Part 107 Authorizations and
Waivers under 14 CFR Part 107 and Airspace Authorizations in
Controlled Airspace under 49 U.S.C. § 44809(a)(5)
Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection
Yes
Regular
12/22/2025
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
970,553
0
99,755
0
0
0
Respondents are sUAS operators seeking
authorization to fly in controlled airspace under either 14 CFR
§ 107.41 or 49 U.S.C. § 44809(a)(5) (sUAS operators flying “limited
recreational operations” also referred to as “recreational
flyers”). Per the regulatory requirements of both operation types,
no person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in Class B, Class
C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the
surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport unless
that person has prior authorization from Air Traffic Control (ATC).
Thus, respondents are required to provide certain information to
ATC as part of the application process to gain authorization to fly
in controlled airspace. The information includes the respondent’s
name, telephone number, email address, and information related to
the date, time, place, and altitude of any planned flight
operations in controlled airspace. Reporting this information is
required for Part 107 and Section 44809 operators to receive
authorization to fly a sUAS in controlled airspace. There are no
record-keeping or disclosure requirements. There are no
record-keeping or disclosure requirements. The information
requested from respondents for airspace authorizations and airspace
waivers is essential to the FAA’s mission of ensuring safety in the
airspace. The FAA is tasked with the exclusive management of
airspace in the United States and must issue regulations and
control the use of airspace to ensure the safe and efficient use of
airspace. Part 107 Airspace Authorizations: The FAA uses the
information provided by respondents via either LAANC or the
DroneZone web portal for the same purposes and will address each
together. LAANC and DroneZone Web Portal The FAA uses this
information to evaluate airspace authorization requests submitted
under Part 107 and Section 44809. For both user types, the LAANC
and DroneZone systems serve as the primary collection mechanisms.
LAANC provides near-real-time, fully automated processing for
authorization requests that fall within published UAS Facility Maps
(UASFMs), while DroneZone enables manual review and approval for
requests outside of automated limits or for locations not served by
LAANC. Part 107 Airspace Waivers: DroneZone Web Portal The FAA uses
information respondents submit via the DroneZone web portal to
determine whether each respondent can safely operate the sUAS under
the terms of an airspace waiver that authorizes deviation from §
107.41. The FAA reviews and analyzes the information it collects
from the respondent to determine the type and extent of the
intended deviation from § 107.41. In general, the FAA will issue a
certificate of waiver or authorization to the respondent
(individuals and businesses) if the proposed operation does not
create a hazard to persons on the ground or to other aircraft. If
the FAA did not collect this information, the FAA would not be able
to grant certificates of waiver from § 107.41 as the FAA uses the
information to authorize (or deny) the requested airspace waiver
consistent with the FAA’s legal mandate to maintain a safe and
efficient airspace.
US Code:
49
USC 44701 Name of Law: General Requirements
US Code: 49
USC 44809 Name of Law: FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018
US Code: 49
USC 44807 Name of Law: General Requirements
US Code: 49 USC 44809 Name of Law: FAA
Reauthorization Act of 2018
US Code: 49 USC 44807 Name of Law: General Requirements
US Code: 49 USC 44701 Name of Law: General Requirements
Section 44809 Previously,
Information Collection (IC) 2120-0776 was approved for 252,460
annual responses and 24,007 annual burden hours. Actual respondents
were fewer than initially estimated; however, the number of Section
44809 respondents increased notably from fiscal year (FY) 2023 to
FY 2024—from 149,397 to 190,012, representing a 27.2%
year-over-year increase. In FY 2025, there were 204,392
respondents, a 6% increase from the prior year, which aligns more
closely with the growth rate the FAA anticipates over the next
three years. Although steady growth is expected to continue, the
overall burden associated with this collection has decreased when
compared to the previously approved estimates, based on the actual
number of respondents recorded over the past three fiscal years.
Part 107 (previously under 2120-0768) Previously, Information
Collection (IC) 2120-0768 was approved for 492,655 annual responses
and 61,582 annual burden hours. LAANC respondents exceeded
projections, with 473,066 respondents in FY 2024 and 561,351
respondents in FY 2025—an 18.7% increase. DroneZone respondents, by
contrast, were accurately estimated for FY 2023 (43,559) and FY
2024 (51,477) but decreased by 22.4% in FY 2025 (39,929). This
decrease is attributed to LAANC system enhancements that expanded
Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities’ Further Coordination (FC)
request capabilities, which previously required submission through
DroneZone. This is further supported by the 25.3% increase in FY
2025 LAANC FC requests. As part of this revision, Part 107
authorizations and waiver requests previously captured under IC
2120-0768 are now consolidated into IC 2120-0776. The Part 107
burden has increased since the previously approved collection and,
combined with the inclusion of these activities, results in a
significant overall increase in the total burden for IC
2120-0776.
$11,826,316
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Andrew Shutt 817 222-4670
andrew.c.shutt@faa.gov
Yes
None. The plan is to convert this from Common
Forms to a Standard Collection.
Agency/Sub Agency
RCF ID
RCF Title
RCF Status
IC Title
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 3 Part 107 - Airspace Waivers - DroneZone Web Portal
Supporting Statement_2120-0776_Part107_and_44809_Auths._20251117.docx
FAA Aerospace Forcast FY 2025-2045.pdf
Part 107 - Airspace Waivers - DroneZone Web Portal