Category 4 Airworthiness and Operating Requirements
Verified from official sourcesOperations Over People General Overview | Federal Aviation Administration - What are the operations over people categories?Version 1Effective -Verified 22 August 2026
In plain language
To fly over people under Category 4, your drone must have an FAA airworthiness certificate, and the Flight Manual must not forbid flying over people. If you fly in sustained flight over an open-air assembly, the drone must also comply with Remote ID.
Requirement as structured
Category 4 operations allow small unmanned aircraft with a Part 21 airworthiness certificate to operate over people, provided the flight manual does not prohibit it, and sustained flight over open-air assemblies is compliant with Remote ID.
Original regulatory text
This category allows small unmanned aircraft issued an airworthiness certificate under part 21 to operate over people, so long as the operating limitations specified in the approved Flight Manual or as otherwise specified by the Administrator, do not prohibit operations over people. Additionally, no remote pilot in command may operate a small unmanned aircraft in sustained flight over open-air assemblies unless the operation is compliant with Remote ID.
Applies when
- country
- United States
- category
- Category 4
- operation
- Part 107 small UAS operation
- operation regime
- part_107
- aircraft category
- small unmanned aircraft (under 55 lb)
- regulatory category
- General