FAA Part 107 Requirements: What They Mean for Your Project

What Part 107 is (and why it exists)

Part 107 is the FAA’s regulatory framework for operating small drones (under 55 pounds) for non-recreational purposes—things like construction documentation, real estate marketing, roof inspections, insurance evidence, industrial imaging, and similar work. The purpose is to ensure that drones are operated in a way that is predictable, safe, and compatible with other aircraft and people on the ground.

For clients, the most important takeaway is: Part 107 is not a “nice to have.” If the flight is for a business purpose (even if the drone pilot is not being paid), the FAA generally treats it as non-recreational. A pilot conducting that flight should be operating under Part 107 rules (or another applicable authorization), and should be able to explain how the rules apply to your site.

The Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate

A core requirement is that the operator holds a Remote Pilot Certificate (often called a “Part 107 license”). This certification indicates the pilot has passed an FAA knowledge exam covering airspace, weather, operating rules, emergency procedures, and other topics relevant to safe flight.

What this means for your project:

• A certificated pilot should be comfortable determining whether your location is in controlled airspace and whether additional permission is needed.
• A certificated pilot should understand limitations on flying over people, near airports, at night, and in other higher-risk situations.
• A certificated pilot should be able to produce documentation of certification status if requested.

The certificate doesn’t guarantee artistic skill, but it does indicate the pilot has been tested on the operational rules that keep the flight legal and safe.

Airspace: Where you can fly isn’t always obvious

One of the most common surprises for clients is that not all airspace is equally accessible. In many areas—especially near airports, heliports, seaplane bases, and certain controlled zones—drone operations may require authorization before the pilot can legally fly.

Controlled airspace (and authorization)

Controlled airspace is typically associated with nearby airports, and it can extend outward and upward in complex shapes. Many professional drone flights in controlled airspace are possible, but they may require FAA authorization (often obtained through LAANC—Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability—or through other FAA processes depending on the airspace).

What this means for your project:

• A flight may be delayed if authorization is needed and cannot be obtained immediately.
• Altitude limits may apply even if authorization is granted (e.g., a maximum approved altitude in that grid).
• Certain locations may be effectively off-limits or require more advanced coordination depending on restrictions.

A professional pilot will check the airspace early in the planning process. From a client perspective, providing the exact address (or GPS location) up front is one of the best ways to prevent scheduling surprises.

Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)

Even if a location is normally flyable, temporary restrictions can appear with little notice—often due to major events, VIP travel, wildfire response, or other safety/security issues.

What this means for your project:

• A shoot can be legal one day and restricted the next.
• A pilot may need to reschedule rather than “work around” a restriction.

Visual Line of Sight (VLOS): Why some shots aren’t possible

Part 107 generally requires the remote pilot (or a visual observer working with them) to keep the drone within visual line of sight. That means the drone must be visible to the human eye (not just through the camera feed) throughout the operation.

This affects projects in practical ways:

• Long-distance “follow” shots down roads, canals, or property lines may be limited.
• Behind-the-building flights can be restricted if the pilot cannot maintain sight of the aircraft.
• Dense tree cover or obstructions may prevent certain angles unless the pilot can reposition to maintain visibility.

Clients sometimes assume that because a drone can transmit video from far away, it’s allowed to fly far away. Under Part 107, the camera feed is helpful, but it does not replace the visual line-of-sight requirement.

Operations over people: Safety rules affect crowded areas

Part 107 has strict concepts around flying over people. In general, operations over people who are not directly participating in the operation are limited unless specific conditions are met (including drone category requirements and safety protections).

How this shows up in real projects:

• For a construction site, the pilot may require a temporary safety perimeter where non-participants are kept out from directly under the flight path.
• For events, the pilot may plan flight paths that avoid flight directly over crowds, focusing on perimeters, traffic flow, or staging areas instead.
• For a property shoot, the pilot may ask that residents stay inside or remain in designated safe areas while the drone is overhead.

This isn’t a matter of preference—it’s about reducing risk and complying with the operational rules.

Night operations: Often possible, but planned differently

Night operations are generally allowed under Part 107 if the pilot meets the relevant requirements (including proper lighting and training/knowledge). However, night flights require additional planning compared to daytime.

Practical implications:

• The drone must have appropriate anti-collision lighting visible from a required distance.
• The pilot may conduct extra checks for obstacles that are harder to see at night (wires, cranes, tree lines).
• Wind and weather can change quickly at dusk and night, impacting safety and image quality.

For clients, the key point is that “golden hour” and twilight work is common—but it’s not automatically trivial. A professional pilot will treat low-light conditions with more caution and often with more setup time.

Altitude and operational limits: Why “higher” isn’t always better

Part 107 sets general operational limits, including maximum altitude (commonly referenced as 400 feet AGL—above ground level—unless operating within certain constraints near a structure). Even well below that ceiling, pilots often choose lower altitudes for detail work and higher altitudes for context.

What it means for your project:

• If you need fine detail, the flight will likely be closer and slower, with more careful framing.
• If you need a big-picture overview, the flight can be higher, but still within legal and safe bounds.
• In controlled airspace, the FAA authorization may impose a lower maximum altitude than the general rule.

Altitude is a tool, not a guarantee. The best altitude depends on the required output, the site environment, and any restrictions in the area.

Speed, flight path, and safety buffers

Part 107 rules emphasize safe operation. In practice, professional pilots build in safety margins—distance from obstacles, time for emergency response, and planned “outs” if something unexpected happens.

This affects expectations in a few ways:

• Some dramatic “close pass” shots may be declined if they require unsafe proximity.
• A pilot may choose a route that looks less exciting but is safer and still effective for documentation.
• The pilot may do multiple shorter flights rather than one long flight, because battery and risk management are part of safe operations.

The goal is not just to avoid breaking rules; it’s to reduce the probability and severity of an incident.

Weather minimums: Wind and visibility matter more than clients expect

Drones are more sensitive to weather than many people assume. Part 107 also includes visibility and cloud clearance rules (and pilots have to be able to judge whether the conditions are legal and safe).

Project implications:

• High winds can reduce image stability and increase the risk of control issues—especially near buildings where wind can swirl.
• Rain and heavy humidity can impact sensors and lenses and may be unsafe for many drones.
• Low visibility or low cloud ceilings can restrict flight legality even if it “looks fine” from the ground.

Pre-flight site assessment

A compliant Part 107 operation typically includes a pre-flight plan and on-site assessment. Depending on the project, the pilot may:

• Check for hazards (wires, cranes, antennas, trees, restricted areas)
• Confirm takeoff and landing zones
• Identify people and vehicle movement patterns
• Plan emergency procedures (lost link, low battery, unexpected aircraft)
• Confirm airspace authorization status and any applicable restrictions

For clients, this means you may see a pilot arrive early, walk the site, and take time to plan before launching. That time is not wasted—it’s part of doing it correctly.

Client responsibilities: What you can do to make compliance easier

Clients don’t “hold the certificate,” but your cooperation can make the flight smoother and safer. Common helpful actions include:

1. Provide the exact address and site boundaries early. This helps confirm airspace and plan the shot list efficiently.
2. Identify hazards and sensitive areas. Examples: overhead lines, active cranes, helipads, sensitive neighbors, livestock, reflective surfaces, or high-traffic areas.
3. Coordinate access. If the pilot needs to launch from a specific location or needs permission to enter a gated area, align this ahead of time.
4. Manage on-site participants. If your project involves staff, tenants, or subcontractors, it helps to notify them and keep them out of restricted zones during flight.
5. Clarify the deliverables. A “few drone photos” can mean many things. Clarifying what you want (angles, count, resolution, context vs detail) reduces rework.

What “Part 107 compliant” should look like

You don’t need to be an FAA expert to evaluate whether a pilot is operating professionally. Here are signs the operator is treating your flight as a real Part 107 operation:

• They ask for the address and check airspace before confirming the plan.
• They discuss weather constraints and rescheduling policies rationally.
• They define where they will launch, where they will fly, and where they will not fly.
• They avoid flying directly over uninvolved people and set expectations around safety perimeters.
• They can explain, in plain language, why a certain shot is risky or not legal.
• They treat the operation as a safety-managed flight, not a casual hobby flight.

Summary: Why Part 107 matters to your project

Part 107 isn’t just paperwork—it directly shapes how a drone project is planned and executed. The rules influence:

• whether the pilot can fly at the location (airspace and restrictions)
• how the pilot can fly (line of sight, altitude, people on site, time of day)
• when the pilot can fly (weather, authorization timing, temporary restrictions)
• what results are realistic (angles, distances, and safety margins)

If you understand these basics, you’ll be better equipped to schedule efficiently, coordinate a site safely, and request deliverables that match what is possible under compliant operations.