One would think that if the FAA has advanced beyond filing cabinets for their record keeping and have a real digital database that they could easily pare down that list in just a few minutes. These agencies also always seem to be wrapped in a political layer. Maybe that's the origin of the apparent foot dragging.
I did a search for waiver 107.29 starting at the
FAA site. Under '
Regulations and Policies -> Orders and Notices' there is a search form. The search phrase was 'Unmanned Aircraft Systems'. The source document is
8900.529 - Extended Unmanned Aircraft Systems Oversight. Searching through the associated
PDF for anything related to waiver '107.29' took me to 'Section 7. Reference Documents'. The paragraph pointed me to the
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations web site. From there I selected '
Title 14 - Aeronautics and Space'. Clicking on the range inclusive of 107 took me to '
Chapter I, Subchapter D'. Scrolling down I clicked on the Table of Contents link '
107.1 - 107.205 for Small Unmanned Aerial System'. That goes to
Subchapter F, Part 107. Under 'Subpart B - Operating Rules', there is a link to
107.29. The information is sparse. All it says is "
No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system during night." There is more detail on twilight operations. But that doesn't seem relevant here. So in answering your question, it appears that the policy is directed more to the operator and not the drone itself. But in any case, this is really not a waiver, just a rule. That's an error in the original local news article. Rather rule '107.29 - Daylight Operations' is
subject to waiver. Scrolling down further on the preceding page to 'Subpart D - Waivers', there is a section entitled '
107.200 - Waiver policy and requirements'. This is the most interesting part. It states:
"
107.200 Waiver policy and requirements.
(a) The Administrator may issue a certificate of waiver authorizing a deviation from any regulation specified in §107.205 if the Administrator finds that a proposed small UAS operation can safely be conducted under the terms of that certificate of waiver.
(b) A request for a certificate of waiver must contain a complete description of the proposed operation and justification that establishes that the operation can safely be conducted under the terms of a certificate of waiver.
(c) The Administrator may prescribe additional limitations that the Administrator considers necessary.
(d) A person who receives a certificate of waiver issued under this section:
(1) May deviate from the regulations of this part to the extent specified in the certificate of waiver; and
(2) Must comply with any conditions or limitations that are specified in the certificate of waiver."
Section (b) is the most revealing. That tells me that if the FAA is true to its policies and if the mystery drone operators did indeed apply for and receive a waiver, then a "
complete description of the proposed operation and justification" must exist.