Sourcing Parts for Drones and Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft
Small drones are built to ASTM F38 consensus standards and operating rules, while eVTOL air taxis go through full FAA type certification as special class powered lift. The same motor mount can need a simple dimensional report or a full conformity package, so identify which path the part is on first.
Two very different markets under one heading
Uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced air mobility (AAM) share electric propulsion, composite airframes and a fast moving rulebook, but they sit at opposite ends of the certification spectrum. Most small drones are built under consensus standards and operating rules with no type certificate at all. eVTOL air taxis are going through full FAA type certification as powered lift aircraft. A supplier quoting a motor mount needs to know which world the part lives in, because the quality evidence, traceability and approval paths are completely different.
Hardware these programs buy
| Hardware | Typical materials and processes | Design and quality drivers |
|---|---|---|
| Airframe fittings, arm clamps, landing gear parts | 6061 and 7075 aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber tube and plate | Weight, fatigue at vibration frequencies driven by rotor speed, bonded joint quality |
| Motor mounts and nacelle structure | Machined aluminum, CNC cut carbon plate, composite layups | Stiffness, heat from motors, fastener retention under vibration |
| Battery enclosures and trays | Aluminum sheet and machined frames, flame resistant composites | Thermal runaway containment, venting, crash loads |
| Payload and gimbal mounts | Aluminum, magnesium, engineering plastics | Vibration isolation, alignment, small batch repeatability |
| Ground equipment and chargers | Sheet metal, weldments | Electrical safety, handling loads |
For machining approaches suited to thin, lightweighted parts see 5-axis CNC machining, and for laminated structure see composites fabrication.
Small UAS: operating rules and ASTM F38 standards
Small drones in the United States fly under 14 CFR Part 107 and must meet the Remote ID rule in 14 CFR Part 89. ASTM F3586 is an FAA accepted means of compliance for Part 89. It overlays ASTM F3411-22a, the Remote ID and tracking specification, marking mandatory portions and adding requirements needed for the rule. The FAA accepted F3586-22 in August 2022 with added conditions on tamper resistance. Remote ID compliance dates were September 2022 for manufacturers and September 2023 for operators.
Design and production quality for small UAS is largely set by ASTM Committee F38 consensus standards:
| Standard | Subject | Supplier relevance |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM F3003 | Quality assurance requirements for design, manufacture and production of small UAS | Defines the QA program a drone manufacturer flows to its suppliers |
| ASTM F3005-22 | Batteries for use in small UAS: cell selection, mechanical design and safety, electrical design and maintenance | Battery pack and enclosure builders |
| ASTM F3298 | Design, construction and verification of lightweight UAS | Structural and system verification expectations |
| ASTM F3322-24a | Small UAS parachute recovery systems: design, fabrication and test | Supports operations over people approvals |
| ASTM F3478 | Durability and reliability flight demonstrations for low risk UAS seeking type certification under 21.17(b) | Defines the demonstration program the airframe supports |
| ASTM F3365 | Compliance audits to ASTM UAS standards | How a manufacturer's compliance claims are audited |
ASTM notes that F38 standards use a referential approach, so one document often relies on others. Regulators may differ on whether they accept a given standard as a means of compliance; confirm with the program which revisions apply.
Beyond visual line of sight: the proposed Part 108
On August 7, 2025, the FAA and TSA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking for a new 14 CFR Part 108 to normalize low altitude beyond visual line of sight operations, with comments due October 6, 2025. As proposed it would replace case by case waivers with operating permits and certificates scaled to risk, approve aircraft through a pathway based on industry consensus standards, and pair with a new Part 146 for the supporting data services. It would not change Part 107. Check the Federal Register for the status of a final rule before relying on any proposed provision.
For suppliers the consensus standard pathway is the important part: if aircraft acceptance relies on ASTM standards, manufacturers will push those standards' quality and verification requirements down to their parts suppliers, much as AS9100 flows down in crewed aviation.
eVTOL and powered lift certification
Air taxi aircraft are being certificated as powered lift. Because Title 14 has no powered lift airworthiness standards, the FAA type certificates them as special class aircraft under 14 CFR 21.17(b), with airworthiness criteria drawn from existing parts such as 23, 33 and 35 plus criteria specific to powered lift. Final criteria have been published for the Joby JAS4-1 and the Archer M001 under their Federal Register dockets.
The operating side moved in October 2024, when the FAA issued the final Special Federal Aviation Regulation for powered lift pilot certification and operations, creating the first new aircraft category in decades. Reports put its duration at ten years.
For a parts supplier, an eVTOL program behaves like any type certification program: the OEM will need a production certificate, will require AS9100 from suppliers in practice, will conduct conformity inspections on parts used in certification testing, and will need complete traceability and FAI to AS9102. Parts for conforming test articles must match the design data exactly and be documented for FAA conformity, which is stricter than prototype work even when the part is the same.
Government buyers and component origin
Sourcing rules for drones sold to government buyers are tight and changing.
- Section 848 of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act restricts DoD use of drones and critical components from covered foreign countries, with the People's Republic of China named, and lists components such as flight controllers, radios, cameras, gimbals, ground control software and data storage.
- The American Security Drone Act in the FY2024 NDAA bars federal operation of covered drones and use of federal funds by contractors and grantees for them beginning December 22, 2025, according to legal summaries.
- The Blue UAS list of vetted platforms and components moved from the Defense Innovation Unit to the Defense Contract Management Agency in late 2025. Being on the list is not mandatory for every purchase and does not grant a blanket authority to operate.
- In late 2025 the FCC added foreign produced drones and critical components to its Covered List and then exempted Blue UAS items and domestic end products through January 1, 2027, according to law firm summaries.
The supplier takeaway: record the country of origin of every electronic subassembly and keep a bill of materials that can answer an origin question quickly. Machined and composite structure is usually not the problem, but a radio, camera module or flight controller can disqualify a build.
Export control
Many commercial drone parts are controlled under the EAR, while UAS specially designed for military use and certain components are on the USML. eVTOL aircraft for civil use generally fall under the EAR. If a program serves both commercial and defense customers, classify each part rather than the program. See controlled programs.
What makes UAS and AAM parts hard
- Vibration fatigue. Rotor and motor harmonics load small fittings millions of times. Thread locking, fillet radii, surface finish and fastener preload matter more than on many static structures.
- Weight targets that push tolerances. Thin walls and deep pockets in aluminum distort. Fixture design and stress relieved plate are part of the quote.
- Batteries. Enclosures must manage thermal runaway, venting and crash loads, and the cells themselves fall under F3005 and transport rules.
- Prototype to production jump. Startups move from quick turn prototypes to conforming certification articles; the paperwork expectation changes overnight. Agree on FAI and traceability before the first conforming order.
- Regulatory moving targets. Part 108 and component origin rules can change the bill of materials mid program.
Request a quote for UAS or eVTOL parts
Send the drawing through the quote form under CNC machining and tell us whether the parts are prototypes, conforming certification articles or production, which standards your program uses and any country of origin limits. We match the job to qualified suppliers, flow down your requirements, check the paperwork and reply within one business day. Related: industries hub, aviation and MRO and defense systems.
Questions
Do small drone parts need an AS9100 certified supplier?
Usually not by regulation. Small UAS built for Part 107 operations are not type certificated, and manufacturers typically define supplier quality through their own QA program, often modeled on ASTM F3003. Drones seeking type certification under 21.17(b), eVTOL programs and defense buyers will usually require AS9100 or equivalent controls. Check the customer's supplier quality requirements document rather than assuming.
What is ASTM F3586 and why does it matter to suppliers?
ASTM F3586 is an FAA accepted means of compliance for the Remote ID rule in 14 CFR Part 89. It overlays ASTM F3411-22a and adds requirements, and the FAA accepted it in 2022 with conditions on tamper resistance. Suppliers of flight controllers, radios and broadcast modules need to support the manufacturer's declaration of compliance, which can affect firmware controls and component changes.
Has Part 108 for BVLOS drone operations taken effect?
As of the sources reviewed for this page, Part 108 was a proposed rule issued August 7, 2025 with comments due October 6, 2025. It would replace waivers with permits and certificates scaled to risk and accept aircraft based on consensus standards. Check the Federal Register or the FAA for whether a final rule has been published before planning around specific provisions.
How are eVTOL aircraft certificated?
As special class powered lift aircraft under 14 CFR 21.17(b), using airworthiness criteria the FAA builds from existing parts of Title 14 plus powered lift specific criteria. The FAA published final criteria for the Joby JAS4-1 and Archer M001. The October 2024 powered lift SFAR covers pilot certification and operations rather than aircraft design.
Can a drone sold to DoD use foreign made components?
Not from covered foreign countries for the components Section 848 of the FY2020 NDAA lists, which include flight controllers, radios, cameras, gimbals, ground control software and data storage, with the People's Republic of China named. Machined and composite structure is rarely the issue. Keep country of origin records for every electronic subassembly so a compliance question can be answered from the bill of materials.
What extra documentation do conforming eVTOL test parts need?
Parts used in FAA certification testing must conform to the design data and be documented for conformity inspection, typically with full material and process certification, an FAI to AS9102 and serialized traceability. The OEM and the FAA or its designees may inspect them. Prototype parts built before the design is frozen usually do not carry that burden, so agree on which build you are quoting.
Related
Sources
- ASTM Committee F38 on Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- ASTM F38 jurisdiction listing (F3005-22 and others)
- ASTM F3322-24a, Small UAS Parachutes
- ASTM F3478-20, Low Risk UAS Durability and Reliability Demonstrations
- ASTM F3586-22, Remote ID Means of Compliance to 14 CFR Part 89
- FAA notice of acceptance of ASTM F3586-22 (Federal Register public inspection)
- Perkins Coie: FAA proposes new rule to normalize BVLOS operations
- Holland and Knight: FAA powered lift SFAR, October 2024
- Federal Register: Special class airworthiness criteria for the Archer M001
- Regulations.gov docket FAA-2021-0638, Joby JAS4-1 criteria
- Morgan Lewis: FCC exempts certain drones and components from Covered List (2026)
- UAV Coach: Blue UAS overview
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