FAA's December 2025 Draft Environmental Assessment for Drone Package Delivery: Comment Period Closed
Read the official document (2025-22372)
Who should care: Companies seeking FAA authorization for Part 135 drone delivery.
Historical notice. This December 9, 2025 notice opened comment on a draft environmental assessment; it did not change your operations, your certificate or the Part 107 exam. Update: the FAA has since issued the final PEA and a FONSI/ROD signed July 28, 2026.
Jump to section
Who this affectsWhat the document saysWhat changes in practiceWhat it does not doDoes this affect the Part 107 exam?Comment period (closed)Who this affects
No remote pilot's day-to-day operations. It mattered most to companies seeking FAA authorization for commercial drone package delivery under Part 135, and to anyone who wanted to comment on the environmental analysis before January 8, 2026.
What the document says
The FAA announced that a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for commercial drone package-delivery operations in the United States was available for public review. The comment period closed on January 8, 2026 (later extended to January 23, 2026).
What changes in practice
This NEPA assessment evaluates environmental effects of commercial drone package-delivery operations under Part 135 and supports FAA review of operator authorization requests. The December 2025 notice itself proposed no regulatory amendment and created no operating requirement.
What it does not do
It did not propose a new rule. It did not amend Part 107 or any other part of the regulations. It did not itself authorize or restrict any operation. At the time it was published it was a draft, not a final agency decision; the final PEA and decision came in July 2026.
Does this affect the Part 107 exam?
The December 2025 notice changed no Part 107 operating or certification requirement and announced no change to knowledge-test standards.
Comment period (closed)
For the record: the notice accepted comments through January 8, 2026 by email to [email protected], with the draft drone-package-delivery PEA identified in the subject line. That period has closed; this address is not an invitation to comment now. The FAA's final PEA and July 28, 2026 decision are on its NEPA and drones page.
Gear mentioned on this page
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or what the practice questions say. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Amazon · search results
High-end camera drones, such as the DJI Mavic 3 Pro
An optional example of a camera drone designed for aerial photography and video. It is not connected to the notice on this page.See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed and updated September 2026.
Spotted a mistake, or have a question this page does not answer? Send feedback, no email needed.
Ready to check what you learned?
Take a 10-question test covering certification and operating rules.
More briefings
Part 107 Test Change: Chart Images Move Into the Questions on October 26, 2026
Who should care: Anyone sitting the Part 107 knowledge test on or after October 26, 2026.
Read the briefing →Southern Border Drone Restrictions: What Pilots Need to Know for 2026–2027
Who should care: Drone operators planning flights near the U.S.–Mexico border, including Part 107 pilots and public-safety organizations.
Read the briefing →Proclamation 11055: Tariffs on Imported Drones and Drone Components
This is a trade tariff, not an FAA rule. It does not change any operating requirement, registration rule, or exam content for remote…
Read the briefing →