The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may have struggled with LAANC authorization, but they moved ahead with releasing TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) – a free online training program that pilots flying a drone recreationally are required to take and pass. Even if someone possesses Part 107 certification, they must complete this training and show proof of it, if asked by the FAA or law enforcement, in order to legally operate a drone, if they're flying recreationally, in the United States.
Mandated by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, drone industry stakeholders helped develop the curriculum for remote pilots. The FAA recently designated 16 non-governmental organizations to administer the test. They are:
The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)
The Boy Scouts of America
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Community College of Allegheny County - West Hills Center
CrossFlight Sky Solutions
Drone Launch Academy
Drone U
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU)
HSU Educational Foundation
Lake Area Technical College
Pilot Institute
Proctorio Incorporated
Tactical Aviation
UAV Coach
University of Arizona Global Campus
Volatus Aerospace Corp
'This is a great step in the right direction to help educate recreational pilots. TRUST strikes a nice balance between education without being too hard. We’re excited to partner with the FAA to provide the test for free to the UAS community,' Greg Reverdiau, of Pilot Institute, tells DPReview. Links to all the testing hubs, mentioned above, can be found on the FAA's website.
The entire testing process is expected to take roughly 30 minutes, at most, to complete. It requires reading some text and taking four quizzes. Once you've passed, you'll receive a Certificate of Completion that can be printed out. The certificate does not expire.