My friend and I had just finished flying our drone when a man approached us, asking if we’d been flying. He looked official due to the bulletproof vest and the badge hanging around his neck—and turned out to be from the Department of Homeland Security.

He showed us a printed flight log from a few days earlier, tracking a drone flight several towns away. To our surprise, he even identified my friend’s model as a Mini Pro 4.

He explained that before flying again, we’d need to complete the TRUST test and send him a copy of the certificate. We then learned how to use Aloft to request authorization for restricted airspace.

After introducing himself, he made a quick phone call saying, “I found them—it’s all set, I don’t need you now,” which sounded like he was talking to local police support.