FAA

Part 107 Crash Course

Remote Pilot Certificate — sUAS Rating

6 sections · 33 definitions · 25 questions

Airspace classes

The NAS is divided into Classes A–G. Each has different rules for sUAS. Click a class for details, then study the altitude diagram below.

Class A

Class B

Class C

Class D

Class E

Class G

sUAS PROHIBITED

Class A

18,000 ft MSL and above · IFR only · ATC clearance required for all aircraft

Authorization required

Class B

Surface to 10,000 ft MSL · Major airports (LAX, JFK, MIA) · Inverted wedding-cake shape · LAANC or DroneZone

Authorization required

Class C

Surface to 4,000 ft AGL · Medium airports with approach radar · 5 NM inner / 10 NM outer ring

Authorization required

Class D

Surface to ~2,500 ft AGL · Small towered airports · Typically 4–5 NM circle · Reverts to E or G when tower closes

LAANC / waiver required

Class E

Controlled airspace not A–D · Starts at 700 or 1,200 ft AGL · Extends to 18,000 ft MSL · Can reach surface near some airports

▲ 400 ft AGL — Part 107 Default Ceiling ▲

No auth needed

Class G — Most sUAS operations occur here

Uncontrolled · Surface to 700 or 1,200 ft AGL · No ATC authorization required · All Part 107 rules still apply

⬇ Ground Level

Key altitude rules for Part 107

• Maximum altitude: 400 ft AGL — measured from the terrain directly below the aircraft.

• Structure exception: within 400 ft of a structure, you may fly up to 400 ft above its highest point.

• Flying in Class B, C, D, or surface E requires prior authorization — use LAANC or FAA DroneZone.

• Class G is the only class where sUAS may fly without airspace authorization (all Part 107 rules still apply).

Part 107 regulations overview

The most heavily tested areas on the exam. Know these rules cold before test day.

PilotCertificate & recurrency

• Must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate with sUAS rating

• Renewal every 24 months (test or ALC-677 online course)

• Must be ≥ 16 years old

• Must read, speak, write, and understand English

• Must not be impaired by alcohol, drugs, or medication

AircraftRegistration & Remote ID

• sUAS 0.55–55 lbs must be registered with FAA

• Registration number must be visible on the aircraft

• Remote ID broadcast required for most operations (since 2023)

• Must be in a condition for safe operation

OperationsDaylight & VLOS

• Fly only during civil twilight (30 min before/after sun) with anti-collision lights visible at 3 SM

• Must maintain VLOS — unaided eyes, corrective lenses OK

• Max groundspeed: 87 knots (100 mph)

LimitsAltitude & weather mins

• Max altitude: 400 ft AGL

• Min visibility: 3 statute miles

• Cloud clearance: 500 ft below / 2,000 ft horizontal

• No flight over moving vehicles or uninvolved people

WaiversOperations over people

• Waivers available for VLOS, nighttime, altitude, right-of-way

• Category 1–4 waivers allow flight over people / moving vehicles

• Apply via FAA DroneZone

• Open-air assemblies prohibited without waiver

AccidentsReporting requirements

• Report to FAA within 10 calendar days if:

— Serious injury to any person

— Loss of consciousness

— Property damage > $500 (excluding the sUAS)

• Certificates may be suspended for violations

Right of way (§107.37)

sUAS must give way to all crewed aircraft, without exception. When a manned aircraft is nearby, yield immediately — descend or land if needed.

Exam tip: The FAA tests scenario-based questions. Know the rule AND be able to apply it — e.g., "A pilot operates at 500 ft AGL without a waiver — which regulation was violated?" (§107.51 — altitude limit exceeded.)

Weather & METAR reading

METAR decoding is guaranteed to appear on your exam. Click any colored token to decode it.

KPBI 151453Z 18012KT 10SM FEW025 BKN060 28/21 A3004 RMK AO2

Station Date/Time Wind Visibility Sky cover Temp/Dew Altimeter Remarks

Click any token above to decode it

Sky cover abbreviations

Code	Meaning	Coverage	Exam note
SKC/CLR	Sky clear	0/8	No clouds
FEW	Few	1–2/8	Not a ceiling layer
SCT	Scattered	3–4/8	Not a ceiling layer
BKN	Broken	5–7/8	Ceiling layer
OVC	Overcast	8/8	Ceiling layer
VV	Vert. visibility	8/8	Fog/smoke obscuring sky

Part 107 weather minimums

All three required to fly legally:

1. Flight visibility ≥ 3 statute miles

2. At least 500 ft below any cloud

3. At least 2,000 ft horizontal from any cloud

Mnemonic: "3 · 5 · 2"

Other weather products tested

TAF — Terminal Aerodrome Forecast. 24–30 hr outlook, 5 SM radius around airport.

PIREPs — Pilot Reports. Real-time turbulence and icing observations.

Winds aloft — Forecasted winds and temps at altitude.

Density altitude — Pressure altitude corrected for temperature. Hot + High + Humid = reduced performance.

Radio communications & NOTAMs

You don't need to talk on the radio as a Part 107 pilot — but you must understand ATC and check NOTAMs before every flight.

CTAF & UNICOM

CTAF — Common Traffic Advisory Frequency at non-towered airports. Pilots self-announce position. Remote pilots nearby should monitor to stay aware of manned traffic.

UNICOM — Advisory service at non-towered airports. Often same frequency as CTAF. Not ATC — no clearances issued.

ATIS — Automatic Terminal Information Service

Continuous recorded broadcast at towered airports — weather, active runways, NOTAMs. Updated hourly with a new phonetic letter (Alpha, Bravo…). Receive-only — not interactive.

NOTAMs — Notices to Air Missions

Must be checked before every flight.

Type	What it covers
FDC NOTAM	Regulatory changes, TFRs, airspace amendments
D NOTAM	Airport/navaid closures, local hazards
TFR	Temporary Flight Restriction — VIP, emergency, stadium
SUASNOT	sUAS-specific notices

Check at tfr.faa.gov or Aloft / ForeFlight

TFRs — Temporary Flight Restrictions

• Presidential movement — no sUAS within defined radius, no exceptions

• Disaster / emergency areas — firefighting, search and rescue

• Sporting events — 3 NM radius, surface to 3,000 ft AGL, ±1 hr

• Space launches — around launch sites

Violating a TFR can result in certificate action, civil penalty, or criminal prosecution.

Standard radio phraseology

Phrase	Meaning
Roger	Message received and understood
Wilco	Will comply
Negative	No / incorrect
Affirm	Yes
Say again	Please repeat your transmission
Mayday	Distress call — highest priority, repeated 3×

Emergency procedures

What to do when things go wrong — and the legal obligations that follow.

Priority order in any emergency

1. Safety of people — protect bystanders, property, yourself first

2. Abandon the operation if needed — no footage is worth an injury

3. Land as soon as practicable

4. Report to the FAA within 10 days if thresholds are met

Loss of control link (flyaway)

• Program Return to Home (RTH) on signal loss

• Set RTH altitude above the tallest nearby obstacle

• Know your last GPS coordinates; have a documented lost-link procedure

Collision avoidance (see and avoid)

• Scan continuously — assign a Visual Observer (VO) if needed

• Always yield to crewed aircraft — descend or land immediately

• Never operate in controlled airspace without authorization

Accident reporting (§107.9)

Report to FAA within 10 calendar days if operation results in:

• Serious injury (requires hospitalization)

• Loss of consciousness

• Property damage (other than the sUAS) exceeding $500

Report via FAA DroneZone or local FSDO. Near-misses → NASA ASRS.

Preflight inspection checklist

Item	Check
Weather	METAR, TAF, winds aloft, NOTAMs, TFRs
Batteries	Full charge, no swelling or damage
Propellers	No cracks, chips, or loose mounting
Motors	Spin freely, no grinding noise
Payload	Secure, no interference with controls
GPS / compass	Calibrated, satellites acquired
Airspace auth	LAANC approval if in controlled airspace
Lost-link	RTH altitude set, reviewed with VO

Definitions sheet

33 terms the exam expects you to know. Search to filter instantly.

Practice quiz — 25 questions

Questions mirror the format and topics of the actual FAA Part 107 knowledge test.