3.5) FCC and FAA Regulations

AERPAW Frequencies for Phase-2 Operations

AERPAW supports experiments primarily for the following frequency bands: 

• Software Defined Radio (SDR) Experiments: 3.3-3.45 GHz

• Ericsson 5G Experiments: 3.3-3.45 GHz

• Ericsson LTE Experiments: 1.7 GHz (Uplink) and 2.1 GHz (Downlink)

AERPAW's FCC Call Sign is WK2XQH and further details about AERPAW FCC experimental licenses can be found by searching with this call sign at https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/CallsignSearch.cfm.    

AERPAW's FCC Innovation Zone

AERPAW's FCC Innovation Zone was approved in August 2021 by the FCC. The innovation zone encompasses approximately 10.5 square miles for testing over the NC State University campus, a suburban residential area, and a rural research farm. This area is defined as the area roughly between Western Boulevard at the northern boundary, south of the Lake Wheeler Agricultural Research Station at the southern boundary, Gorman Street on the western boundary, and South Saunders Street on the eastern boundary. 

• NC State Lake Wheeler Field Farms Site: To minimize the risk of harmful interference to incumbent operations and avoid areas where airborne operations may be restricted, AERPAW's primary area for airborne transmissions within the larger Innovation Zone will be over approximately 3 square miles in the Lake Wheeler area in the southern portion of the Innovation Zone. This area is defined by the following coordinates: 

  • • 35° 44’ 29.9” N 78° 40’ 20.0” W 

    • 35° 44’ 38.7” N 78° 41’ 32.3” W 

    • 35° 43’ 58.3” N 78° 42’ 22.0” W 

    • 35° 43’ 23.5” N 78° 42’ 12.3” W 

    • 35° 42’ 59.5” N 78° 41’ 16.8” W 

    • 35° 43’ 01.5” N 78° 40’ 08.1” W 

• NC State Centennial Campus Site: In addition to the Lake Wheeler Field Farms, the innovation zone also encompasses part of AERPAW's Centennial Campus. The boundary for this area is within the polygon defined by the following coordinates: 

  • • 35° 46’ 23.4” N, 78° 39’ 12.7” W 

    • 35° 47’ 06.3” N, 78° 41’ 13.0” W 

    • 35° 45’ 03.3” N, 78° 42’ 42.2” W 

    • 35° 43’ 21.1” N, 78° 42’ 11.9” W 

    • 35° 42’ 59.5” N, 78° 41’ 16.8” W 

    • 35° 43’ 01.5” N, 78° 40’ 08.1” W 

AERPAW and FAA Regulations

AERPAW will be operating under Federal Aviation Administration Part 107 Regulations for our year 1 experiments. Most of these flights will take place at the Mid-Pines Lake Wheeler Field Laboratory. 

• All operations will be within line of sight, under 55 pounds, less than 100 MPH, and below 400ft.

• AERPAW will be collecting data that will be used to build safety cases for waivers for the following operations in the future. 

  1. § 107.35 – Operation of Multiple Small UAS

  2. § 107.39 – Operation over human beings