49 U.S.C. § 44808: Carriage of property by small unmanned aircraft systems for compensation or hire

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall update existing regulations to authorize the carriage of property by operators of small unmanned aircraft systems for compensation or hire within the United States. Use performance-based requirements. Consider varying levels of risk to other aircraft and to persons and property on the ground posed by different unmanned aircraft systems and their operation and tailor performance-based requirements to appropriately mitigate risk. Consider the unique characteristics of highly automated, small unmanned aircraft systems. airworthiness of small unmanned aircraft systems; qualifications for operators and the type and nature of the operations; operating specifications governing the type and nature of the unmanned aircraft system air carrier operations; and the views of State, local, and tribal officials related to potential impacts of the carriage of property by operators of small unmanned aircraft systems for compensation or hire within the communities to be served. registration with the Department of Transportation; authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct operations; and compliance with chapters 401, 411, and 417. Pending completion of the rulemaking required in subsection (a) of this section, a person may seek an air carrier operating certificate and certificate of public convenience and necessity, or an exemption from such certificate, using existing processes.