Petitions FAA for UAS Exemption to Pressure Wash Buildings and Wind Turbines
Summary
California Drone Cleaning LLC submitted a comment to the FAA in docket FAA-2025-5638, responding to a request for additional information on its petition for exemption to operate UAS over 55 pounds for aerial pressure washing and cargo delivery. The proposed operations would use a hose-tethered pressure washing system with operating pressure of 300–2,000 PSI and flow rates of 2–8 GPM for commercial building exteriors (4–20 stories) and wind turbine blades and towers.
“California Drone Cleaning LLC intends to provide aerial pressure washing services using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the following targets:”
What changed
California Drone Cleaning LLC submitted additional information in support of its petition for FAA exemption from UAS weight limitations, covering aerial pressure washing of commercial buildings (4–20 stories) and wind turbine blades and towers using a hose-tethered system, and cargo delivery of water and pressure washing equipment not for compensation or hire. The comment references prior similar exemptions approved by the FAA and proposes conditions and limitations comparable to those previously deemed to provide an equivalent level of safety.\n\nCompanies operating or planning to operate heavy-lift UAS for commercial services beyond standard Part 107 operations should monitor this proceeding, as an approved exemption could establish operational precedent for similar aerial industrial service applications. Operators seeking comparable exemptions should ensure their petitions include detailed procedures, safety comparisons, and reference prior approved conditions and limitations.
Archived snapshot
Apr 21, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Comment
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ATTACHED. PLEASE REDACT. -------------------------
- Please provide a detailed definition and explanation of your intended activities related to pressure washing, along with the procedure manual.
California Drone Cleaning LLC intends to provide aerial pressure washing services using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the following targets:
• Commercial building exteriors (4 to 20 stories tall)
• Wind turbine blades and towers
The system works as follows: The drone carries only a pressure washing wand and nozzle. Pressurized water is supplied through a hose tethered from a ground-based commercial pressure washer (mounted on a trailer). The drone does not carry any water tank or pump. Hose length is limited to a maximum of 300 feet. Nozzles are typically 15–30 degrees, with operating pressure ranging from 300 to 2,000 PSI and flow rates of 2–8 GPM.
We have attached our operations manual.
We are only spraying water.
We will fly only in accord with the conditions and limitations as outlined in our petition for exemption as well as the conditions and limitations in our manuals that we have attached. The operations manual and also the conditions limitations have information regarding pre-flighting the area, as also maintaining a certain buffer distance from non-participating people and property.
Please provide an explanation of how pressure washing would not adversely affect safety, or how this operation would provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the regulations from which you seek.
We are spraying only water.
The conditions and limitations we are proposing are almost exactly like other exemptions previously approved by the FAA, which would be determined to provide an equivalent level of safety as the regulations. This is to include allowing heavier aircraft to do demonstrations, testing, aerial data collection, and cargo delivery not for compensation or hire.Please provide a detailed definition and explanation of your intended activities related to cargo delivery not for compensation or hire, along with the procedure manual.
We've attached the procedures manual.
The cargo would be water along with the pressure washing system on the aircraft.Please provide an explanation of how cargo delivery not for compensation or hire would not adversely affect safety, or how this operation would provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the regulations from which you seek.
In the two exemptions referenced, they have conditions and limitations that are extremely similar to the ones we are proposing. In those exemptions, the FAA determined that the conditions and limitations provided an equivalent level of safety. Likewise, here, our conditions and limitations would provide an equivalent level of safety as the regulations.Attachments 3
Confidential-California Drone Cleaning LLC Maintenance Manual for 55 Pounds and Heavier-DemoComOps
Restricted: Confidential Business Information
Confidential-California Drone Cleaning LLC Training Manual for 55 Pounds and Heavier-DemoComOps
Restricted: Confidential Business Information
Confidential-California Drone Cleaning LLC Operations Manual for 55 Pounds and Heavier-DemoComOps
Restricted: Confidential Business Information
Mentioned entities
Parties
Related changes
Get daily alerts for Regs.gov: Federal Aviation Administration
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Source
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from FAA.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when Regs.gov: Federal Aviation Administration publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.