Part 107 FAQ

Part 107 refers to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR Part 107), the FAA rule that governs commercial small UAS (drone) operations in the United States. It establishes the requirements for obtaining a Remote Pilot Certificate, which authorizes you to fly drones weighing under 55 lbs for commercial purposes. Without a Part 107 certificate, you cannot legally charge for drone services, sell aerial footage, or use a drone in furtherance of any business. The rule was enacted in August 2016 and has been updated several times since, most notably in 2021 with night-flying and Remote ID provisions.

It depends on why you're flying. If you're flying purely for fun (recreational), you fly under the Exception for Recreational Flyers (Section 44809) and do not need Part 107. However, the moment you use your drone for any commercial purpose — selling photos, inspecting a roof for a client, mapping farmland, or even posting monetized YouTube videos — you need a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. The FAA defines "commercial" very broadly, so when in doubt, get your Part 107 certificate.

Recreational flying is strictly for personal enjoyment with no business purpose. You must follow community-based organization guidelines, stay below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, and pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). Commercial flying under Part 107 allows you to fly for hire, sell footage, perform inspections, and conduct any business-related drone operation. Part 107 pilots have more flexibility — they can request airspace authorizations via LAANC, fly at night without a waiver, and operate with fewer restrictions than recreational flyers.

You must be at least 16 years old to hold an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (14 CFR 107.61), but you can take the knowledge test from age 14 (FAA Airman Knowledge Testing Matrix). There is no upper age limit. You also need to be able to read, speak, write, and understand English. No medical certificate or flight hours are required.

No, you do not need any prior aviation experience or pilot certificate. Part 107 is a standalone certificate specifically for drone operators. However, if you already hold a manned aircraft pilot certificate (Private, Sport, or higher) with a current flight review, you can skip the knowledge test and instead complete an online training course through the FAA Safety website. This shortcut saves the $175 testing fee and can be completed in a few hours.

The FAA says the knowledge test costs approximately $175, paid to PSI when you book; you pay it again for each retest. The certificate itself is free once you pass. Registering a drone with the FAA costs $5 per aircraft (valid for 3 years). Study material can be free (the FAA publishes the Remote Pilot study guide and sample questions) or paid; take a free full-length practice test before you book. Full breakdown: Part 107 test cost and scheduling.

Most people study for 2–4 weeks of part-time study (1–2 hours per day). The test itself has a 2-hour limit. After passing, you apply through IACRA (the FAA's online system); once the TSA security check clears, the FAA emails you instructions to print a temporary certificate, and the permanent card follows by mail.

In 2025, 82.96% of 73,914 Part 107 (UAG) attempts passed, with an average score of 79.31% (FAA CY2025 Airman Knowledge Test Volume Report): about 1 in 6 attempts failed. Regulations is 48% of the test; airspace and sectional chart reading take the most practice and are the area our learners miss most (most-missed Part 107 questions). Take full timed practice tests until you score well above 70%.

The Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test covers five major domains: regulations (Part 107 rules, airspace, registration), airspace and requirements (controlled/uncontrolled airspace, LAANC, TFRs, NOTAMs, sectional charts), weather (METARs, TAFs, density altitude, wind effects), loading and performance (weight and balance, CG, performance calculations), and operations (airport procedures, emergency procedures, crew resource management, aeronautical decision-making, and physiological factors affecting pilots).

60 scored multiple-choice questions plus 5 unscored validation questions, so you see 65 on screen (PSI UAG bulletin, effective September 29, 2025). You can't tell which ones are unscored, so answer all of them. Each question has three answer choices (A, B, or C), and every test is drawn differently. You can practice with a full 60-question timed test here.

You need a minimum score of 70% to pass, which means answering at least 42 of the 60 scored questions correctly. However, aiming for just 70% is risky — we recommend studying until you consistently score 85%+ on practice tests. That buffer accounts for test-day nerves and the handful of tricky questions the FAA always includes. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so always make your best guess.

At a PSI testing center: PSI administers the FAA airman knowledge tests, and you book on faa.psiexams.com after getting your FAA Tracking Number (FTN) in IACRA. There are hundreds of locations nationwide, often at flight schools and airports. Bring current identification showing your photo, date of birth, signature and residential address, and arrive at least 15 minutes early (PSI UAG bulletin). Find one near you: Part 107 test locations.

No, the initial Part 107 knowledge test must be taken in person at an FAA-authorized testing center. However, the recurrent training (required every 24 months to maintain your certificate) can be completed online for free through the FAA Safety website (FAASTeam). If you already hold a manned aircraft pilot certificate with a current flight review, you can complete the initial training online as well, bypassing the in-person test entirely.

120 minutes (2 hours) for 65 questions on screen: 60 scored and 5 unscored. The time allowed already includes the unscored ones (PSI UAG bulletin). The testing center gives you the testing supplement (FAA-CT-8080-2H) with the charts and figures, scratch paper and a writing instrument; the testing software has a built-in four-function calculator, and a simple calculator of your own is allowed only if the proctor can verify its memory is cleared. Phones and smartwatches stay outside.

The FAA publishes five knowledge areas: (1) Regulations covering 14 CFR Part 107, registration, and remote pilot privileges; (2) Airspace classification, sectional chart interpretation, LAANC, TFRs, and NOTAMs; (3) Weather including METARs, TAFs, density altitude, wind shear, and microbursts; (4) Loading and performance such as weight and balance, center of gravity, and performance factors; (5) Operations including airport procedures, emergency management, crew resource management, ADM, and physiological factors.

Yes. Many airspace questions (Airspace is 20% of the test) ask you to read the sectional chart excerpts in the testing supplement: identify airspace boundaries, airports, obstructions and special-use airspace, and work out altitudes. From October 26, 2026, the FAA says the test also includes questions with images of current charts that are not in the supplement (FAA Airman Testing Community Advisory, September 2026). Check a real location with our drone airspace lookup by ZIP code.

Your Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate never expires. However, you must complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months to exercise the privileges of your certificate for commercial operations. The recurrent training is a free, online course available through the FAA Safety website (FAASTeam). If you let it lapse, you don't lose your certificate — you just need to complete the recurrent training before flying commercially again.

Technically, you don't "renew" Part 107 — you complete recurrent training. Every 24 months, log into the FAA Safety website (FAASTeam), complete the free online recurrent course (ALC-677), and keep the completion certificate with your Remote Pilot Certificate (14 CFR 107.65). There is no fee and no in-person visit required. Set a calendar reminder so you don't accidentally fly with lapsed privileges.

Yes. Since the April 2021 rule update, Part 107 pilots can fly at night without a waiver. The requirements are: (1) your drone must have anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles, and (2) you must have completed updated initial or recurrent training that covers night operations. If you got your certificate before April 2021, complete the updated recurrent training online to unlock night privileges.

Yes, but with restrictions based on your drone's category. The 2021 rules created four categories (1–4) based on drone weight and injury potential. Category 1 drones (under 0.55 lbs) can fly over open-air assemblies. Category 2 drones can fly over people but not sustained flight over open-air assemblies. Categories 3 and 4 have additional restrictions. Your drone must have an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance (DOC) or an airworthiness certificate for its category.

As of March 16, 2024, all drones that require FAA registration must broadcast Remote ID. This applies to both recreational and Part 107 pilots. Most new DJI, Autel, and Skydio drones have built-in Remote ID. Older drones need a Remote ID broadcast module. The only exception is flying at an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA). Non-compliance can result in fines. Read our complete Remote ID guide for setup instructions.

The FAA does not require insurance for Part 107 operations, but virtually every commercial client will. Liability insurance typically costs $500–$1,500 per year for $1M coverage. Many providers offer on-demand hourly policies starting at $10–$25 per flight. If you're doing any paid work — real estate, inspections, events — get insured. One crash into a car or building without coverage could bankrupt you.

Yes, but you need authorization first. The easiest way is through LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability), which provides near-real-time approvals in most controlled airspace. Check the airspace first (our airspace lookup by ZIP, the FAA B4UFLY app or the UAS Facility Maps), then request authorization in a LAANC app such as Aloft; within the grid altitude it is usually approved in near real time. For airspace not covered by LAANC, you'll need to file a manual request through the FAA's DroneZone. Check our where-to-fly guide for more details.

Drone pilot income varies widely based on specialization, location, and experience. Entry-level real estate photography pays $150–$400 per shoot. Infrastructure inspection pilots earn $65,000–$130,000 annually as employees. Freelance pilots in surveying and mapping can charge $150–$300 per hour. Top earners in cinematography and specialized industrial inspection exceed $150,000 per year. The key is picking a niche and building a portfolio.

The highest-margin drone businesses are infrastructure inspection (power lines, cell towers, roofs), surveying and mapping (construction, mining), and agriculture (crop health monitoring, precision spraying). These niches command premium rates because they replace expensive and dangerous manual methods. Real estate photography is the easiest to start but has more competition and lower per-job rates. See our drone business startup guide for a detailed breakdown.

Your Part 107 certificate authorizes you to fly commercially, but local business requirements still apply. Most states and cities require a general business license or registration if you're offering services for pay. You may also need a sales tax permit depending on your state. An LLC is recommended for liability protection. Check your city and state's business portal for specific requirements — setup usually costs $50–$500.

Absolutely. You can sell aerial photos and videos as stock footage on platforms like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images, or directly to clients. Real estate agents, construction firms, tourism boards, and marketing agencies are all eager buyers. You need your Part 107 certificate since selling footage is a commercial activity. Build a portfolio, showcase your work on social media, and reach out to local businesses to find your first clients.

Start local: contact real estate agents, roofing companies, construction firms, and event planners in your area. List your services on DroneBase, Zeitview (formerly DroneUp), and Thumbtack. Join Facebook groups and subreddits for drone pilots to find gig postings. For full-time positions, search LinkedIn and Indeed for "drone pilot" or "UAS operator."  Look into government and utility contracts for stable, well-paying work. Networking at local drone meetups and industry events is also highly effective.

Yes, and this is one of the most popular entry points for new Part 107 pilots. Real estate aerial photography typically pays $150–$400 per property for photos and video. Some agents want full video tours with editing, which can command $500+. Start by offering discounted shoots to a few agents, deliver polished work, and let referrals build your client base. Having a drone with a good camera (DJI Air 3 or Mavic 3 are popular choices) is essential.

At minimum: a reliable drone with a quality camera (DJI Mini 4 Pro for budget, DJI Mavic 3 for professional work), 3–4 extra batteries, a carrying case, ND filters for video work, and a smartphone or tablet for flight planning apps. You'll also need liability insurance, a basic website or portfolio, and business cards. Budget $1,000–$3,000 for a solid starter setup. As you specialize, you may add thermal cameras, LiDAR sensors, or multispectral imaging equipment.