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Overview
To get licensed for flying a drone for commercial or any non-recreational purpose, you need to obtain the FAA's Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107 license) by passing an aeronautical knowledge test. All drones, regardless of weight, must be registered with the FAA online at FAA DroneZone if flown under Part 107, and a $5 fee is required per drone. For recreational flyers, a license isn't required, but you must register drones over 0.55 lbs (250 grams) for $5 and fly responsibly.
What you need to know:
- Recreational vs. Commercial Use:
- Recreational Use: No license is needed for flying solely for fun. You still need to register drones weighing over 0.55 lbs with the FAA.
- Commercial Use: You must have a Part 107 license to fly for any profit, including selling photos or videos, and you must register each drone you use for these purposes, regardless of its weight.
- Meet requirements: Be at least 16 years old.
- Get your FAA tracking number (FTN): Create an account on the FAA website and obtain an FTN.
- Pass the knowledge test: Schedule and pass the FAA's Aeronautical Knowledge Test, which costs around $175.
- Get your pilot certificate: After passing the test and undergoing a TSA background check, you can apply for your Remote Pilot Certificate on the FAA website.
- Create an account: Visit the FAA DroneZone.
- Add drone details: Provide the drone's company, type, and Remote ID serial number (if applicable).
- Pay the fee: Complete the registration and pay the $5 fee, which is valid for three years.
- Stay below 400 feetin most airspace.
- Get authorizationbefore flying in controlled airspace (near airports).
- Fly safely and within your visual line of sight.
- Give way to manned aircraft.
- Do not fly in a reckless manneror in "no drone zones".
Passing your Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 test and earning your remote pilot certificate as a commercial drone pilot might seem like a difficult or time-consuming process, especially without experience. You may be asking “When do I have time to study? It’s been forever since I’ve studied for anything.” And some people have considerable test anxiety. But you don’t need to be worried—the whole process is straightforward. In fact, it’s much simpler than most people think. In this post we’ll explain what’s involved.
But first, we’ll cover who actually needs a Part 107 drone pilot license and some basics about flying your drone.
Do I need a Part 107 drone license?
Depending on if you want to fly a drone recreationally or professionally changes the answer to this question. If you plan to fly a drone in for business purposes then yes, you do need to obtain your Part 107 drone license before doing so.
However, if you want to fly your drone recreationally, a different set of more informal requirements exists. All you have to do to be able to fly your drone recreationally is to first take an online course, which should only take about 30 minutes to one hour to finish. At the conclusion of the course is an online test that you must pass. The test is called TRUST, which stands for “The Recreational UAS Safety Test.” Access to this test can be found here.
Once you complete these prerequisites, you will be all set to fly your drone. Here are some additional ground rules that are good to follow to avoid any mistakes or accidents.
- Register your drone: Make sure that you register your drone on the FAA website. Also carry proof of registration anytime you are flying your drone, especially in public areas or in environments where the drone could be easily lost.
- Fly your drone at or below 400 feet and avoid controlled airspace: Knowing if you are flying in or around controlled airspace can be difficult, but if you do end up flying in controlled airspace it can result in a significant fine or worse. If you are unsure if you are around controlled airspace check here.
- Keep your drone within your line of sight: For drones with camera attachments that can be operated remotely, it may be tempting to fly into areas outside of your direct line of sight. But doing this makes it very easy to lose your drone or even crash it. Similar to the reverse cameras on cars, the in-flight camera view does not always give you the full perspective and can result in unexpected accidents.
- Never fly your drone in an inebriated state: Don’t treat your drone as an expensive toy. Keep in mind you can do a lot of damage with a drone and can land yourself in hot water if you act irresponsibly. Never operate a drone under any circumstances if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
In the United States, you must follow FAA rules in order to legally fly a drone. The FAA governs airspace across the country and requires drone pilots to have a license to operate in certain areas and situations. However, pilots only need a drone license in the U.S. if they are operating for commercial reasons. Basically, commercial drone use is broadly defined, meaning you’ll need a license if your intent to fly is non-recreational.
As mentioned above, drone licenses are often referred to as FAA Part 107 certificates, named for the regulation that controls commercial drone flights. They are also known as “remote pilot” licenses. The Part 107 license is meant to ensure that commercial drone pilots have a basic understanding of what airplane and helicopter pilots are doing in the surrounding airspace. Drone pilots can obtain all the information needed from the FAA’s website. But the goal of the Part 107 drone license is to confirm that they understand the basics, in case an issue arises midflight, or they need to verify their current airspace.
So how do you go about obtaining a drone license? The requirements are pretty straightforward. You must be:
- At least 16 years old
- Mentally and physically fit to fly a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)
- Able to read, write, understand, and speak English
Provided you meet these criteria, you then need to pass a 60-question multiple-choice exam that tests your knowledge of airspace, weather, regulations, airport operations, aeronautical decision-making, among other flight-related topics. The drone license test is a bit harder than the driver’s test. Everyone drives a car. But the Part 107 certification process isn’t overwhelming by any means. Even people who haven’t picked up a book in years can easily pass. The FAA also offers a free study guide to use in preparing for the exam.
Here’s the process to follow to obtain your commercial drone license:
- Open an account on the FAA’s IACRA system. This has to be completed before you can schedule your exam.
- During the registration process, you can note whether you’ll need specific accommodations during the test, such as extra breaks, a left-hand mouse, or a time extension due to a learning or reading disability.
- After studying, take the 60-question multiple-choice test in-person. Testing centersare available across the U.S. Make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID with you when you go to the testing center.
- You’re directed to a testing room, just as if you were testing for your private pilot’s license, and are given two hours for the test. You’re monitored with cameras to ensure you’re not doing anything out of order. When you’re done, you receive your test results right away and learn if you passed or failed.
- Score at least 70% on the exam in order to pass. Once you pass, the testing center provides you with a form you can use within the IACRA system to submit your drone license application.
- The FAA will then send your information to TSA for a background check.
- Once the background check is complete, the FAA will issue you a temporary certificate that you can use to fly your drone commercially. (You’ll receive your permanent card in the mail in about a month)
Remember, while your drone license allows you to fly commercially, according to the Part 107 rules, you must still register each drone you plan to use with the FAA.
Finally, it’s important to remember that even though your drone license never expires, you have to renew it every two years to remain current by taking a shorter, 40-question exam and passing with a grade of 70% or better.
What is a sectional chart?
A sectional chart is an old-school way for pilots to navigate different airspaces and hazardous terrain. It’s basically a map that doesn’t require a phone or functioning GPS [image below].
You have to be able to look at that map, understand what airspace is what, and the meanings behind all the different symbols.
Weather is also an important topic covered in the exam. Make sure you can understand METAR reports. You should also have a basic understanding of radio communication protocol. Once you fully understand these key components, you’re almost guaranteed to pass! What knowledge do you actually use when flying a site?
Some of the more important aspects of flying a drone to survey your site are remembering to fly 400 feet or lower, knowing the difference between open airspace and restricted, and understanding how close you can fly to buildings or how to report an accident. It’s crucial to know this practical information that may only arise in certain situations. Being well informed, you’ll be able to avoid fines for something you didn’t even know was illegal.
Besides Propeller’s free study guide there are many free resources to help you prepare for the exam. Across all of these separate study guides, you will find any area of focus that you need to properly prepare for the Part 107 exam. Our study guide offers a lot of in depth information about the questions you will be asked on the exam so make sure that you give yourself an adequate amount of time to prepare for the exam. For people who are more familiar with the subject matter some will be able to pass the test with only 2-3 nights of focused study, but if this is your first time taking the exam, we recommend you spend a bit more time and commit at least 4-5 days of study before the exam.