Yes , after you request a COA after you get your FAA 333
From the following, it seems the "blanket COA" covers the 3-5 mile range I'm talking about but that I would only need to request a COA if I wanted to operate within ranges closer than those exemptions. Right?
Civil operators authorized via Section 333 grants of exemption are automatically issued a "blanket COA" to conduct civil UAS operations nationwide. The blanket COA authorizes flights at or below 400 feet to any UAS operator with a Section 333 exemption for aircraft that weigh less than 55 pounds, operate during daytime Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions, operate within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the pilots, and stay the following distances away from airports or heliports:
- 5 nautical miles (NM) from an airport having an operational control tower; or
- 3 NM from an airport with a published instrument flight procedure, but not an operational tower; or
- 2 NM from an airport without a published instrument flight procedure or an operational tower; or
- 2 NM from a heliport with a published instrument flight procedure.
A UAS operator that wants to operate from an airport or within the distances from the airport stated above for the "blanket COA", must apply for and obtain a separate COA specific to the proposed flight on or near an airport. These are sometimes referred to as a "full COA". This type of COA will provide specific details and parameters of the permitted operation. Please note that the documentation for the "blanket COA" and the "full COA" may initially appear to be very similar and the FAA recommends obtaining the entire COA documentation from the UAS operator for review.