Definitions

Common terms and acronyms used throughout this site and in UAS operations generally.

General

sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft System)

An unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 lbs (25 kg), the FAA’s regulatory category for most drones.

Part 107

The FAA regulation (14 CFR Part 107) governing most commercial and institutional small UAS operations in the United States.

Remote Pilot Certificate

The FAA certification required to operate a UAS under Part 107.

TRUST Certificate

The Recreational UAS Safety Test Certification for recreational, hobbyist, and many educational UAS operations.

VLOS (Visual Line of Sight)

The pilot or a visual observer must be able to see the aircraft, unaided except for corrective lenses, at all times during flight.

BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight)

Operations conducted outside the pilot’s unaided visual range. Requires a waiver or Certificate of Authorization under current regulations.

LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability)

The system used to request near-real-time airspace authorization in controlled airspace.

TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction)

A short-term airspace restriction, often issued for wildfires, VIP movement, or large events.

NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions)

An official notice containing information relevant to flight safety, including airspace restrictions.

Operational

PIC (Pilot in Command)

The individual with final responsibility for a UAS operation, whether or not they are manipulating the controls directly.

VO (Visual Observer)

A person assisting the PIC by maintaining visual contact with the aircraft, allowing the PIC to attend to other mission-critical tasks.

GCS (Ground Control Station)

The equipment used to monitor and, where applicable, control a UAS during flight.

Technical & Equipment

MTOW (Maximum Takeoff Weight)

An approximation of a drone’s relative size and regulatory category.

RTK (Real-Time Kinematic)

A GNSS correction technique providing centimeter-level positioning accuracy in real time, used for precision mapping.

PPK (Post-Processed Kinematic)

Similar to RTK, but positioning corrections are applied after the flight rather than in real time.

GSD (Ground Sample Distance)

The real-world size represented by a single pixel in captured imagery; a key measure of mapping resolution.

Gimbal

A motorized stabilization mount that keeps a camera steady independent of the aircraft’s movement.

VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing)

Describes aircraft capable of taking off and landing vertically, including some fixed-wing mapping drones.

FPV (First Person View)

Flight controlled via a live video feed from the aircraft’s perspective, rather than by direct visual observation.

Multispectral Sensor

A camera capturing multiple specific light wavelength bands (e.g., red, green, near-infrared) beyond standard visible-light photography, commonly used in agricultural and research imaging.

Thermal Sensor

A camera capturing infrared radiation to visualize heat differences, used in inspection, wildlife monitoring, and search operations.

Regulations

COA (Certificate of Waiver or Authorization)

An FAA approval permitting a public operator (including public universities) to conduct specific UAS operations, such as BVLOS, that would otherwise be prohibited.

Remote ID

The requirement for most drones to broadcast identification and location information in flight, comparable to a digital license plate.

FRIA (FAA-Recognized Identification Area)

A defined location where drones may be flown without Remote ID equipment.

NDAA / Section 848

The National Defense Authorization Act; Section 848 refers to specific UAS-related provisions restricting the use of federal funds for certain foreign-manufactured drones.

Blue UAS

A Department of Defense-cleared list of drones approved for federal use. See the Blue UAS Cleared List.

Domestic End Product

The Buy American Standard test for whether an article qualifies as domestically manufactured, based on U.S. assembly and a domestic-component cost threshold. Full regulatory text (48 C.F.R. § 25.101)

UAS Critical Components

Components, including software, the FCC defines as core to a UAS for Covered List purposes: flight controllers, navigation systems, sensors, batteries, motors, and more. FCC drone/UAS Covered List page

Toy Drone

An FCC-defined exemption category for very small, sensor-free, non-connected recreational drones meeting twelve specific criteria. FCC drone/UAS Covered List page

Military-Grade UAS (proposed)

A proposed FCC definition covering heavier, sensor-equipped, or swarm-capable UAS. DA-26-758

Power Inverters

Foreign-produced bi-directional power conversion devices with remote connectivity, added to the FCC Covered List in 2026. DA-26-786

Advanced Robotic Devices

Foreign-produced mobile robots (including humanoids and quadrupeds) meeting specific weight, sensor, and connectivity criteria, added to the FCC Covered List in 2026. DA-26-786