What Part 107 Is and Who Needs It

14 CFR Part 107 is the FAA regulation that governs the operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for non-recreational purposes. A small UAS is any unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds (including everything onboard at takeoff) operated within the National Airspace System.

The single most important question is why you are flying:

• Commercial / any non-hobby purpose → You must operate under Part 107 and hold a Remote Pilot Certificate. This includes anything that furthers a business — real estate photos, mapping, inspections, paid or unpaid work for an employer, even posting monetized YouTube footage.
• Strictly recreational → You may fly under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations (49 U.S.C. § 44809), which requires passing TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) but not a Part 107 certificate.

When in doubt, fly under Part 107. It is the more permissive and more professional framework, and it never prohibits a recreational flight.

Part 107 does not apply to:

• Aircraft weighing 55 pounds or more (those require a separate exemption/authorization).
• Operations conducted entirely indoors (the FAA does not regulate the inside of a building — there is no navigable airspace indoors).
• Recreational flyers operating under § 44809.
• Public aircraft operations conducted under a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA).

Every sUAS flown under Part 107 must be registered with the FAA, regardless of weight, through the FAA DroneZone. Registration costs $5, is valid for 3 years, and the registration number must be displayed on the exterior of the aircraft. As of Remote ID rules, most drones must also broadcast identification.

If you are flying a drone under 55 lb for work, you need a Remote Pilot Certificate earned under Part 107 — and that starts with passing the knowledge test this course prepares you for.