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Aeronautics and Aviation

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Drones: Government UAS Operators

Government drone operators

Regulation

The FAA regulates all aircraft in flight. Drone operations by government employees should generally be conducted under civil (small aircraft rule) or public aircraft (COA) rules.

In addition to FAA requirements, Minnesota requires all aircraft that operate in Minnesota airspace be registered with MnDOT. In Minnesota, governments operating drones are exempt from aircraft registration fees. Here's what you'll need to do to meet the Minnesota requirements:

Register your aircraft with the FAA before registering with MnDOT. You will need the N- or F- registration number assigned by the FAA to register with MnDOT
Go to MnDOT’s Aircraft Registration website for instructions on how to register your aircraft with MnDOT

Assistance

MnDOT is the state-level regulatory agency for aircraft in Minnesota. We are here to help guide you with your UAS operations. For assistance, please contact Dmitry.Foster@state.mn.us.