their operations as they were before. In other words, training, demonstrations, pre-fire planning flights, and all other flights are now allowed.

In the past, it was necessary to operate under Part 107 rules to conduct governmental function flight operations that were previously limited under COAs. This is no longer necessary.

https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/Fields%20-%202023%20Reconsideration%20of%20Legal%20Interpretation.pdf