Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Any person who operates a drone for business purposes, receives compensation, or uses drone footage to promote a commercial enterprise must hold a current FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under 14 CFR Part 107. This includes real estate photography, videography, agriculture, construction surveys, inspections, mapping, and any other drone service provided for pay or business benefit.

Flying commercially without a Part 107 certificate is a federal violation that can result in civil penalties of up to $27,500 per violation and potential criminal charges.

FAA Part 107 (14 CFR Part 107) is the federal regulation that governs commercial small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) operations in the United States. Officially titled "Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems," it took effect on August 29, 2016 and establishes the rules, privileges, and limitations for flying drones weighing under 55 lbs for commercial purposes.

Part 107 covers operating rules (altitude limits, airspace, weather minimums), pilot certification requirements, aircraft registration, and the waiver process for operations beyond the standard rules.

You must be at least 16 years old to obtain an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107. There is no maximum age limit. You must also be able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and you must not know or have reason to know that you are mentally or physically unable to safely operate a small UAS.

No. Recreational (hobby) drone flying is governed by a separate set of rules under Section 44809 of the FAA Reauthorization Act, not Part 107. Recreational pilots must fly within the safety guidelines of a FAA-recognized Community Based Organization (CBO), register their drones, and pass the TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test).

However, many recreational pilots choose to obtain their Part 107 certificate anyway — it provides the flexibility to fly commercially if an opportunity arises and demonstrates a deeper understanding of airspace rules.

The FAA Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test covers the following subject areas:

• Applicable regulations relating to small UAS rating privileges, limitations, and flight operations
• Airspace classification, operating requirements, and flight restrictions
• Aviation weather sources and the effects of weather on small UAS performance
• Small UAS loading and performance
• Emergency procedures
• Crew resource management (CRM)
• Radio communication procedures
• Determining the performance of small UAS
• Physiological effects of drugs and alcohol
• Aeronautical decision-making and judgment
• Airport operations
• Maintenance and pre-flight inspection procedures

Our Part 107 prep course covers all of these areas with practice questions, visual explanations, and sectional chart reading tutorials.

The exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. You have 2 hours (120 minutes) to complete it. Most candidates finish in 60–90 minutes. Each question has three answer choices (A, B, C). There is no penalty for guessing, so answer every question even if unsure.

You must score at least 70% — meaning you need to answer 42 out of 60 questions correctly. You will receive your score immediately when you finish the exam at the testing center. If you pass, the testing center will provide you with an Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR), which you will need when applying for your certificate at FAA DroneZone.

The exam fee is $175 per attempt, paid directly to the PSI or Pearson VUE testing center at the time of registration. This fee is not refundable if you cancel within the required notice period or fail to appear, so make sure you are well-prepared before scheduling. If you need to retake the exam, you will pay the $175 fee again for each subsequent attempt.

The allotted time is 2 hours (120 minutes) for 60 questions, giving you an average of 2 minutes per question. The exam is computer-based and administered at a private testing station at the testing center. You may use printed aeronautical charts and an electronic calculator provided by the testing center. You cannot bring your own materials.

The FAA established Operations Over People categories in 2021 that allow flight over people without a waiver under certain conditions:

• Category 1: Drones under 0.55 lbs with no exposed rotating parts that could lacerate skin — no waiver needed.
• Category 2: Drones that meet specific FAA impact and laceration standards — declared by manufacturer, no waiver needed.
• Category 3: Similar to Category 2, with additional operational restrictions on sustained flight over open-air assemblies.
• Category 4: Drone must have an FAA-issued airworthiness certificate — allows operations over any person including open-air assemblies.

Always check your drone manufacturer's documentation to determine which category your aircraft falls under.

Yes — as of the 2021 FAA NPRM update, night operations are permitted under standard Part 107 rules without a waiver, provided your drone is equipped with anti-collision lighting that is visible for at least 3 statute miles. "Night" under Part 107 is defined as the period from the end of evening civil twilight to the beginning of morning civil twilight — 30 minutes after official sunset to 30 minutes before official sunrise.

You should still file any required airspace authorizations (LAANC or FAA DroneZone waiver) if operating in controlled airspace at night, and always conduct a thorough pre-flight in well-lit conditions.

LAANC stands for Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability. It is an FAA system that enables near-real-time airspace authorization for UAS pilots who need to fly in controlled airspace (Classes B, C, D, and E within surface areas).

Through FAA-approved UAS apps (such as AirMap, Kittyhawk, Aloft, and DroneDeploy), you can submit a LAANC authorization request and typically receive approval within seconds to minutes — rather than days or weeks for a formal FAA waiver. LAANC is available at thousands of airports across the U.S. and is the primary method pilots use to access Class D and Class E controlled airspace for routine operations.

BVLOS stands for Beyond Visual Line of Sight — operating a drone at a distance or in a manner where you cannot see it with your unaided eye. Standard Part 107 rules require that the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) maintain unaided visual line of sight of the aircraft at all times during flight (14 CFR 107.31).

BVLOS operations require an FAA waiver (Part 107.31 waiver), which involves submitting a detailed safety case to the FAA demonstrating how you will maintain equivalent or better safety outcomes without direct visual contact. The FAA is developing a comprehensive BVLOS rulemaking to create a more accessible framework for routine BVLOS operations in the future.

The FAA does not require commercial drone pilots to carry liability insurance as a condition of the Part 107 certificate. However, drone insurance is strongly recommended for all commercial operations for several reasons:

• Most clients, venues, and event organizers require proof of liability coverage — typically $1M per occurrence.
• A single incident causing property damage or personal injury could result in costs far exceeding the value of your drone.
• Hull insurance protects your equipment investment against crashes and equipment failure.

Several providers offer drone-specific insurance policies with daily, monthly, and annual options at reasonable rates for commercial pilots.

Our FAA Part 107 Prep Course is fully self-paced and typically requires 10–20 hours of study depending on your prior knowledge of aviation and meteorology. Students with no aviation background typically spend around 15–20 hours; those with some aeronautical experience often finish in 10–12 hours.

Most students complete the course content and sit for their exam within 2–4 weeks of enrollment. However, you have extended access to the course materials and can study at whatever pace works for your schedule.

Both options are available:

• Online (all 50 states): Our full Part 107 prep course is available 100% online with video lessons, interactive practice exams, study guides, and live instructor Q&A sessions. You can study from anywhere in the U.S. at any time.
• In-person: We offer weekend bootcamp intensives at our regional training hubs in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York. These immersive sessions are ideal for pilots who prefer structured classroom instruction and hands-on flight practice.

Note: Regardless of how you prepare, the official FAA knowledge test must be taken in-person at an approved PSI or Pearson VUE testing center.

If you do not pass the exam (score below 70%), you must wait a minimum of 14 calendar days before you can retake it. You will also need to pay the $175 fee again for each attempt.

We offer a pass guarantee for students who complete all course materials: if you fail your first exam attempt after completing the full course, we will provide supplemental tutoring, a personalized study plan targeting your weak areas, and unlimited access to additional practice materials at no extra charge — until you pass.

Your FAA Remote Pilot Certificate does not have an expiration date printed on it — it is a permanent credential. However, to remain current for commercial operations, you must complete a free FAA online recurrent training course every 24 calendar months.

The recurrent training is available through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) WINGS program at faasafety.gov. It takes approximately 1–2 hours to complete and covers regulatory updates and refreshed aeronautical knowledge. If your 24-month currency lapses, you cannot legally conduct commercial Part 107 operations until you complete the recurrent training. You do not need to retake the in-person proctored exam for recurrency.