Drones have become a part of everyday life throughout much of the world. They are being used extensively by military and law enforcement agencies, for academic research, across a multitude of commercial enterprises, and recreationally. In the United States, drone use is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). For more than a decade, the FAA and drone industry insiders have been working tirelessly to improve technology and regulatory frameworks to ensure drones are safely integrated into the National Airspace (NAS). The technology has finally reached a tipping point that seems to open comprehensive pathways for drone use. While the technology is here, practically testing it for FAA approval is progressing slowly.

To use a drone commercially, the FAA requires pilots to maintain a Part 107 license and register any drones they operate. This includes drones used in official academic capacities or emergency operations. Technically, these rules do not apply to drones being used recreationally, though the FAA strongly urges recreational drone users to become certified and register their drones. All drone operators must abide by basic FAA regulations, including, but not limited to, avoiding no-fly zones, maintaining a certain altitude, and not using drones over people or moving vehicles. However, as demands on the drone industry increase, industry insiders and the FAA have recognized that exemptions to some of these rules need to be accounted for.

Kent State University in Kent, OH, recently announced that it had been granted a special waiver by the FAA to begin testing drones in populated areas, including over people and moving vehicles. In 2023, the university’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering opened the Center for Advanced Air Mobility under the directorship of Professor Dr. Rubén Del Rosario. The center focuses on multidisciplinary drone-related research and development, preparing students for tomorrow’s drone industry.

Collaborating closely with Dr. Rosario, and responsible for overseeing the FAA waiver process, was College of Aeronautics and Engineering Assistant Professor Jason Lorenzon. Professor Lorenzon leads the school’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Operations program, maintains several FAA certificates, and is a lawyer who is a Board-Certified Specialist in Aviation Law. The combined expertise of Professors Rosario and Lorenzon has led Kent State to obtain this very rare waiver.

Statistically, the FAA has awarded only 3% of applicants the type of waiver that Professor Lorenzon applied for. According to the FAA waiver, numbered 107W-2024-03232, “the Administrator finds that the proposed small unmanned aircraft (sUA) operation can be conducted safely under the provisions of this Certificate of Waiver (Waiver) as listed below because you have established adequate mitigations for risks involved with operating your sUA in the manner you described. Adherence to the provisions of this Waiver establishes the required level of safety within the national airspace system.”

Not only are students in the program learning about drones and their applications, but through this waiver process, they are gaining insight into working with federal agencies and aviation law. “This process has been an incredible journey, offering deep insights into the UAS industry and the regulatory framework of the FAA,” said Emily Lorenzon, Professor Lorenzon’s daughter and a student in the program. “While working on these projects has been rewarding, the opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams and institutions has been truly extraordinary. The exchange of ideas with other professionals and students has elevated our efforts and reinforced the importance of collaboration in advancing UAS technology.”

With the waiver in place, the university has begun notifying the public that there will be trial drone flights throughout the neighborhood, both on and off campus. They have assured the public that, though the drones will be flown over people and moving vehicles, safety is of the utmost priority. Only approved individuals will be flying the drones, while others observe to ensure safety and gather academic research.

The waiver allows Kent State to begin practical research on how drones can be integrated into previously restricted NAS. This is an important step in enabling the future of the drone industry. “This waiver represents a crucial step forward in our mission to advance air mobility technology while maintaining the highest safety standards,” said Professor Lorenzon. “It demonstrates our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in aerospace education and research.”

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