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Implementing Section 927 Waiver Process for Certain Unmanned Aircraft Operations

Notice · published 2026-04-01
Read the official document (2026-06297)

No operational change for most remote pilots — this is a process notice, not a rule.

Who this affects

Operators who would seek a waiver to an existing federal aviation regulation (as distinct from an exemption or a new regulation). Not a change for pilots operating within current Part 107 limits.

What the document says

Congress, in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, authorized the FAA to enable unmanned aircraft operations through waivers to applicable federal aviation regulations, in place of initiating new regulations or requiring operators to seek regulatory exemptions. This notice explains how the FAA will implement that authority.

What changes in practice

Nothing changes operationally for a remote pilot reading this. The notice sets out the FAA's internal process for handling a new type of waiver. If you were already planning to request a waiver or exemption for a specific operation, this may change which mechanism you use (waiver vs. exemption), but it does not expand what you are allowed to do on its own.

What it does not do

It does not change any regulation. It does not grant any waiver. It does not create new operational authority (e.g., BVLOS, over people, night operations). It does not amend Part 107 or any other part. It is a process notice, not a final rule or a proposed rule.

Does this affect the Part 107 exam?

No. This does not affect anything on the Part 107 exam. It is a procedural implementation notice tied to a 2024 reauthorization act and has no bearing on the knowledge test or current operating rules.