Flying a drone over people 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.

• PermittedConditional
• ProhibitedNo
• Authorisation requiredConditional
• Aircraft class conditionConditional
• Weight condition0.2495 kgConditional
• Uninvolved person definedYes
• ExceptionsConditional

What changes the answer

The published rules distinguish the category 1, 2, or 3, category 2 and category 3 categories of operation.

• weight threshold

  Take-off mass at or below 0.55 pounds

The rules behind this answer

• Binding lawNational rule

  Acceptable Methods for Establishing Compliance

  To meet the requirements for Category 2 or Category 3 operations, the means of compliance must consist of test, analysis, or inspection.

  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

  Careless or Reckless Operation Prohibited

  No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Category 1 Exposed Rotating Parts Restriction

  A small unmanned aircraft used in Category 1 operations must not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Category 1 Maximum Weight Limit

  A small unmanned aircraft used in Category 1 operations must weigh 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff and throughout the duration of each operation, including everything on board or attached.

  Open the requirementOfficial source
• Binding lawNational rule

  Category 1, 2, or 3 Operations Over Moving Vehicles in Closed- or Restricted-Access Sites

  For Category 1, 2, or 3 operations, the small unmanned aircraft must remain within or over a closed- or restricted-access site, and all human beings inside moving vehicles within that site must be notified that a small unmanned aircraft may fly over them.

  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
• Binding lawNational rule

  Category 3 Exposed Rotating Parts Prohibition

  A small unmanned aircraft eligible for Category 3 operations must not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact.

  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 operations_over_people.third_party_definition; 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 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.
• When does a drone operation need authorisation in United States?Whether an operation in United States needs prior authorisation depends on the operational category, risk class or location: the published triggers below decide it.
• 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