EAA Preparing Comments on Amazon Petition for Exemption From Part 135

August 15, 2019 - EAA is preparing public comments based on a petition filed by Amazon last month for an exemption for its drone delivery program from a host of rules, covering topics from airworthiness certification to operations policy.

The petition, which was filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation in July, seeks exemption from Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations Parts 61, 91, and 135 to permit operations under a Part 135 air carrier operating certificate to be conducted using an unmanned aircraft system (UAS).

Additionally, Amazon seeks an exemption from requirements in 14 CFR 135.25 that a civil aircraft operated in air commerce have an airworthiness certificate, in lieu of final certification for its "MK27" delivery UAS.

As always when UAS is concerned, EAA's position is that GA gets the absolute right of way over UAS, retains the freedom to fly everywhere that GA pilots currently can, and receives no new equipment mandates. EAA is reviewing Amazon's petition with a critical eye toward any elements that would infringe on any GA user's ability to safety navigate the airspace.