Part 107

Part 107
Title	Part 107
Jurisdiction	United States
Issued by	Federal Aviation Administration
Document type	Regulation
Subject	Unmanned aircraft systems
Effective	2016

Part 107 Part 107 is the Federal Aviation Administration rule that governs small unmanned aircraft systems operations in the United States. It establishes requirements for remote pilots, aircraft performance, airspace authorization, and safety procedures for commercial and non-recreational flights. The rule intersects with broader aviation law, civil liberties debates, and technological innovation across multiple industries.

Overview

Part 107 codifies operational standards for small unmanned aircraft systems within the framework of the Federal Aviation Administration, linking to precedents in Air Commerce Act, Civil Aeronautics Act of 1938, and contemporary Unmanned Aircraft Systems policy discussions. The rule addresses matters first spotlighted during regulatory deliberations alongside stakeholders such as Amazon (company), Google, DJI, AeroVironment, and General Atomics, while informed by incidents like the Miranda v. Arizona-era privacy debates and aviation safety cases involving LaGuardia Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. Implementation involved coordination with agencies including the Department of Transportation, National Transportation Safety Board, and municipal authorities in jurisdictions such as New York City and Los Angeles.

Eligibility and Certification

Part 107 requires remote pilots to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration after completing an aeronautical knowledge test influenced by standards from the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), Transport Canada, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge areas comparable to topics in Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, referencing weather resources like the National Weather Service, airspace classifications used around John F. Kennedy International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport, and communications protocols akin to those in Air Traffic Control centers. The certification process affects operators from companies such as UPS (United Parcel Service), FedEx, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and startups incubated at Silicon Valley accelerators like Y Combinator.

Operational Rules and Limitations

Part 107 prescribes operational constraints including a 55-pound weight limit, daytime visual-line-of-sight operations, and maximum groundspeed restrictions, echoing practices in civil aviation near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The rule mandates compliance with airspace classes surrounding hubs such as Heathrow Airport, Frankfurt Airport, and Tokyo Haneda Airport when international operators coordinate through bilateral agreements like those involving ICAO member states. Operators must follow procedures for operations near critical infrastructure including Port of Los Angeles, New York Harbor, and sporting venues like Wembley Stadium and MetLife Stadium, and adhere to safety management concepts promoted by International Civil Aviation Organization.

Waivers and Authorizations

Part 107 allows waivers for operations that deviate from standard limitations—such as nighttime flights, flights over people, and beyond-visual-line-of-sight operations—subject to risk assessments and mitigation strategies informed by guidance from NASA research programs, demonstrations by industry partners like Skydio, and pilot programs with Department of Defense entities. Airspace authorizations integrate with systems such as LAANC and coordination protocols used at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and San Francisco International Airport. High-profile waiver recipients have included projects affiliated with Alphabet Inc. initiatives, municipal pilots in Orlando, Florida, and emergency response uses linked to Federal Emergency Management Agency operations.

Enforcement and Compliance

Enforcement of Part 107 leverages FAA inspections, civil penalties, and administrative actions similar to enforcement approaches used in Federal Communications Commission and Environmental Protection Agency cases. Compliance efforts reference investigative precedents from National Transportation Safety Board reports, and coordination with law enforcement partners like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police departments in cities such as Chicago, Houston, and Philadelphia. Violations can lead to fines or certificate suspensions, echoing enforcement in high-profile cases involving entities at Las Vegas Strip events and incidents near Super Bowl venues.

Impact and Industry Implications

Part 107 catalyzed commercial growth across sectors including aerial photography dominated by firms like Getty Images and National Geographic, inspection services used by Pacific Gas and Electric Company and ExxonMobil, and logistics trials by UPS (United Parcel Service), Amazon (company), and DHL. It influenced investment patterns in venture-backed companies from Silicon Valley and technology clusters in Boston and Seattle, while shaping research agendas at institutions such as MIT, Stanford University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. The regulation also prompted legislative and judicial attention from members of United States Congress and appellate courts in matters intersecting with privacy rights and municipal ordinances in San Diego, Seattle, and Austin, Texas.

Category:Aviation law Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles