COA Filing For Public Safety, Handled End to End.
Filing a Certificate of Authorization is a one-time process for your agency and one we know well. We prepare it, submit it, and see it through from start to finish.
Why agencies bring their COA to us
The COA process is not complicated once you know the path, but the first time through it can be a maze of forms, aviation terminology, and FAA expectations. Most agencies only file once, so there is no chance to get good at it. We already know the current process and what the FAA is looking for, so instead of starting from zero, your team starts with people who have done this before.
We do the heavy lifting
You provide the details about your agency, aircraft, and crew. We handle the drafting, the paperwork, and the FAA correspondence.
Current, not guesswork
The process and the FAA's expectations shift over time. We file against what they want now, not what an old online guide says.
We stay with you
Once your COA is issued, we are still here for renewals, amendments, and changes as your program grows.
How it works
Discovery call
We learn your agency, your aircraft, your crew, and the airspace you operate in, and we figure out which type of COA actually fits your missions.
Establish your eligibility
Before anyone can file, the FAA has to recognize your agency as a qualifying public entity. We help prepare the Public Declaration Letter and get you set up with access to the FAA's application system.
Build your application package
This is the heavy part. We draft your concept of operations, operating area, aircraft documentation, emergency procedures, and pilot qualification plan. You review the full package before anything is submitted.
Submit and manage FAA review
We file with the FAA and handle their questions and requests through the review process, which typically runs up to 60 days for a complete application, until your COA is issued.
Activation and support
Once your COA is issued, we brief your unit on the terms, and we are here if you need help with renewals or amendments as your program changes.
A COA authorizes your agency, not just a pilot
A Part 107 certificate belongs to an individual. A COA puts the authorization, and the responsibility, with your department, so your program stands on its own no matter who is flying.
The authorization stays with the department
Pilots come and go. Your authority to fly does not walk out the door when someone transfers or retires.
You set the standard
Your agency certifies its own pilots, aircraft, and maintenance against written standards you control, rather than depending on each person's individual certificate.
Scoped to your missions
A COA can carry provisions written specifically for what your agency does, instead of forcing you into the fixed Part 107 box.
Standing access to your airspace
A jurisdictional COA gives ongoing authority to operate in your controlled airspace, not a fresh authorization for every flight.
Faster when it counts
Once you hold a COA, emergency amendments for no-notice critical missions move quickly.
The door to tactical BVLOS
The public-safety tactical BVLOS pathway is only open to agencies that already hold a COA.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need a COA, or is Part 107 enough?
It depends on how your program is set up. A Part 107 certificate authorizes an individual pilot. A COA authorizes your agency, which lets the department hold the authority and self-certify its own pilots, aircraft, and standards. Many public safety programs actually run both: pilots hold Part 107, and the agency holds a COA for the organizational authority and the operations Part 107 does not cover. On a short call we will tell you which setup fits your missions.
How much of this do we have to do ourselves?
Very little. You provide details about your agency, aircraft, and crew, and you review the package before it is filed. We handle the drafting, the submission, and the back-and-forth with the FAA.
How long does FAA approval take?
For a complete application the FAA generally targets a response within about 60 days, though it varies with the complexity of the request and their queue. Cleanly prepared applications tend to move faster because they raise fewer questions. We will give you a realistic estimate after the discovery call.
Can a COA cover beyond visual line of sight?
There is a tactical BVLOS pathway built specifically for public safety, and it is only available to agencies that already hold a COA. So a COA is the foundation for that capability. We will scope your application around the operations you actually need.
What does it cost?
It depends on the scope and complexity of your operations. We will give you a clear number after the discovery call, so your finance office knows exactly what to expect.