FAA Part 107 Regulations

FAA Part 107

 

As far as federal regulation and insurers are concerned, UAS are AIRCRAFT, not toys, tools, or science projects. In order to fly your drone under the FAA's Small UAS Rule (Part 107), you must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. This certificate demonstrates that you understand the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones.

Requirements for a Part 107 Remote Certificate:

  • Be at least 16 years old
  • Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
  • Pass a TSA Background Check
  • Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone
  • Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam: "Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)"
  • Complete an online recurrent training every 24 calendar months to maintain aeronautical knowledge recency

Any person operating a small UAS must either hold a remote pilot airman certificate with a small UAS rating or be under the direct supervision of a person who does hold a remote pilot certificate. Until international standards are developed, foreign-certified UAS pilots are required to obtain an FAA-issued remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating. 

 

Check out the role of the RPIC and the VO:

 

Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC)

Visual Observer (VO)

  • Be in possession of the Remote Pilot Certificate
  • Make available the aircraft certification
  • Make available to the FAA, upon request, any associated documents/records required to be kept under the rule
  •  Conduct a preflight inspection, to include specific aircraft and control station systems checks, to ensure the small UAS is in a condition for safe operation 
  • Assess the operating environment, considering risks to persons and property in the immediate vicinity both on the surface and in the air. The assessment includes:
    • Local weather conditions
    • Local airspace and any flight restrictions
    • The location of persons and property on the surface
    • Other ground hazards
  • Ensure all persons directly participating in operation are informed about the operation conditions, emergency procedures, contingency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and potential hazards (preflight briefing)
  • Ensure all control links between the ground control station and small unmanned aircraft are working properly
  • Cannot be PIC for more than one drone operation at a time
  • Visual observer - a person who assists the remote PIC and the person manipulating the flight controls of the small UAS (if that person is not the remote PIC) to see and avoid other air traffic objects aloft or on the ground
  • Optional crewmember with no required certification and or training 
  • Remote PIC must brief the VO before the flight
  • VO must maintain communication with Remote PIC
  • Must be located in an area that will provide visual line of sight (VLOS) capability
  • The remote PIC may choose to use a VO to supplement situational awareness and VLOS
  • A VO does not need any specialized training or certification
  • Cannot VO for more than one drone operation at a time

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operational Limitations

  • Maximum groundspeed of 100 mph (87 knots)
  • Maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level (AGL), unless the aircraft remains within 400 feet laterally of a structure in which case the aircraft can fly to an altitude 400 feet above that structure
  • Minimum weather requirements for UAS operations:
    • Visibility of 3 statute miles from the control station
    • 500 ft. below clouds
    • 2000 ft. horizontally from clouds
  • A person may not operate a small unmanned aircraft if he or she knows or has reason to know of any physical or mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small UAS.
  • No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft:
    • Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage
    • While under the influence of alcohol
    • While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety
    • While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen
  • No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with operations, traffic patterns at any airport, heliport, or seaplane base
  • sUAS must yield right of way to other aircraft.

 

Aircraft Regulations

  • No carriage of any hazardous materials is allowed under any circumstance. 
  • External load operations are allowed if the object being carried by the unmanned aircraft is securely attached and does not adversely affect the flight characteristic or controllability of the aircraft.
  • UAS requires a preflight inspection by the remote pilot in command 
  • Remote Pilot in Command must also ensure that the small unmanned aircraft complies with the existing registration requirements specified in § 91.203(a)(2) (see infographic below)
  • Unmanned aircraft must weigh less than 55 lbs. (25 kg). 
  • No operations from a moving aircraft.
  • No operations from a moving vehicle unless the operation is over a sparsely populated area.
  • No careless or reckless operations. 

How to label your drone image provided by the Federal Aviation Administration.