FAA Part 107 Complete Study Guide

1. What is FAA Part 107?

FAA Part 107 refers to the Federal Aviation Administration's regulations governing the commercial operation of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS), commonly known as drones. Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 107 took effect on August 29, 2016, and established the framework for commercial drone operations in the United States.

To fly a drone commercially — meaning for any business or professional purpose, including real estate photography, construction surveying, or media production — you must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate issued by the FAA. Recreational flying under the FAA's recreational rules does not require Part 107, but any commercial use does.

The Remote Pilot Certificate is obtained by passing the FAA Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test — a 60-question multiple-choice exam administered at FAA-approved testing centers (CATS and PSI). The certificate is valid for 24 months, after which you must pass a recurrent knowledge test to renew it.

2. Eligibility & Requirements

To be eligible to take the Part 107 knowledge test and obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old
• Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
• Be in a physical and mental condition to safely operate a small UAS
• Pass the FAA Part 107 aeronautical knowledge test with a score of 70% or higher
• Submit an online application through IADRA (Integrated Airmen Certification and Rating Application)
• Pass a TSA security background check

The application process

1. Create an FAA IADRA account at iadra.faa.gov
2. Schedule your test at a CATS or PSI testing center (find locations at faa.gov)
3. Pay the $175 test fee to the testing provider
4. Pass the knowledge test (score of 70% or higher)
5. Complete the IADRA application within 10 business days of passing
6. Receive your temporary certificate and wait for your permanent certificate by mail

3. Exam Format & Scoring

The FAA Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions with three answer choices each. You have 2 hours to complete the exam. A score of 70% or higher (42 out of 60 correct) is required to pass.

The test includes questions with sectional chart excerpts — you will need to interpret airspace boundaries, altitude restrictions, and other chart symbols. The testing center provides a sectional chart legend and other reference materials during the exam.

4. FAA Regulations Deep Dive

Regulations form one of the largest portions of the Part 107 exam. You need to understand both the specific rules in 14 CFR Part 107 and general aviation rules that apply to sUAS operations.

Key Part 107 operating rules

• Maximum altitude: 400 feet AGL (above ground level), or within 400 feet of a structure
• Maximum speed: 100 mph (87 knots) groundspeed
• Visual line of sight (VLOS): Must maintain unaided visual contact with the drone at all times
• Daylight only: Civil twilight with anti-collision lights required (unless waived)
• Minimum visibility: 3 statute miles from the control station
• Cloud clearance: 500 feet below, 2,000 feet horizontal from clouds
• Maximum weight: Under 55 pounds (including payload)
• No moving vehicles: Cannot fly over moving vehicles or people (unless waived)
• No careless or reckless operation that endangers people or property

Waivers available under Part 107

The FAA can grant waivers for certain standard operating rules if you can demonstrate your operation can be conducted safely. Common waiverable provisions include:

• Night operations (107.29) — now available with proper lighting
• Visual line of sight (107.31) — for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations
• Operations over people (107.39)
• Operations from moving vehicles (107.25)

5. Airspace Classification

Airspace classification is one of the highest-weighted topics on the Part 107 exam. The US national airspace system (NAS) is divided into controlled and uncontrolled airspace categories, each with different rules for drone operations.

Airspace classes at a glance

Special Use Airspace

• Prohibited areas (P-XXX): Flight strictly prohibited — no exceptions (e.g., P-56 over the White House)
• Restricted areas (R-XXX): Potentially hazardous activities; requires permission from controlling agency
• Warning areas: Similar hazards to restricted areas, extend offshore
• Military Operations Areas (MOAs): Military flight training; VFR flight permitted but hazardous
• Alert areas: High volume of pilot training; extra vigilance required
• Controlled Firing Areas (CFAs): Artillery practice; activities suspended when aircraft approach

6. Reading Sectional Charts

Sectional charts are topographic maps used for aviation that show airspace boundaries, airports, obstructions, terrain, and navigational aids. The Part 107 exam includes questions that require you to read and interpret sectional chart excerpts.

Key chart symbols to know

• Airports: Blue = towered (Class B/C/D); Magenta = untowered (Class E to surface or Class G)
• Airspace boundaries: Blue solid = Class B/C; Magenta dashed = Class E to surface; Blue dashed = Class D
• Obstacles: Towers/obstructions shown with height AGL and MSL (e.g., 1,549 MSL / 299 AGL)
• TFRs: Temporary Flight Restrictions shown as magenta areas (check NOTAMs for current TFRs)
• VOR stations: Compass rose with frequencies — not critical for drones but may appear
• Terrain: Contour lines and color shading showing elevation

7. Weather & Meteorology

Weather knowledge is essential for safe drone operations and accounts for 11–16% of exam questions. You need to understand atmospheric conditions, how to read weather reports, and how weather affects drone performance.

Reading METARs

A METAR (Meteorological Aerodrome Report) is a standardized format for reporting current weather conditions at an airport. Example:

• KLAX: Los Angeles International Airport
• 211653Z: 21st day, 16:53 UTC
• 27015KT: Wind from 270° (west) at 15 knots
• 10SM: Visibility 10 statute miles
• FEW030: Few clouds at 3,000 feet AGL
• 22/08: Temperature 22°C, dewpoint 8°C
• A2998: Altimeter 29.98 inHg

Density altitude

Density altitude is pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature. High density altitude (hot, humid, high elevation) reduces drone performance — motors must work harder, batteries drain faster, and flight time decreases. This is especially important for operations in mountains or during hot summer days.

Key weather hazards for drone operations

• Wind shear: Sudden change in wind speed/direction — can cause loss of control
• Thunderstorms: Prohibited operations; lightning, downdrafts, turbulence
• Fog: Reduces visibility below minimums (3 SM required)
• Ice: Can accumulate on rotors, affecting performance and control
• Heat: Reduces battery efficiency and motor performance

8. Loading & Performance

Understanding how weight, balance, and environmental factors affect drone performance is tested on the exam. Key concepts include:

Weight and balance

Every drone has a maximum gross weight. Exceeding this weight degrades performance, reduces maneuverability, and can cause structural failure. The center of gravity (CG) must remain within the manufacturer's specified limits — an out-of-balance drone is difficult or impossible to control.

Performance factors

• Altitude: Higher altitude = thinner air = less lift from rotors = reduced performance
• Temperature: Higher temperature = less dense air = reduced motor efficiency
• Humidity: High humidity slightly reduces air density
• Payload: More weight = shorter flight time, reduced speed, decreased maneuverability
• Battery condition: Cold batteries hold less charge; aging batteries have reduced capacity

9. Emergency Procedures

Emergency procedures and crew resource management (CRM) together account for 6–12% of exam questions. You need to understand how to respond to common drone emergencies and how to make sound aeronautical decisions.

Common drone emergencies

• Lost link / flyaway: Drone loses connection with controller. Pre-program return-to-home (RTH) altitude and location. Know your drone's failsafe behaviors.
• Low battery: Always monitor battery levels and plan return routes. Land before critical battery level.
• GPS failure: Switch to manual control mode. Practice flying without GPS before commercial operations.
• Motor failure: Multirotor drones can often compensate for one failed motor — know your aircraft's capabilities.
• Flyover of people: Immediately maneuver to avoid — operations over people require a waiver.

Aeronautical decision-making (ADM)

ADM is the process of identifying hazards, assessing risks, and making sound decisions before and during drone operations. The PAVE checklist is a useful framework:

• P — Pilot: Am I current, rested, and healthy enough to fly safely?
• A — Aircraft: Is the drone airworthy? Pre-flight inspection complete?
• V — enVironment: Weather acceptable? Airspace clear? Hazards identified?
• E — External pressures: Am I feeling rushed? Is a client pressuring unsafe operations?

10. Radio Communications

While drone pilots are not required to have an FCC radio license or use a radio for most operations, you must understand basic radio communication principles for the exam. When operating near towered airports, you may need to communicate with ATC or at least monitor the tower frequency.

Key radio concepts

• CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency): Used at non-towered airports for position reports
• ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service): Pre-recorded broadcast of current conditions at major airports
• Phraseology: Standard terms like "traffic in sight," "negative," and "affirm"
• Phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie... for clear communication

11. Waivers & Authorizations

Certain Part 107 operating restrictions can be waived by the FAA if you can demonstrate your proposed operation can be conducted safely. As of April 2021, most waivers are now handled through the FAA DroneZone portal.

Getting airspace authorization

• LAANC: Automated, near real-time authorization for controlled airspace. Available through partner apps. Works for standard (non-waiver) operations.
• FAA DroneZone: For operations not covered by LAANC or requiring a waiver. Processing times vary (days to weeks).
• B4UFLY: FAA mobile app showing airspace restrictions and authorization needs at a given location.

12. Study Plan & Timeline

2-week intensive plan

13. Test Day Tips

• Arrive early: Testing centers require check-in 15–30 minutes before your scheduled time
• Bring valid ID: Government-issued photo ID required (driver's license or passport)
• Know what's provided: Sectional chart legend, scratch paper, and a basic calculator are provided at the center
• Time management: 60 questions in 120 minutes = 2 minutes per question. Flag difficult questions and return to them
• Elimination technique: Eliminate obviously wrong answers first to improve your odds
• Airspace questions: Draw it out on scratch paper if needed — visualize the airspace layers
• Weather/chart excerpts: Take your time — these questions provide all the information you need in the image
• Trust your preparation: If you've scored consistently above 80% on practice tests, you're ready

14. Certificate Renewal

The Remote Pilot Certificate is valid for 24 calendar months. To renew, you must pass a recurrent aeronautical knowledge and safety test. Unlike the initial test, the recurrent test is available online through the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) at no cost and can be taken from home.

The online recurrent test is shorter than the initial knowledge test and focuses on updates to regulations, new operating rules, and any changes to airspace requirements. Complete it before your certificate expires to avoid the need to retake the full knowledge test.

How FullPracticeTests Helps