1 of 12

GoAERO Airworthiness Overview

​

Qualification Flight Testing & Fly-Off Requirements

Presented to: GoAero Participants

By: Sandy Yamane, FAA

Date: September 24, 2026

Federal Aviation

Administration

1

Federal Aviation

Administration

2 of 12

Requirements

  • Operate civil UAS in the U.S. under Part 91 for the GoAERO event
    • Aircraft Registration (U.S. or foreign)
    • Airworthiness Certificate, Special Flight Authorization (SFA), or UAS Test Site
    • Airspace authorization (COA, FAA Form 7711-1)
    • Remote ID
    • Other authorizations, waivers, and exemptions

2

Federal Aviation

Administration

3 of 12

Registration

  • Aircraft Registration
    • U.S.
      • Required for A/W certificate or operating at UAS Test Site
      • 14 CFR Part 47 (N-number)
        • Recommend using the online CARES system
      • Mark unmanned aircraft per 14 CFR Part 45
    • Foreign
      • UA registered and marked per their country’s requirements
      • Required for Special Flight Authorization (SFA) or operating under UAS Test Site

​

​

​

3

Federal Aviation

Administration

4 of 12

Airworthiness

  • Special Airworthiness Certificate (U.S.)
    • FAA Order 8130.34
    • Experimental Purposes (§ 21.191.a & d)
      • Research & Development (R&D) purpose for qualification
      • Exhibition purpose for Stage-3 Final Fly-Off @ Moffett
    • COA (SAC-EC specific)
    • May require additional authorization, waiver, or exemption to operate UAS
    • Valid for 1 year. Reapply for recurrent certification

​

​

​

​

​

4

Federal Aviation

Administration

5 of 12

Airworthiness

  • Special Flight Authorization (SFA)
    • Foreign-registered unmanned aircraft
      • Recommend a foreign airworthiness certificate
    • Hybrid process from FAA Orders:
      • 8130.2M (Chapter 23)
      • 8130.34D (Policy Memo AIR600-22-634-PM03)
    • COA (SFA specific)
    • May require additional authorization, waiver, & exemption to operate UAS
    • Limited duration (time in U.S.)

​

​

​

5

Federal Aviation

Administration

6 of 12

Airworthiness

  • UAS Test Site Authority
    • 49 U.S.C. § 44803
      • Waives 49 U.S.C. § 44711 requirements, incl. AW
      • UAS under 1320 lbs. (if > 1320 lbs., need SAC-EC)
    • TS is responsible for airworthiness and operations
      • A/W assessment process similar to FAA Order 8130.34
    • Test Site COA (includes GoAERO locations)
    • No additional authorizations, waivers, & exemptions
      • Waived under 44803

​

​

​

6

Federal Aviation

Administration

7 of 12

Airspace Authorization

  • FAA Form 7711-1
    • Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA)
    • Issued by FAA Air Traffic Organization
    • Specific type of operation (SAC-EC, SFA, Test Site)
      • COAs are not interchangeable
    • Flight test area from program letter (AW app)

​

​

7

Federal Aviation

Administration

8 of 12

Remote ID

  • 14 CFR Part 89
    • Meet MOC ASTM F3686-22 with 3 additions
    • FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance (DOC)
      • Built into UA, or Broadcast Module
    • If UA is not RID equipped
      • Need FAA authorization to operate without RID
      • Submit request to AFS-700: RIDAuthorizations@faa.gov
        • FAA Form 7711-2, or
        • Company letter on official letterhead

​

NOTE: If UA is ADS-B-equipped, it may operate in accordance with 91.225(h) or otherwise authorized by the Administrator.

RID is not applicable.

8

Federal Aviation

Administration

9 of 12

Other

  • Authorization
    • COA (airspace authorization)
    • If not RID equipped, need AFS-700 authorization
  • Waivers
    • Authorized deviation from Part 91 regulations
    • List of regs that can be waived in 14 CFR 91.905
  • Exemption
    • Relief from regulations
    • Regulations not listed in 91.905
    • Submit petition for exemption (Part 11)

​

​

9

Federal Aviation

Administration

10 of 12

​

​

QUESTIONS

10

Federal Aviation

Administration

11 of 12

FAA Contacts

  • John Soltis, Technical Analyst (UAS/AAM)
    • John.Soltis@faa.gov
  • David Esquivel, Technical Analyst (UAS/AAM)
    • David.P.Esquivel@faa.gov
  • Michael Saludares, Senior ASI
    • Michael.D.Saludares@faa.gov
    • On-site POC @ GoAERO location

​

Request all participant questions are routed through the GoAero POCs first

​

​

11

Federal Aviation

Administration

12 of 12

UAS & SFA Application Job Aids

  • Quick reference to 8130.34D
    • Sequential order of the processes
    • Links to various guidance and FAA websites
  • Obtain job aids at GoAERO website
    • UAS Application Job Aid (U.S. teams)
    • SFA Application Job Aid (Foreign teams)
      • Similar to U.S. job aid, but has unique aspects involving CAA

​

​

12

Federal Aviation

Administration