14 CFR Part 107: Remote Pilot Certification & Operations Over People
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 rules govern the commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). To operate legally and safely you need a remote pilot certificate and you must follow the performance‑based categories for flying over people. The information here summarizes the certification process and explains each category in everyday terms so you know what the FAA expects from remote pilots.
How to Become an FAA‑Certificated Remote Pilot
Anyone who wants to fly drones commercially in the United States must hold a remote pilot certificate issued under Part 107. To qualify you must be at least 16 years old, be able to read, speak and understand English, and be in a condition that allows you to operate the aircraft safely. The FAA tracks applicants through the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) system and requires a background check by the Transportation Security Administration.
The typical steps to earn your certificate are:
- Create an IACRA account and obtain your FAA Tracking Number (FTN).
- Schedule and pass the Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) knowledge test at an FAA‑approved test centre.
- Submit FAA Form 8710‑13 through IACRA to apply for your remote pilot certificate.
- After TSA security vetting, print the temporary certificate issued in IACRA and wait for your permanent card to arrive in the mail.
- Complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months to keep your certificate current.
If you already hold a manned‑aircraft pilot certificate under Part 61 and have completed a flight review within the previous 24 months, you may take a free online training course instead of the knowledge test. After finishing the course you still submit Form 8710‑13 through IACRA and have your identity verified by a flight instructor or FAA representative.
Category 1 Operations
Category 1 covers the lightest drones. To qualify, the aircraft must weigh 0.55 pounds (250 grams) or less on takeoff, including any payload or attachments, and it cannot have exposed rotating parts that could cut skin. These small aircraft may fly over people only if they meet Remote ID requirements and they may not sustain flight over open‑air assemblies (large gatherings such as concerts or sporting events).
Practical takeaway: Category 1 is designed for micro‑drones—think of 249 gram quadcopters used for indoor filming or roof inspections. Because they are so light and often have propeller guards, the risk to people below is minimal. Even so, you should avoid prolonged hovering directly over groups and always maintain visual line of sight.
Example: A realtor wants aerial photos of a home while potential buyers are in the yard. Using a 249 gram drone with guarded propellers qualifies under Category 1 because it weighs under 0.55 lb and has no exposed blades. The flight is quick, stays at a safe altitude and does not linger over the group.
Category 2 Operations
Category 2 allows flights over people with larger drones but imposes limits on how much energy they can impart if they strike a person. The aircraft must be designed so that, on impact, it would not cause injury greater than 11 foot‑pounds of kinetic energy, it cannot have exposed rotating parts, and it must display a label indicating it meets the performance requirements. Category 2 drones may not fly in sustained flight over open‑air assemblies unless they also meet Remote ID requirements.
Practical takeaway: This category fits many small‑to‑medium drones used in surveying, real‑estate shoots or industrial inspections. Manufacturers often use energy‑absorbing materials or emergency parachutes to meet the 11 ft‑lb limit. As a pilot you should verify that your aircraft has a declaration of compliance and avoid extended hovering over crowds.
Example: A construction surveyor uses a 3 lb quadcopter certified for Category 2 to map a work site where people are present. The drone’s design limits impact energy and shields its propellers. The survey can fly briefly over workers to collect data, but it cannot linger over open‑air assemblies and must meet Remote ID requirements.
Category 3 Operations
Category 3 covers drones that may cause up to 25 foot‑pounds of impact energy and that have no exposed rotating parts. A declaration of compliance and label are required. Category 3 operations are more restrictive: flights over open‑air assemblies are prohibited. Drones may transit over people only if (a) the operation takes place in a closed or restricted area and everyone on site has been informed that a drone will fly overhead; or (b) the drone does not hover but briefly crosses over individuals who are directly participating or sheltered under cover such as a roof or vehicle.
Practical takeaway: Category 3 is typical for medium‑sized camera drones on movie sets, public safety missions or industrial work. Pilots must secure the area or brief everyone present. Hovering over uninvolved people is not allowed; plan flight paths to transit quickly over any individuals.
Example: A film crew closes off part of a city park to shoot a scene. Everyone on set knows a 5 lb camera drone will be overhead. Because the area is restricted and the drone meets the 25 ft‑lb energy limit, the pilot can fly over crew members. Hovering above bystanders outside the closed set remains prohibited.
Category 4 Operations
Category 4 is reserved for drones with a special airworthiness certificate issued under Part 21. These aircraft must be operated in accordance with their approved flight manuals and must meet all maintenance and record‑ keeping requirements. Sustained flight over open‑air assemblies is allowed only if Remote ID requirements are satisfied. Operators must conduct maintenance per the manufacturer’s instructions and retain records of inspections, repairs and life‑limited components.
Practical takeaway: Category 4 typically applies to high‑end or heavy‑lift drones that have undergone the FAA’s airworthiness certification process. These vehicles are operated much like manned aircraft: pilots follow the flight manual, implement formal maintenance programmes and document all work. While they may fly over moving vehicles and, in some cases, open‑air assemblies, the operation must remain within the limits of the aircraft’s certificate and manual.
Example: A utility company operates a 50 lb hybrid‑powered drone with a Part 21 airworthiness certificate to inspect power lines along a roadway. Because the aircraft is certificated, the pilot may fly along the road as long as the flight manual allows and the drone does not sustain flight directly over moving vehicles. Maintenance logs are kept up to date and any modifications are approved by the manufacturer.
Operations Over Moving Vehicles
The FAA treats people in vehicles similarly to people on the ground. Drones may fly over moving vehicles only if they meet the requirements of one of the categories above. For Categories 1–3, the pilot must either operate in a closed or restricted area where all occupants are aware of the drone, or the drone must avoid sustained flight over the vehicles. For Category 4, operations must follow the aircraft’s flight manual.
Practical takeaway: A film crew can shoot a car commercial on a closed road if everyone knows a drone is overhead. Flying along a busy highway is not permitted unless the drone has a Category 4 certificate and the flight manual explicitly authorises that operation.