FAA issues Certificate of Waiver 107W-2026-00686 to Buoyant Aero for UAS operations over humans and moving vehicles
[REGULATORY ACTION]May 15, 2026 · Buoyant Aero · Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp · Los Angeles, California, USA
Failure Mode
REGULATORY ACTION
Event Date
May 15, 2026
Primary Entity
Buoyant Aero
Robotic Platform
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp
Jurisdiction / Location
Los Angeles, California, USA
Audit Standard
Physical State Verified
Incident Abstract & Audit Findings
The FAA's Flight Standards Service issued a Certificate of Waiver (No. 107W-2026-00686) to Buoyant Aero, Inc. (Responsible Person: Benjamin R Claman, 191 Henry St, New York, NY) authorizing small UAS operations over human beings and moving vehicles under 14 CFR §§ 107.39 and 107.145.
System & Fleet Architecture
Operating Manufacturer
Hardware Platform
Operational Sectors
Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings
- Inspect Filing
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2026-0749-0004
https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2026-0749-0004
- Inspect Filing
https://www.faa.gov/media/115056
https://www.faa.gov/media/115056
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Details
Incident Context & FAQ
What happened in FAA issues Certificate of Waiver 107W-2026-00686 to Buoyant Aero for UAS operations over humans and moving vehicles?
The FAA's Flight Standards Service issued a Certificate of Waiver (No. 107W-2026-00686) to Buoyant Aero, Inc. (Responsible Person: Benjamin R Claman, 191 Henry St, New York, NY) authorizing small UAS operations over human beings and moving vehicles under 14 CFR §§ 107.39 and 107.145. The waiver is effective May 15, 2026 through May 31, 2030, with 21 special provisions including max takeoff weight of 54.9 lbs, minimum 100 ft AGL altitude, and transitory-only overflight of non-participants. Separately, Buoyant Aero filed a petition in Feb 2026 (FAA docket FAA-2026-0749) seeking an exemption under Exemption No. 21914 to conduct aerial advertising including banner towing, hanging banners, light-up displays, and similar operations.
When did this incident occur?
The incident is recorded as occurring on May 15, 2026 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.
What robot was involved in FAA issues Certificate of Waiver 107W-2026-00686 to Buoyant Aero for UAS operations over humans and moving vehicles?
Buoyant Aero Cargo Blimp by Buoyant Aero is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Los Angeles, California, USA.
Has anyone responded to FAA issues Certificate of Waiver 107W-2026-00686 to Buoyant Aero for UAS operations over humans and moving vehicles?
No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.
What is the current status of FAA issues Certificate of Waiver 107W-2026-00686 to Buoyant Aero for UAS operations over humans and moving vehicles?
This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.