Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

GrayRobinson's aviation attorneys understand that aviation law spans the full spectrum, from regulatory compliance and enforcement to airport development, infrastructure financing, and emerging airspace technologies. The team regularly advises clients on matters involving the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), including regulatory interpretation, compliance strategies, and operational risk management. We also represent clients in regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, guiding responses to agency inquiries and handling complex litigation matters, while protecting critical business and operational interests.

Our experience includes working with federal, state, and local aviation authorities on airport development and expansion, land use and zoning, and airspace considerations. We assist clients in securing building height variances, "no hazard" determinations, and flight procedure approvals, while coordinating closely with municipalities and airport sponsors on permitting, procurement, and grant assurance compliance. The team also supports airport infrastructure projects and improvements through negotiating construction contracts and environmental review and permitting processes, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance.

GrayRobinson advises on a wide range of airport and aviation-related real estate and commercial matters, including drafting and negotiating airport lease and use agreements such as ground leases, hangar leases, and concession arrangements. We represent both public and private sector clients in complex development projects, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure transactions, and provide guidance on federal grant programs and funding agreements, including compliance with applicable federal requirements.

Our aviation transactional work includes domestic aircraft acquisitions and sales, leveraged lease arrangements, secured finance transactions, and contractual matters affecting aviation service providers. We regularly counsel fixed-base operators, lenders, manufacturers, and pilots on both legal and commercial considerations, and advise on matters that intersect with international aviation frameworks in coordination with foreign counsel where needed.

As UAS operations continue to expand and evolve, GrayRobinson helps clients navigate this dynamic regulatory environment. We provide guidance on UAS rulemaking, compliance strategies, risk assessment, and integration of drone operations into business models. Our multidisciplinary team leverages experience across aviation regulation, real estate, insurance, intellectual property, and transactional law to support clients exploring innovative drone applications, as well as those seeking to implement property-based controls and operational strategies within the national airspace.