Number:
INFORMAL
Issued
Mr. Robert Mullennix
ClancyJG International
Federal Aviation Administration
Unmanned Aircraft Systems AJV-13
490 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20024
Dear Mr. Mullennix:
The Office of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Programs at the University of Florida has advised this office that it is in the process of applying to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a Certificate of Authorization to permit use of an Unmanned Aircraft System for various aerial operations. The University advises that the FAA requires confirmation that the University is an agency of the state, thus qualifying an aircraft owned and used by the University as a public aircraft under 49 U.S.C. 40125.
The University of Florida is part of the State University System, established by section 7, Article IX, of the Florida Constitution, which provides, in part: “(b) There shall be a single state university system comprised of all public universities.” Section 1000.21(6)(a), Florida Statutes (2018), provides that the University of Florida is a state university. Section 1001.705(1)(d), Florida Statutes (2018), provides, in part: “’State university’ or ‘state universities’ as used in the State Constitution and the Florida Statutes are agencies of the state which belong to and are part of the executive branch of state government.”
This letter constitutes the Florida Attorney General's assurance that the University of Florida is an agency of the state within its executive branch. This letter may not be understood to constitute comment on any other issue or matter.
Sincerely,
Pam Bondi
Attorney General
PB/tebg
ClancyJG International
Federal Aviation Administration
Unmanned Aircraft Systems AJV-13
490 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20024
Dear Mr. Mullennix:
The Office of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Programs at the University of Florida has advised this office that it is in the process of applying to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a Certificate of Authorization to permit use of an Unmanned Aircraft System for various aerial operations. The University advises that the FAA requires confirmation that the University is an agency of the state, thus qualifying an aircraft owned and used by the University as a public aircraft under 49 U.S.C. 40125.
The University of Florida is part of the State University System, established by section 7, Article IX, of the Florida Constitution, which provides, in part: “(b) There shall be a single state university system comprised of all public universities.” Section 1000.21(6)(a), Florida Statutes (2018), provides that the University of Florida is a state university. Section 1001.705(1)(d), Florida Statutes (2018), provides, in part: “’State university’ or ‘state universities’ as used in the State Constitution and the Florida Statutes are agencies of the state which belong to and are part of the executive branch of state government.”
This letter constitutes the Florida Attorney General's assurance that the University of Florida is an agency of the state within its executive branch. This letter may not be understood to constitute comment on any other issue or matter.
Sincerely,
Pam Bondi
Attorney General
PB/tebg