Category 2 and 3 Weight Threshold

Verified from official sources
Operations Over People General Overview | Federal Aviation Administration - What are the operations over people categories?Version 1Effective -Verified 22 August 2026

In plain language

If your drone weighs more than 0.55 pounds and does not have a standard airworthiness certificate, it must meet Category 2 or 3 performance requirements to fly over people.

Requirement as structured

Category 2 and Category 3 apply to unmanned aircraft that weigh more than 0.55 pounds and do not have an airworthiness certificate under part 21.

Original regulatory text

Category 2 and Category 3 provide performance-based eligibility and operating requirements when conducting operations over people using unmanned aircraft that weigh more than .55 pounds but do not have an airworthiness certificate under part 21.

Applies when

country
United States
category
Category 2 or 3
operation
Part 107 small UAS operation
operation regime
part_107
aircraft category
small unmanned aircraft (under 55 lb)
regulatory category
General