A sUAS operated by the New York City Police Department and utilized to search for a fleeing suspect at night would require which FAA authorization?

• A. Part 107 exemption
• B. Certificate of Authorization (COA) or waiver
• C. Both Part 107 exemption and COA
• D. Either a Part 107 exemption or COA or waiver

Answer: (D)

FAA authorization is needed to fly a sUAS in national airspace. For a police operation at night, there isn’t a single one-size-fits-all path—two main routes apply. A government agency can obtain a Certificate of Authorization (COA) that specifically covers the planned flight, location, and conditions. Alternatively, the operator can obtain a Part 107 exemption or a waiver to Part 107 rules in order to fly under different conditions, such as nighttime operations or beyond visual line of sight. Because nighttime reconnaissance is outside standard Part 107 permissions, either a COA or a Part 107 exemption/waiver would make the operation legally permissible. In practice, this means the operation could be authorized via either route, depending on the agency’s chosen path and the specifics of the mission.