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App. B (5)OPA / OPA-UAS

FAA Order 8130.34D — OPA / OPA-UAS Operating Limitation B-5

Appendix B · p. B-2

The OPA system may be engaged to permit remote pilot operations during daylight hours or at night in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with minimum flight visibility no less than 3 statute miles (SM) below 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) and 5 SM at or above 10,000 feet MSL. The OPA system is not authorized for use under special visual flight rules (SVFR).

Order notes

This limitation may be applicable if the applicant requested that the OPA system be engaged during night operations in the program letter and safety checklist. A limitation authorizing night operations per FAA Order 8130.2 must also be included in the operating limitations. For the OPA system to be approved for night operations, all switches or mechanisms onboard the aircraft used to disable or disconnect the OPA system must be illuminated unless they are located on a throttle, yoke, control column, control wheel, control stick, cyclic stick, or collective lever.

🧭 Guidance & sample wording

Night operations — what the OPA must carry

This limitation permits remote-pilot OPA operations in VMC at night. An OPA is a manned-capable aircraft, so for night flight it must carry the day-VFR instruments AND the night equipment, all installed, operational, and maintained, with nothing in the AFM/POH prohibiting night operation. Position and anticollision lights must be shown per .

§ 91.205(b) — day-VFR instruments & equipment

  • Airspeed indicator
  • Altimeter
  • Magnetic direction indicator (compass)
  • Tachometer for each engine
  • Oil pressure gauge for each engine using a pressure system
  • Oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine
  • Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine
  • Manifold pressure gauge for each altitude (supercharged/turbocharged) engine
  • Fuel quantity gauge for each fuel tank
  • Landing gear position indicator (if retractable gear)
  • Approved anticollision light system (small civil airplanes certificated after 3/11/1996)
  • Approved safety belts, and an approved shoulder harness for front seats (airplanes made after 7/18/1978)
  • Emergency locator transmitter (ELT), if required by
  • Approved flotation gear, if operated for hire over water beyond gliding distance from shore

§ 91.205(c) — added for night

  • Approved position (navigation) lights
  • Approved aviation red or white anticollision light system
  • One electric landing light, if operated for hire
  • Adequate source of electrical energy for all installed electrical and radio equipment
  • One spare set of fuses (or three spare fuses of each kind required) that are accessible, or circuit breakers
Related CFR
Preparation support, not an FAA determination. The determination and record entry are made by the operator or authorized person; the FAA prescribes the final limitations on the FAA Form 8130-7.

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This is a free reference reproducing public-domain text from FAA Order 8130.34D. AWCReady is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FAA. This is one of the order’s sample limitations; the limitations an aircraft actually receives are prescribed by the FAA on FAA Form 8130-7 — AWCReady prepares and organizes; the FAA determines every outcome.