§ 44801. Definitions

5,112 words·~23 min read·/usc/title-49/section-44801

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In this chapter, the following definitions apply:

(1)Actively tethered unmanned aircraft system.— The term “actively tethered unmanned aircraft system” means an unmanned aircraft system in which the unmanned aircraft component—

(A)weighs 55 pounds or less, including payload but not including the tether;

(B)is physically attached to a ground station with a taut, appropriately load-rated tether that provides continuous power to the unmanned aircraft and is unlikely to be separated from the unmanned aircraft;

(C)is controlled and retrieved by such ground station through physical manipulation of the tether;

(D)is able to maintain safe flight control in the event of a power or flight control failure during flight; and

(E)is programmed to initiate a controlled landing in the event of a tether separation.

(2)Appropriate committees of congress.— The term “appropriate committees of Congress” means the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.

(3)Arctic.— The term “Arctic” means the United States zone of the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, and Bering Sea north of the Aleutian chain.

(4)Certificate of waiver; certificate of authorization.— The terms “certificate of waiver” and “certificate of authorization” mean a Federal Aviation Administration grant of approval for a specific flight operation.

(5)Counter-UAS system.— The term “counter-UAS system” means a system or device capable of lawfully and safely disabling, disrupting, or seizing control of an unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system.

(6)Permanent areas.— The term “permanent areas” means areas on land or water that provide for launch, recovery, and operation of small unmanned aircraft.

(7)Public unmanned aircraft system.— The term “public unmanned aircraft system” means an unmanned aircraft system that meets the qualifications and conditions required for operation of a public aircraft.

(8)Sense and avoid capability.— The term “sense and avoid capability” means the capability of an unmanned aircraft to remain a safe distance from and to avoid collisions with other airborne aircraft, structures on the ground, and other objects.

(9)Small unmanned aircraft.— The term “small unmanned aircraft” means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds, including the weight of anything attached to or carried by the aircraft.

(10)Test range.— The term “test range” means a defined geographic area where research and development are conducted as authorized by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and includes the test ranges designated by the Administrator under section 44803.

(11)Unmanned aircraft.— The term “unmanned aircraft” means an aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.

(12)Unmanned aircraft system.— The term “unmanned aircraft system” means an unmanned aircraft and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft) that are required for the operator to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system.

(13)UTM.— The term “UTM” means an unmanned aircraft system traffic management system or service.”

(Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, § 341(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3284; amended Pub. L. 118–63, title IX, §§ 925(b)(1), 926(c), May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1360, 1361.)

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