U.S . Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular Subject: Small Unmanned Aircraft System (Small UAS) Date: 2/1/21 AC No: 107-2A Initiated by: AFS-800 Change:
This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for conducting small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107.
ORIGINAL SIGNED by /s/ Robert C. Carty Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards Service
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CONTENTS Paragraph Page
Chapter 1. General1-1
1.1 Purpose of This Advisory Circular (AC)1-1
1.2 Where You Can Find This AC1-1
1.3 What This AC Cancels1-1
1.4 Request for Information1-1
1.5 AC Feedback Form1-2
Chapter 2. References2-1
2.1 Related Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts2-1
2.2 Notices to Airmen (NOTAM)2-1
2.3 Related Reading Material2-1
Chapter 3. Background3-1
3.1 PL 112-95, Title III, Subtitle B3-1
3.2 Organization of Part 1073-1
Chapter 4. Part 107 Subpart A, General4-1
4.1 Applicability4-1
4.2 Definitions4-1
4.3 Falsification, Reproduction, or Alteration4-5
4.4 Accident Reporting4-5
Chapter 5. Part 107 Subpart B, Operating Rules (Small UAS)5-1
5.1 Applicability5-1
5.2 Aircraft Operation5-1
5.3 Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) and Crew Resource Management (CRM)5-2
5.4 Aircraft Registration5-2
5.5 Small Unmanned Aircraft Maintenance, Inspections, and Condition for Safe
Operation5-3
5.6 Medical Condition5-3
5.7 Civil Twilight and Operations at Night5-4
5.8 Operations Over Open-Air Assemblies of Persons5-5
5.9 VLOS Aircraft Operation5-5
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5.10 Operation Near Airports, in Certain Airspace, in Prohibited or Restricted Areas, or
in the Proximity of Certain Areas Designated by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM)5-7
5.11 Preflight Familiarization, Inspection, and Actions for Aircraft Operation5-9
5.12 Operating Limitations for Small Unmanned Aircraft5-11
5.13 Remaining Clear of Other Aircraft5-12
5.14 Operations from Moving Vehicles5-12
5.15 Transportation of Property5-13
5.16 Operations While Impaired5-13
5.17 Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems5-14
5.18 In-Flight Emergency5-15
5.19 Careless or Reckless Operation5-15
5.20 Certificate of Waiver5-15
5.21 Supplemental Operational Information5-16
Chapter 6. Part 107 Subpart C, Remote Pilot Certification6-1
6.1 Applicability6-1
6.2 Remote Pilot Certification6-1
6.3 Eligibility6-1
6.4 Application Process6-1
6.5 Security Disqualification6-4
6.6 FAA Tracking Number (FTN) Requirement6-4
6.7 Aeronautical Knowledge Test6-4
6.8 Aeronautical Knowledge Training6-6
Chapter 7. Small UAS Maintenance and Inspection7-1
7.1 Applicability7-1
7.2 Maintenance7-1
7.3 Preflight Inspection7-2
Chapter 8. Small Unmanned Aircraft Over People8-1
8.1 Applicability8-1
8.2 Category of Operations8-1
8.3 Operations Over People8-1
8.4 Applicant8-10
8.5 Means of Compliance—General Information8-12
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8.6 FAA-Provided MOC8-13
8.7 Voluntary Consensus Standards Body MOC8-18
8.8 Means of Compliance8-19
8.9 Declarations of Compliance8-20
8.10 Ac countability for Holders of DOCs8-24
8.11 Product Labeling8-29
8.12 Remote Pilot Operating Instructions8-30
8.13 Remote Pilot Responsibilities When Conducting Operations Over People8-36
8.14 Operations Over People at Night8-36
Appendix A. R isk Assessment ToolsA-1
Appendix B. S upplemental Operational InformationB-1
Appendix C. S mall UAS Maintenance and Inspection Best PracticesC-1
Appendix D. R emote Pilot Certification and Applicant Identity VerificationD-1
Appendix E. Sa mple Preflight Assessment and Inspection ChecklistE-1
L ist of Figures
Figure 4-1. FAA Regional Operations Centers Telephone List4-6
Figure 6-1. R ecurrent Training Cycle Examples6-6
Figure 8-1. R equirement to Submit a DOC for a Modified Small Unmanned Aircraft8-12
Figure 8-2. S ample Remote Pilot Operating Instructions8-33
Figure A-1. H azard Identification and Risk Assessment Process ChartA-3
Figure A-2. S ample Safety Risk Assessment and Mitigation Steps Before FlightA-4
L ist of Tables
Table 4-1. Abbreviations/Acronyms Used in This AC4-3
Table 8-1. O perations Over Moving Vehicles – Over or Within a Closed/Restricted
Access Site8-3
Table 8-2. O perations Over Moving Vehicles – Not Over or Within a Closed/Restricted
Access Site8-3
Table 8-3. O perations Over People – Over or Within a Closed/Restricted Access Site8-9
Table 8-4. O perations Over People – Not Over or Within a Closed/Restricted
Access Site8-10
Table 8-5 . Maximum Impact Speeds (ft/sec) for a Given Weight and Impact Kinetic
Energy Under FAA-Provided MOC8-16
v Table 8-6. Maximum Impact Speeds (mph) for a Given Weight and Impact Kinetic
Energy Under FAA-Provided MOC8-16
Table C-1. S mall UAS Condition ChartC-1
1-1 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL
1.1 Purpose of This Advisory Circular (AC). This AC provides guidance in the areas of airman (remote pilot) certification, aircraft registration and marking, aircraft airworthiness, and the operation of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) to promote compliance with the requirements of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107.
1.1.1 Effects of Guidance. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. It does not provide, nor is it intended to provide, a legal interpretation of the regulations. This AC uses mandatory terms, such as “must,” when the language is describing an established statutory or regulatory requirement. This AC does not change, add to, or delete regulatory requirements or authorize deviations from regulatory requirements or restrictions.
1.1.2 Part 107 Provisions. This AC is not intended to cover every provision of part 107. Rather, this AC is intended to provide guidance on those provisions of part 107 where additional information may be helpful. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emphasizes, however, that persons subject to part 107 are responsible for complying with every applicable provision of part 107, regardless of whether the provision is discussed in this AC.
1.1.3 Privacy-Related Laws. Part 107 operators should be aware that State and local authorities may enact privacy-related laws specific to UAS operations. The FAA encourages small UAS operators to review those laws prior to operating their UAS. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has also published the Voluntary Best Practices for UAS Privacy, Transparency, and Accountability (dated May 18, 2016), available at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/uas_privacy_ best_practices_6-21-16.pdf. This document outlines and describes voluntary best practices that small UAS operators could take to advance UAS privacy, transparency, and accountability for the private and commercial use of UAS.
1.2 Where You Can Find This AC. You can find this AC on the FAA’s website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars.
1.3 What This AC Cancels. AC 107-2, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), dated June 21, 2016, is canceled.
1.4 Request for Information. Direct comments and suggestions for improving this publication to:
Federal Aviation Administration General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS-800) 55 M Street SE, 8th Floor, Zone 1 Washington, DC 20003
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1.5 AC Feedback Form. For your convenience, the AC Feedback Form is the last page of this AC. Note any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements regarding the contents of this AC on the Feedback Form.
2-1 CHAPTER 2. REFERENCES
2.1 Related Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts. The following regulations and parts can be found at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulations/.
2.1.1 Title 14 CFR.
• Part 1, Definitions and Abbreviations.
• Part 43, Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration.
• Part 47, Aircraft Registration.
• Part 48, Registration and Marking Requirements for Small Unmanned Aircraft.
• Part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic Service Routes; and Reporting Points.
• Part 73, Special Use Airspace.
• Part 89, Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft.
• Part 91, General Operating and Flight Rules.
• Part 93, Special Air Traffic Rules.
• Part 99, Security Control of Air Traffic.
• Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
2.1.2 Title 47 CFR. Part 87, Aviation Services.
2.1.3 Title 49 CFR. Part 830, Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents or Incidents and Overdue Aircraft, and Preservation of Aircraft Wreckage, Mail, Cargo, and Records.
2.2 Notices to Airmen (NOTAM). Information on how to obtain NOTAMs can be found at https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWeb/.
2.2.1 Additional resources to create NOTAMs, check weather, and prepare flight plans can be found at https://www.1800wxbrief.com/.
2.3 Related Reading Material. The following listed reference materials contain additional information necessary to ensure safe operations in the NAS. A small UAS operator may want to consider seeking out additional publications to supplement the lists below.
2.3.1 FAA ACs and Directives (current editions). You can find the current editions of the following publications on the FAA websites https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/ and https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices/.
• AC 00-6, Aviation Weather.
• AC 00-45, Aviation Weather Services.
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• AC 60-28, FAA English Language Standard for an FAA Certificate Issued Under 14 CFR Parts 61, 63, 65, and 107.
• AC 61-141, Flight Instructors as Certifying Officials for Student Pilot and Remote Pilot Applicants.
• AC 120-92, Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers.
• FAA Order JO 7110.10, Air Traffic Organization Policy, Flight Services.
• FAA Order JO 7110.65, Air Traffic Organization Policy, Air Traffic Control.
• FAA Order JO 7200.23, Air Traffic Organization Policy, Processing of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Requests.
• FAA Order JO 7210.3, Air Traffic Organization Policy, Facility Operation and Administration.
• FAA Order JO 7400.11, Air Traffic Organization Policy, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points.
• FAA Order 8130.34, Airworthiness Certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Optionally Piloted Aircraft.
• FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 16, Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
2.3.2 Additional FAA Online/Mobile Sources.
• UAS website: https://www.faa.gov/uas/.
• UAS Registration website: https://faadronezone.faa.gov/.
• B4UFLY mobile app.
• UAS Flight Planning, NOTAMs, temporary flight restrictions (TFR):
https://www.1800wxbrief.com/ and https://tfr.faa.gov.
• FAA Safety website: https://www.faasafety.gov.
• FAA UAS Data Delivery System website: https://udds-faa.opendata.arcgis.com/.
• FAA Waiver Safety Explanation Guidelines for Part 107 Waiver Applications:
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/part_107_waivers/waiver_safety_exp lanation_guidelines/.
• FAA Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA):
https://iacra.faa.gov/iacra.
• Airman Certificate Testing Service (ACTS):
https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/ACTS/.
• Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO):
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo.
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2.3.3 FAA Handbooks, Manuals, and Other Publications. You can find the following handbooks, manuals, and other publications on the FAA website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/.
• Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM):
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/.
• Aeronautical Charts (Digital):
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/.
• Pilot/Controller Glossary: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/.
• Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/.
• Risk Management Handbook:
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/risk_m anagement_hb_change_1.pdf.
• Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards (ACS): https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/media/uas_acs.pdf.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operating Handbook:
https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/afx/afs/afs600 /afs630/.
2.3.4 Statutory Resources.
• Public Law (PL) 112-95 (Feb. 14, 2012), Title III, Subtitle B—Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
• PL 114-190 (July 15, 2016), Title II, Subtitle B—UAS Safety.
• PL 115-254 (Oct. 5, 2018), Title III, Subtitle B—Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
3-1 CHAPTER 3. BACKGROUND
3.1 PL 112-95, Title III, Subtitle B. In 2012, Congress passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, PL 112-95. Section 333 of PL 112-95 directed the Secretary of Transportation to determine whether UAS operations posing the least amount of public risk and no threat to national security could safely be operated in the NAS and, if so, to establish requirements for the safe operation of these systems in the NAS. As part of its ongoing efforts to integrate UAS operations in the NAS and in accordance with Section 333, in June 2016, the FAA issued a final rule adding part 107, integrating civil small UAS into the NAS. Part 107 allows small UAS operations for many different purposes without requiring airworthiness certification, exemption, or a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA).
3.2 Organization of Part 107. The FAA addresses aviation safety in three key areas:
personnel, equipment, and operations. The FAA assesses each of these areas both independently to meet current regulations and standards, as well as collectively to ensure no conflicts exist overall that would create an unsafe condition. This approach allows the FAA to be flexible in responding to the needs of the aviation community while still being able to establish standards for future growth and development. To that end, part 107 contains subparts that focus on each of these key aviation safety areas specific to small UAS, and the chapters in this AC are organized in the same manner.
4-1 CHAPTER 4. PART 107 SUBPART A, GENERAL
4.1 Applicability. This chapter provides guidance regarding the applicability of part 107 to civil small unmanned aircraft operations conducted within the NAS. However, part 107 does not apply to the following:
1. Limited recreational operations of UAS that occur in accordance with Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.) § 448091;
2. Operations conducted outside the United States;
3. Amateur rockets;
4. Moored balloons;
5. Unmanned free balloons;
6. Kites;
7. Public aircraft operations; and
8. Air carrier operations.
4.2 Definitions. The following defined terms are used throughout this AC:
4.2.1 Applicant. A person who submits a declaration of compliance (DOC) to the FAA for review and acceptance. An applicant may be anyone who designs, produces, or modifies a small unmanned aircraft.
4.2.2 Control Station (CS). An interface used by the remote pilot or the person manipulating the controls to control the flightpath of the small unmanned aircraft.
4.2.3 Corrective Lenses. Spectacles or contact lenses.
4.2.4 Declaration of Compliance (DOC). A record submitted to the FAA that certifies the small unmanned aircraft conforms to the Category 2 or Category 3 requirements under part 107 subpart D, as described in Chapter 8, Small Unmanned Aircraft Over People.
1 Title 49 U.S.C. § 44809(a) states that a person may operate a small unmanned aircraft without specific certification or operating authority from the FAA if the operation adheres to all of the following limitations: (1) the aircraft is flown strictly for recreational purposes; (2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with or within the programming of a community-based organization’s set of safety guidelines that are developed in coordination with the FAA; (3) the aircraft is flown within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) of the person operating the aircraft or a visual observer (VO) co-located an in direct communication with the operator; (4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft; (5) in Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, the operator obtains prior authorization from the Administrator or designee before operating and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions;
(6) in Class G airspace, the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL) and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions; (7) the operator has passed an aeronautical knowledge and safety test described in § 44809(g) and maintains proof of test passage to be made available to the Administrator or law enforcement upon request; and (8) the aircraft is registered and marked in accordance with 49 U.S.C.
chapter 441 and proof of registration is made available to the Administrator or a designee of the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.