FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Study Guide 2025

Overview

• Purpose: To provide tools and information necessary to pass the FAA Part 107 exam.
• Benefits: Allows legal use of drone footage for real estate, weddings, photography, and commercial content within the US.

What is Part 107?

• FAA: Federal Aviation Administration, regulates civil and commercial aviation and manages US airspace.
• Part 107: Governs operations of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) under 55 lbs.

Drone Weight Regulations

• Registration Requirement:
  • Drones 0.55 lbs < weight < 55 lbs must comply with Part 107.
  • Drones ≥ 55 lbs governed by different regulations.
  • Recreational drones < 0.55 lbs are exempt from registration.
• Commercial Use: Requires registration and passing of Part 107 exam.

FAA Registration Process

• Responsibility: On the remote pilot in command (RPIC).
• Validity: Registration lasts 3 years.
• Cost: $5 per drone.
• Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST): Required for all recreational flyers.

Remote ID

• Mandatory: For all unmanned aircraft except recreational drones < 0.55 lbs.
• Purpose: Broadcasts drone ID and location for safety and compliance.

Age Requirements

• Minimum Age: 13 for drone registration; 16 for taking the Part 107 exam.

Indoor Drone Flights

• Regulation: FAA does not regulate indoor flights.

Study Materials

• Available Online: Testing supplements downloadable from the FAA website.
• Requirements: Must be 16, able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and physically and mentally fit.

Key Rules and Regulations

• Altitude Limit: 400 ft AGL (Above Ground Level).
• Speed Limit: 87 knots (100 mph).
• Visibility Requirement: Must have 3 SM visibility from RPIC's location.
• Cloud Proximity: 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds.
• Civil Twilight Operations: Requires anti-collision lights visible for 3 SM.
• Accident Reporting: Required if over $500 in damages or serious injury occurs.
• Alcohol Restrictions: No operation within 8 hours of consuming alcohol; BAC limit 0.04%.

Airspace Classification

• Class A: Begins at 18,000 ft MSL to 60,000 ft; controlled airspace.
• Class B: Surrounds busiest airports; requires ATC authorization.
• Class C: Moderately busy airports; requires authorization.
• Class D: Smaller airports; controlled from surface up to 2,500 ft AGL.
• Class G: Uncontrolled airspace.

Additional Information

• Phonetic Alphabet: Important for clarity in communication.
• Lance Application: Used for authorization requests in controlled airspaces.
• Mean Sea Level (MSL) vs. Above Ground Level (AGL): Used in sectional charts to denote altitudes.