What does James need before he can fly his new sUAS with a total weight of 120 lbs?

For James to fly his new small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) that weighs 120 lbs, he must obtain an FAA exemption. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) categorizes sUAS based on their weight, and systems that exceed a certain weight threshold often require special permissions or exemptions to operate legally.

In this context, the sUAS is above the maximum weight limits typically associated with categorization as a "small" unmanned aircraft, which is generally defined as weighing less than 55 lbs. As a result, because his sUAS weighs 120 lbs, it falls outside of those standard operating parameters, necessitating an exemption to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

An FAA exemption can provide specific allowances or modifications to the standard rules, allowing for operations that would not be permissible under regular sUAS regulations. This is crucial to ensure safety and regulatory compliance during operations of heavier aircraft.

Other options, such as having a pilot's license or a special insurance policy, may not directly address the regulatory requirements for flying an sUAS of this weight. While attending a training module can be beneficial for operational knowledge and safety, it does not substitute for the formal permissions required by the FAA for operating larger sU