Drone operational authorisation in United States

What the rules say

Each line is resolved from published facts of United States. "Not resolved" means the corpus does not answer it in a machine-checkable way — never that the law is silent.

• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Trigger statedConditional
• Issuing authorityConditional
• Application modelpermitYes
• Risk assessmentNo
• Standard scenario routeConditional
• Declaration routeConditional
• Generic or organisational privilegeNot resolved
• ValidityConditional
• Repeat operationsNot resolved
• Digital applicationConditional

What changes the answer

The published rules distinguish the recreational category of operation.

• altitude

  Flight altitude above 400 ft

• altitude

  Flight altitude at or below 400 ft

• time of day

  Time at or below 60 days

• time of day

  Time limit at or below 30 days

• weight threshold

  Take-off mass above 55 pounds

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  ADS-B Out Transmission Prohibition

  No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system under Part 107 with ADS-B Out equipment in transmit mode.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Airspace Authorization Requirement for Controlled Airspace

  No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport unless that person has prior authorization from Air Traffic Control (ATC).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Applicability of Rules for Operations Over Human Beings and Moving Vehicles

  It is a condition of the cited provision that operations of civil small unmanned aircraft over human beings or over moving vehicles in the United States complies with the eligibility and operating requirements of this subpart, in addition to those operations permitted by § 107.39(a) and (b).

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Approval Required for FRIA Geographic Boundary Changes

  The geographic boundaries of an FAA-recognized identification area will not change unless a request describing the change is submitted to and approved by the FAA.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  ATC Transponder Equipment Prohibition

  No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system under Part 107 with an active ATC transponder unless authorized by the FAA Administrator.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Authorization for Operations Without Remote Identification for Research or Compliance

  The Administrator may authorize operations without remote identification where the operation is solely for the purpose of aeronautical research or to show compliance with regulations.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Availability of Declaration of Compliance Records

  Any person holding an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance under subpart D of this part must, upon request, make available to the Administrator the declaration of compliance and any other required documents, records, or reports.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Category 2 Aircraft Eligibility and Operating Requirements

  To conduct Category 2 operations, a remote pilot in command must use a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible under § 107.120(a), listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance under § 107.160, and labeled in accordance with § 107.120(b)(1).

  Open the requirementOfficial source

Official sources

• 14 CFR Part 48 - Registration and Marking Requirements for Small Unmanned Aircraft — Federal Aviation AdministrationOpen

Known limitations

• Binding law and official guidance disagree on operational_authorisation.declaration_path; the binding position is published.
• 2 dimension(s) of this topic are not expressed in a machine-resolvable way by the published corpus and are reported UNKNOWN, never FALSE.

Other drone rules in United States

• Do I need to register my drone in United States?Registration in United States depends on the aircraft and the operation: it applies once the published conditions below are met, each cited to the rule that sets it.
• Do I need Remote ID in United States?Remote identification in United States is tied to the aircraft and the operating category: the published triggers below decide whether a flight must carry or broadcast an electronic identity.
• What is the maximum drone altitude in United States?Drone flights in United States are held to a published general height limit of 121.92 m AGL. The limit is not absolute: the published conditions that change it are cited below.
• Can I fly a drone near an airport in United States?Drone flights near aerodromes in United States are governed by airspace and aerodrome restrictions: whether permission is needed depends on the airspace, distance or aerodrome type published below.
• Can I fly a drone over people in United States?Flight over uninvolved people is treated as a higher-risk operation in United States: it is available only where the published conditions below — class, mass, separation or authorisation — are satisfied.
• Can I fly a drone at night in United States?Night flying in United States is regulated rather than simply allowed or banned: published lighting, category and authorisation conditions below decide whether a given flight may take place after dark.
• Is BVLOS drone flight allowed in United States?BVLOS in United States runs through a defined authorisation pathway rather than an open permission: the published conditions below set out what that pathway requires.
• What training do I need to fly a drone in United States?Remote pilot competency in United States scales with the operation: which training, examination or proof of competency applies is set by the published conditions below.

All drone laws in United States