Classification of Goodwill and Volunteer Flights as Non-Recreational
Verified from official sourcesRecreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations | Federal Aviation Administration - What is a Recreational Flight?Version 1Effective -Verified 22 August 2026
In plain language
Even if you are volunteering your time and drone services for free (e.g., for a charity or non-profit), the FAA considers this a non-recreational flight, meaning you must fly under Part 107.
Requirement as structured
Volunteer flights and goodwill operations, such as surveying coastlines for a non-profit organization, are classified as non-recreational operations.
Original regulatory text
Goodwill can also be considered non-recreational. This would include things like volunteering to use your drone to survey coastlines on behalf of a non-profit organization.
Applies when
- country
- United States
- operation
- Part 107 small UAS operation
- operation regime
- part_107
- aircraft category
- small unmanned aircraft (under 55 lb)
- regulatory category
- General