What are the FAA's three categories of UAS?

What are the FAA's three categories of UAS?

• A. Large, Medium, Small
• B. Micro, Small, UAS
• C. Hobby, Commercial, Military
• D. Personal, Semi-professional, Professional

Answer: (B)

The FAA classifies unmanned aircraft systems by size based on takeoff weight to determine which rules apply. The three categories are micro UAS, small UAS, and large UAS. Micro UAS are the smallest, weighing less than 0.55 pounds (about 250 grams). Small UAS range from 0.55 pounds up to 55 pounds. Large UAS weigh more than 55 pounds. This weighting helps decide certification and operational requirements—micro UAS generally face the lightest restrictions, while large UAS face the most stringent oversight. The option that lists “Micro, Small, UAS” isn’t the standard naming, since the third category is “Large UAS,” not simply a generic “UAS.”

The FAA classifies unmanned aircraft systems by size based on takeoff weight to determine which rules apply. The three categories are micro UAS, small UAS, and large UAS. Micro UAS are the smallest, weighing less than 0.55 pounds (about 250 grams). Small UAS range from 0.55 pounds up to 55 pounds. Large UAS weigh more than 55 pounds. This weighting helps decide certification and operational requirements—micro UAS generally face the lightest restrictions, while large UAS face the most stringent oversight. The option that lists “Micro, Small, UAS” isn’t the standard naming, since the third category is “Large UAS,” not simply a generic “UAS.”