4.2.5
Category 4 Means-of-Compliance
To demonstrate that a small UAS qualifies for Category 4 operations over people, the ARC
recommends that the manufacturer of the UAS be required to: (1) declare that the small UAS meets
applicable industry consensus standards for operation over people; (2) submit that declaration to the
FAA in a form and manner acceptable to the FAA; and (3) label the product or product retail
packaging in accordance with industry consensus standards.
4.3 Recommended Operational Requirements for Small UAS Appropriate to the
Recommended Performance-Based Safety Requirement
4.3.1
Category 1 Operational Requirements
Recognizing the low risk of injury posed by UAS with a weight (including accessories/payload, e.g.,
cameras) of 250 grams or less, the ARC recommends no operational restrictions for UAS in this
category.
4.3.2
Category 2 Operational Requirements
For UAS above 250 grams and meeting the risk level for Category 2 operations over people, the
ARC recommends the following operational restrictions:
(1) The operator must comply with the manufacturer’s operator manual for the small UAS,
developed in accordance with industry consensus standards.
(2) The small UAS must be operated at a minimum distance of 20 feet above people’s heads, or
10 feet laterally away from, people. Notwithstanding these minimum distance requirements,
the small UAS must always maintain a safe distance from people so as not to create an
undue hazard to those people.
4.3.3
Category 3 Operational Requirements
The ARC recommends that operators conducting Category 3 operations over people be bound by
the same operational restrictions as operators conducting Category 2 operations over people (i.e.,
comply with the manufacturer’s operator manual and maintain specified minimum set-off distances).
To mitigate the additional level of risk of “serious” injury posed by small UAS conducting Category
3 operations over people, the ARC recommends the following additional operational restrictions for
this category:
Flight over crowds or dense concentrations of people is never permitted under Category 3. In
addition to that restriction, Category 3 UAS may only operate over people if:
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