Drone Categories

Subpart D - Operations Over Human Beings

This subpart prescribes the eligibility and operating requirements for civil small unmanned aircraft to operate over human beings or
over moving vehicles in the United States, in addition to those operations permitted by § 107.39(a) and (b).

107.105 Limitations on operations over human beings.

Except as provided in §§ 107.39(a) and (b) and 107.145, a remote pilot in command may conduct operations over
human beings only in accordance with the following, as applicable: § 107.110 for Category 1 operations; §§
107.115 and 107.120 for Category 2 operations; §§ 107.125 and 107.130 for Category 3 operations; or § 107.140
for Category 4 operations.

107.110 Category 1 operations

To conduct Category 1 operations -

(a) A remote pilot in command must use a small unmanned aircraft that -

(1) Weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff and throughout the duration of each operation under Category 1, including everything
that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft; and

(2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being.

(b) No remote pilot in command may operate a small unmanned aircraft in sustained flight over open-air assemblies of human beings
unless the operation meets the requirements of either § 89.110 or § 89.115(a) of this chapter.

Multiple Choice

How much can a drone weigh and fall under category 1 operations?

• 55 pounds

• 1 pound

• .55 pounds

• 5 pounds

107.115 Category 2 operations: Operating requirements

To conduct Category 2 operations -

(a) A remote pilot in command must use a small unmanned aircraft that -

(1) Is eligible for Category 2 operations pursuant to § 107.120(a);

(2) Is listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance as eligible for Category 2 operations in accordance with § 107.160; and

(3) Is labeled as eligible to conduct Category 2 operations in accordance with § 107.120(b)(1).

(b) No remote pilot in command may operate a small unmanned aircraft in sustained flight over open-air assemblies of human beings
unless the operation meets the requirements of either § 89.110 or § 89.115(a) of this chapter.

107.120 Category 2 operations: Eligibility of small
unmanned aircraft and other applicant requirements

(a) To be eligible for use in Category 2 operations, the small unmanned aircraft must be
designed, produced, or modified such that it -

(1) Will not cause injury to a human being that is equivalent to or greater than the severity of
injury caused by a transfer of 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact from a rigid object;

(2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact
with a human being; and

(3) Does not contain any safety defects.

Multiple Choice

How much force may a category 2 drone cause?

• 111 foot pounds

• 11 foot pounds

• 1 foot pounds

• .55 foot pounds

(b) The applicant for a declaration of compliance for a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for use in Category 2 operations in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, must meet all of the following requirements for the applicant's unmanned aircraft to be
used in Category 2 operations:

(1) Display a label on the small unmanned aircraft indicating eligibility to conduct Category 2 operations. The label must be in
English and be legible, prominent, and permanently affixed to the small unmanned aircraft.

(2) Have remote pilot operating instructions that apply to the operation of the small unmanned aircraft system. The applicant for a
declaration of compliance must make available these instructions upon sale or transfer of the aircraft or use of the aircraft by
someone other than the applicant who submitted a declaration of compliance pursuant to § 107.160. Such instructions must
address, at a minimum -

A system description that includes the required small unmanned aircraft system components, any system
limitations, and the declared category or categories of operation;

(ii) Modifications that will not change the ability of the small unmanned aircraft system to meet the requirements
for the category or categories of operation the small unmanned aircraft system is eligible to conduct; and

(iii) Instructions for how to verify and change the mode or configuration of the small unmanned aircraft system, if
they are variable.

(3) Maintain a product support and notification process. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must
maintain product support and notification procedures to notify the public and the FAA of -

(i) Any defect or condition that causes the small unmanned aircraft to no longer meet the requirements of this
subpart; and

(ii) Any identified safety defect that causes the small unmanned aircraft to exceed a low probability of casualty.

107.125 Category 3 operations: Operating requirements

To conduct Category 3 operations, a remote pilot in command -

(a) Must use a small unmanned aircraft that -

(1) Is eligible for Category 3 operations pursuant to § 107.130(a);

(2) Is listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance as eligible for Category 3 operations in accordance with § 107.160; and

(3) Is labeled as eligible for Category 3 operations in accordance with § 107.130(b)(1);

(b) Must not operate the small unmanned aircraft over open-air assemblies of human beings; and

(c) May only operate the small unmanned aircraft above any human being if operation meets one of the following conditions:

The operation is within or over a closed- or restricted-access site and all human
beings located within the closed- or restricted-access site must be on notice that
a small unmanned aircraft may fly over them; or

(2) The small unmanned aircraft does not maintain sustained flight over any
human being unless that human being is -

(i) Directly participating in the operation of the small unmanned aircraft; or

(ii) Located under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can
provide reasonable protection from a falling small unmanned aircraft.

Multiple Choice

Can a category 3 drone fly over people at a public school?

• TRUE

• FALSE

107.130 Category 3 operations: Eligibility of small
unmanned aircraft and other applicant requirements

(a) To be eligible for use in Category 3 operations, the small unmanned aircraft
must be designed, produced, or modified such that it -

(1) Will not cause injury to a human being that is equivalent to or greater than
the severity of the injury caused by a transfer of 25 foot-pounds of kinetic energy
upon impact from a rigid object;

(2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin
upon impact with a human being; and

(3) Does not contain any safety defects.

Multiple Choice

How much force can a category 3 drone cause?

• 25 foot pounds

• 11 foot pounds

• .55 foot pounds

• 2.5 foot pounds

Display a label on the small unmanned aircraft indicating eligibility to conduct Category 3 operations. The label must be in English
and be legible, prominent, and permanently affixed to the small unmanned aircraft.

(2) Have remote pilot operating instructions that apply to the operation of the small unmanned aircraft system. The applicant for a
declaration of compliance must make available these instructions upon sale or transfer of the aircraft or use of the aircraft by
someone other than the applicant who submitted a declaration of compliance pursuant to § 107.160. Such instructions must
address, at a minimum -

(i) A system description that includes the required small unmanned aircraft system components, any system
limitations, and the declared category or categories of operation;

(ii) Modifications that will not change the ability of the small unmanned aircraft system to meet the requirements
for the category or categories of operation the small unmanned aircraft system is eligible to conduct; and

(iii) Instructions for how to verify and change the mode or configuration of the small unmanned aircraft system, if
they are variable.

(3) Maintain a product support and notification process. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must
maintain product support and notification procedures to notify the public and the FAA of -

(i) Any defect or condition that causes the small unmanned aircraft to no longer meet the requirements of this
subpart; and

(ii) Any identified safety defect that causes the small unmanned aircraft to exceed a low probability of fatality.

Category 4 Operations

Remote pilot in command requirements. To conduct Category 4 operations—

(1) A remote pilot in command—

(i) Must use a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for Category 4 operations pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section; and

(ii) Must operate the small unmanned aircraft in accordance with all operating limitations that apply to the small unmanned aircraft, as specified by the Administrator.

(2) No remote pilot in command may operate a small unmanned aircraft in sustained flight over open-air assemblies of human beings unless the operation meets the
requirements of either § 89.110 or § 89.115(a) of this chapter.

(b) Small unmanned aircraft requirements for Category 4. To be eligible to operate over human beings under this section, the small unmanned aircraft must—

(1) Have an airworthiness certificate issued under part 21 of this chapter.

(2) Be operated in accordance with the operating limitations specified in the approved Flight Manual or as otherwise specified by the Administrator. The operating limitations
must not prohibit operations over human beings.

(3) Have maintenance, preventive maintenance, alterations, or inspections performed in accordance with paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(c) Maintenance requirements for Category 4. The owner must (unless the owner enters into an agreement with an operator to meet the requirements of this paragraph (c),
then the operator must) meet the requirements of this paragraph (c):

Multiple Choice

A drone with exposed propellers can operate over humans

• TRUE

• FALSE