There is a great deal of confusion and misinformation regarding the regulations and requirements schools must follow when using drones in the educational environment. The majority of these concerns revolve around the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licensing requirements in the United States. In this article, we will provide the correct information related to FAA rules so you can move forward with the Drones in School program with confidence. "The mission of the FAA is to regulate civil aviation and U.S. commercial space transportation, maintain and operate air traffic control and navigation systems for both civil and military aircrafts, and develop and administer programs relating to aviation safety and the National Airspace System." ( reference link ) The Drones in School program is designed to operate entirely indoors. The FAA is tasked with ensuring safety in the national airspace system (places where airplanes fly), a.k.a. outdoor space. Since airplanes do not fly inside buildings, the FAA does not regulate what you do with an aircraft or model aircraft when you are indoors. Therefore, no licensing is required as long as students and adults practice the guidance provided by Drones in School and fly indoors. When you restrict flying to indoor spaces, you can rest assured that you are entirely in compliance with the legal requirements for drone flight. However, to provide one additional layer of safety, we recommend all students and advisors complete T he R ecreational U AS S afety T est ( TRUST ) and download their official certificate proving they fully understand the legal requirements for flying outdoors for recreational purposes. Although this is not required for indoor flight, we think it's a good idea since it is quite possible a student or adult may want to fly outdoors at some point with their aircraft. When flying a drone like the ones used in Drones in School that weigh less than 250g (.55 lbs) for recreational purposes, the FAA only requires the pilot to have their TRUST certificate and follow the guidance of their community-based organization. (We recommend following Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) guidance) We hope this provides some clarity for educators and administrators exploring the Drones in School program for their students. If you have any questions about regulations or the program and general, please contact us at: info@dronesinschool.com

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