Intro: Let’s say you’ve built or bought a drone that weighs over 55 pounds. You’re flying it
beyond your own property. And you’re doing it for customers — maybe delivering cargo,
inspecting infrastructure, or moving gear between remote sites.
Guess what? You’re not just “flying a drone.” You’re operating what the FAA considers an
aircraft in commercial airspace.
So what rules apply?
There are two major certification pathways for drones over 55 pounds:
1. Section 44807 Exemption This is your entry point if your drone is too heavy for standard
Part 107 operations but you still want to fly legally.
Under Section 44807, the FAA can grant special permission to operate UAVs that don’t meet
standard certification requirements — if you prove you can fly safely.
But it comes with conditions:
● It’s tied to a specific aircraft and operator
● You’ll need detailed operational limits, like altitude, location, and visibility
● The FAA expects a clear mitigation plan (e.g., lost-link protocols, emergency land
procedures)
Most importantly: 44807 is not a license to operate freely. It’s a tailored permission based on
your system and mission.
If you want to fly beyond visual line of sight, over people, or in restricted airspace? You’ll likely
need a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) on top of the 44807.
Real-World Example: Mule Works At Mule Works, our aircraft are designed to lift up to 1,000
pounds and travel 200 miles. This puts us firmly outside the bounds of typical Part 107
operations.
That’s why we pursued both a SAC-EC certification for R&D and test flights, and a Part 135
certification for long-term cargo operations. But for innovators just getting started with a
heavy-lift system? Section 44807 is often the most accessible first step.
It lets you:
● Fly your aircraft legally for proof-of-concept
● Work with FAA advisors to shape your path to certification
● Start building flight data to support future waivers or upgrades
Top 3 Mistakes Applicants Make:
1. Vague operational plans: The FAA wants specifics. Don’t say “we’ll fly safely.” Show
them how.
2. Skipping the safety mitigations: Lost-link protocols, emergency land zones, and
weather thresholds matter.
3. Treating 44807 as a one-size-fits-all license: It’s not. Every approval is custom to your
drone, your flight location, and your mission.
Downloadable 44807 Pre-Submission Checklist To help get you started, we’ve created a
simple checklist with the core elements the FAA looks for. Here’s what it includes:
● Aircraft description & specs
● Proposed flight area with map coordinates
● Altitude, weather, and visibility thresholds
● Lost-link protocol
● Emergency procedures
● Operator qualifications
● Maintenance and inspection plan
● Public safety and risk mitigation strategy
Want a copy? Email us at [email protected] or visit our website to download the
PDF version branded with Mule Works.
Next Up in the Series: We’ll walk through what goes into a successful 44807 application
package — and how to move from exemption to full operational approval (like Part 135).
Got questions? Reach out to Mule Works. We’re not just flying heavy drones — we’re building
the playbook for others to follow
