FAA Order 8130.34

FAA Order 8130.34C, Airworthiness Certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, establishes procedures for issuing either special airworthiness certificates in the experimental category or special flight permits to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), optionally piloted aircraft (OPA), and aircraft intended to be flown as either a UAS or an OPA.

Obtaining an experimental airworthiness certificate for a particular UAS is currently the only way civil operators of unmanned aircraft are accessing the National Airspace System of the United States.

Adoption of ARP4754, DO-178C, and other related guidance standards to UAS programs is rapidly growing because of the certification requirements established with this FAA Order.