Becoming a Drone Pilot Exploring Commercial Drone Applications and Regulations

How to Become a Drone Pilot: Step-by-Step Guide

A few years ago, no one would have thought that a person with no formal aviation training could be considered an airman. However, that is what drone pilots are considered now airmen, in their own right. Thus, being a drone pilot is now aspired to not just for the fun of flying a drone, but also because of a sense of prestige for the title

How does one go about the process of being a drone pilot? Aside from developing the requisite skills and knowledge needed to safely operate a drone, there are also a few federal requirements to satisfy. The following are the basic steps to follow to turn a beginner into a full-fledged drone pilot.

1. Practice with a cheap, easy-to-learn drone first

Beginner drone pilots are advised not to practice on some high-end drone that costs more than a thousand dollars. Not only will you end feeling bad when you (inevitably) crash your drone, but most high-end drones arent designed to cater to beginner drone pilots. They might not have features that are specifically included to ease the learning process of drone flight.

There are a lot of beginner-friendly drones that cost less than $100. The great thing about these cheap drones is that they are usually so compact and lightweight that they can survive a few crashes before they start to suffer any lasting damage. If you want a model thats made for learning, you should be on the lookout for a model that has either a Headless Mode or a Beginner Mode.

Headless Mode makes the drone orient relative to the position of the remote controller, making it easier for you to know which way is forward, back, left, or right. In Beginner Mode, the speed and gain of the controller are throttled so that you never lose control of the drone. It also sets up a virtual geofence so that the drone cannot fly more than a few feet away from you.

Just keep in mind that flying with these handicaps for too long will build bad flying habits, so you should strive to ease yourself to flying in normal mode as soon as you can. If your drone has no GPS capability, then that would be even better practice as GPS-aided stabilization tends to make hovering way too easy.

Once youre comfortable enough with the basic controls of your entry-level drone, then its time to move up to something more capable. At this point, your decision may vary based on how confident you are with your skills and how much youre willing to spend.

There are several ultra-portable camera drones that cost less than $1000 that are good enough for professional work. These prosumer drones represent a good middle-ground between drones that are easy to fly yet have premium features.

If youre willing to go all the way, then you can go beyond the $1000 threshold and get a professional-grade drone. These drones have some of the best cameras in the industry, intelligent functions, and sophisticated sensor arrays. They are the most suitable for professional drone work because of how reliable and versatile they are.

2. Register your drone

As soon as you get a drone, whether its the one for your practice or the one for your professional work, the first thing to check would be its total weight. If it weighs more than 0.55 pounds, then youll have to register the drone with the FAA before you can fly it. Micro-drones might be able to fly below the threshold, but just about all camera drones (including ultra-portable ones) will likely have to be registered.

Fortunately, FAA drone registration is cheap and can be done quickly. Simply sign up for an account on the FAA DroneZone website, provide your personal details plus a few details about your drone, and pay the $5 registration fee. If you plan on using your drone for commercial purposes, then it would be a good idea to have it registered separately.

Upon successful registration, you should receive a unique registration via e-mail. You will then have to mark your drone visibly with its registration number. You can do this simply with a permanent marker. The important thing is that the number is easily visible on the body of the drone upon visual inspection.

3. Learn about the more advanced aspects of drone flight, safety, and regulations

Now that you have your mid-range to high-end drone in tow, its time to learn about drone flight beyond just the basics. Of course, youll still need to practice flying your new drone. This is the perfect time to take a more technical approach towards drone flight. Start by becoming familiar with the language. Terms such as yaw, pitch, and roll should be second nature to drone pilots. As important as knowing what these terms mean is the ability to pull them off in the real world.

This is also the best time to learn about the fundamentals of drone flight. Noteworthy lessons include how propellers work to generate lift, how atmospheric conditions affect drone flight and the role that the drones sensors and controllers play. Understanding these lessons is the key to being able to troubleshoot problems with your drone and knowing what the best conditions are to fly your drone.

Safety is the top priority when flying a drone. More than keeping your drone from getting damaged, you should always strive to never cause any damage to property or injury to people or animals around you. There are a lot of safety practices in which you should consider standard parts of your operating procedures. These include doing a pre-flight inspection of your drone, keeping it within visual line-of-sight, scanning the sky for obstacles and other flight hazards, and not flying directly over other people and moving vehicles.

Part of safe operations includes complying with all applicable federal regulations. Whether youre flying commercially or for fun, there are certain flight restrictions that all drone pilots need to follow. Some of the most important of these regulations involve the restriction of drone flight in controlled airspace, or in the areas immediately surrounding airports. Near encounters between drones and manned aircraft is something that the FAA works hard to avoid in the interest of airspace safety.

To check if you are in controlled airspace, the primary source of information should always be the sectional charts. However, bringing a book of sectional charts wherever you fly is simply impractical. A more convenient solution is provided by drone flight planning apps that can be installed on your smartphone. Through these apps, you can view a map of your current location plus any flight restrictions in your area.

4. Earn your Part 107 remote pilot certificate

Everything youve learned about the advanced topics in drone flight, aerodynamics, weather conditions, safety protocols, and federal regulations will serve as preparation for earning your Part 107 remote pilot certificate. Established by the FAA as the legal framework for commercial drone operations in the US, the remote pilot certificate is what is needed for you to be officially recognized as a drone pilot.

Part of the thrust of the FAA in establishing the Part 107 remote pilot certificate is to maintain a standard level of knowledge and proficiency in all commercial drone pilots. This is done through the Part 107 knowledge test, a 60-item multiple-choice test that covers various topics related to aviation, including how to read sectional charts and how to interpret weather reports. A drone pilot has to get 70% of the items in the test correctly to earn the drone license.

Preparing for the knowledge test is a big part of the Part 107 certification process. Most of the things you will learn while studying will come in handy, in one way or the other, during your career as a professional drone pilot. Being a licensed drone pilot means that the FAA considers you as part of the fleet of airmen. As such, you will also bear the responsibilities of being one, among which is maintaining the safety of national airspace.

Once youve managed to pass the knowledge test, you will have to go through a background check by the TSA. The TSA will mostly check for any aviation-related misdemeanors in your history. This can take anywhere between a week to two months, although you dont really have to do anything. Youll know youve passed the background check when you receive an e-mail from the FAA containing your temporary certificate. Print this out, bring it with you, and youre good to go! You are now a drone pilot in an official capacity and can start earning with your drone legally.

While your temporary certificate remains valid, your permanent certificate should be making its way to you via regular mail. The Part 107 remote pilot certificate is valid for 24 months, after which youll need to take and pass a recurrent knowledge test to renew your privileges as a professional drone pilot.

5. Obey FAA regulations and local laws

Having a Part 107 remote pilot certificate means that you are now free to market your drone services and accept payment for them. These can include on-site services such as event coverage or surveys or simply the selling of aerial photos and videos online.

The privilege of flying a drone commercially comes with the responsibilities of being a licensed drone pilot. This includes complying with all Part 107 regulations. Of particular importance are the regulations that are unique to drone pilots who fly commercially, including the requirements on the documentation of flights and the reporting of drone-related accidents.

The FAA grants waivers to Part 107-licensed drone pilots in case they need to color outside the lines a bit and operate commercially in otherwise restricted conditions. The waiver provision is only available for certain flight restrictions and will only be granted, upon the discretion of the FAA, if a drone pilot demonstrates thorough risk management of the situation.

Aside from federal regulations, a drone pilot must also remain aware of local laws on drone flight. The FAA may have authority on national airspace but public concern about the safety and privacy issues related to drone flight has prompted many local governments to enact their own drone-related laws.

In terms of awareness, these local laws can prove to be even more challenging for drone pilots. Since states and cities can have their own set of laws, there remain no over-arching laws on drone flight that are applicable to all locations. There is also no centralized source of this information.

Instead, youll have to do your own research whenever you conduct commercial drone operations. This can be very important for professional drone pilots as the jobs they do can often require them to travel to places where the laws are not so familiar.

Final thoughts

Heres the thing about being a drone pilot: anyone who can fly a drone can be called a drone pilot but being officially called one will require that you be recognized by the FAA. The process can be tough and long, especially if youre still new to the whole world of drone technology.

Being a drone pilot is a lot less elegant than it sounds. On the way to earning your license, youll probably have to pore through maps and books, watch hours of instructional videos, and get your drone into one or two crashes. However, all the hard work is worth it to get into an industry thats still young and on the rise.

How to Get a Drone Pilot License (Step-by-Step Guide)

Flying a drone commercially opens up many career opportunities, from working in the news to real estate, construction, and land surveying roles.

However, you need a license before you launch your drone for your first commercial project.

This guide will take you through the requirements of obtaining a Part 107 license, answering all your most burning questions along the way.

Youll learn where to take the FAA exam, what you need to know to pass the exam, how long your license lasts, how to renew it, and more.

Who needs a Part 107 license? What size drone requires an FAA license?

Lets start with the basics.

All drone pilots require a license in the United States. However, its a different license for commercial versus recreational pilots.

Commercial pilots must take the Part 107 exam to earn a Part 107 license, which is also known as a Remote Pilot Certificate.

The FAA issues these licenses.

What size drone requires an FAA license? Your drone must weigh under 55 pounds to be eligible for flights in the US, so any drone under that size can only fly with a license.

MORE: How I Passed Part 107 (And the Course That Helped Me Do It)

How (and where) can I take the Part 107 test?

The only thing lying between you and your commercial drone license is the Part 107 exam.

Lets review the steps for taking the test so you can be one step closer to becoming an official FAA drone license holder.

Step 1 Meet the eligibility requirements

First-time drone pilots must meet specific criteria laid out by the FAA.

You must be deemed in sufficient mental and physical condition to operate a drone safely. You must also have a full comprehension of English, meaning you can understand, write, speak, and read it.

Additionally, you must be at least 16 years old.

Step 2 Get your FAA Tracking Number

Once you determine whether youre eligible to enroll to take the Part 107 exam, you next need your FAA Tracking Number or FTN.

If you dont already have an account, create one on the Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application website (link).

When registering on the IACRA site, select Applicant, then choose your instructors, certifying officers, and admin. Youll also have to agree to IACRAs terms of service when registering.

Step 3 Schedule your test at a Knowledge Testing Center

The Part 107 exam is an in-person test. You can renew your exam online but cannot take the initial test online as of this writing.

Youll have to find a physical testing center, also known as a Knowledge Testing Center, on the FAAs approved list. You can peruse the list here (which requires an FAA login).

Once you find a Knowledge Testing Center near you, register to take the Part 107 exam at a date and time that works for your schedule.

You must have a government-issued photo ID to verify your identity, so pack that with you early, as you may forget on the day of the test due to jitters.

Step 4 Take the Part 107 exam

The Unmanned Aircraft General Small (UAG) testbetter known as the Part 107 examis a 60-question quiz.

Each of the questions is multiple-choice, and youre given three options to choose from: A, B, or C.

The Part 107 exam tests your proficiency in the entirety of the FAAs drone laws, so the test questions leave no stone unturned.

Expect questions on these topics:

• Nighttime drone operations
• Preflight inspection procedures
• Drone maintenance
• Flight judgment and decision-making
• The physiological effects of alcohol and drugs on drone flight
• Small unmanned aircraft performance
• Communicating on the radio
• Managing crew resources
• Emergency procedures
• Drone loading and performance
• How weather affects drones
• Drone operating requirements
• Airspace classifications
• Flight restrictions

Youre given two hours to complete all the questions on the exam. Any questions you dont answer will be marked incorrectly.

You must score 70 percent to pass the Part 107 exam, which means answering 42 of the 60 questions correctly.

Since you can only get up to 18 questions wrong if you want to pass, manage your time well. and study in advance. Well have a whole section on studying for the exam coming up.

Step 5 Apply for your license

Once you pass the Part 107 exam, you must then apply for the certificate. Youll again log into IACRA to do this.

After logging in, select the Start New Application option on the website. Choose Application Type, then Pilot, then Certifications Remote Pilot, Other Path Information, and Start Application.

Youll then fill out FAA Form 8710-13 via the application prompts. You will have to enter your Knowledge Test Exam ID, which is 17 digits.

You will have to wait at least 48 hours after taking your test to obtain this ID, as it can take that long for your test results to show up in the IACRA portal.

Include your electronic signature on FAA Form 8710-13 and submit it. Youll receive a confirmation email when you do that and comply with the TSA background check.

The confirmation email has instructions on printing a copy of your IACRA remote pilot certificate.

This is only a temporary license, as the real one will come in the mail from FAA after the organization processes your application.

In the meantime, you can use the IACRA certificate like the real Remote Pilot Certificate.

How do I study for the Part 107 test?

Its not free to take the Part 107 exam. Youll pay $175 to the Knowledge Testing Center before your test.

If you fail, youre free to retake the exam. Theres no limit on retest attempts, but for the sake of your wallet, youll want there to be.

Thats why we recommended studying in the last section, and well reiterate the importance of studying now.

Fortunately, there exist several excellent drone resources for prepping for the Part 107 exam. Here are four of our favorites.

Pilot Institute

Pilot Institute has a top-notch Part 107 exam prep course. More than 65,000 students have used Pilot Institute to prepare for the FAA exam as of this writing.

MORE:How I Passed Part 107 (And the Course That Helped Me Do It)

The instructors at Pilot Institute divide the content into 15 hours. Its all video content, so you can start it, pause it, and resume it as your schedule allows.

The videos are short so you can easily digest the information, and of course, you can rewatch the content as needed.

To further help you prep, Pilot Institute offers 20 quizzes that mimic what youll see on the real Part 107 exam.

You can also take an unlimited number of practice exams. Altogether, these quizzes and practice exams have over 300 questions.

We recognize that its costly on top of the price youll pay to take the Part 107 exam, but you own the materials for life.

Plus, Pilot Institute promises youll pass the FAA test the first time around, or theyll refund you in full and issue you $175 to go toward your next test attempt.

Drone Pilot Ground School

Drone Pilot Ground School is another option to consider if youre interested in Part 107 prep before you sit down to take the exam.

This drone school has a combination of text-based and video lessons, with more than 70 available.

Drone Pilot Ground School curriculum was created through the collective knowledge of a former Part 141 flight school chief pilot and a Gold Seal-certified flight instructor.

After absorbing the video and text content at your own pace, you can prep for the upcoming FAA exam with five practice tests and lesson quizzes. The questions include real FAA content used on Part 107 exams.

Drone Pilot Ground School also offers a cram sheet with 12 pages of takeaways to review on test day.

If you need extra help still, you can search the Q&A database, the Drone Pilot Knowledge Center, or contact Drone Pilot Ground School for one-on-one support.

Youll have access to your materials for a lifetime after paying. Drone Pilot Ground School has a success rate of over 99 percent but still offers a money-back guarantee if you dont pass the FAA exam.

Youll also receive $175 from the school for your next test attempt.

Peltier Remote Pilot Training

Another great option to help you prep for the Part 107 exam is Peltier Remote Pilot Training. John Peltier leads the training.

He also offers photography courses if youre interested!

For $139, Peltiers course will take you through 10 hours of Part 107 training spread out into 37 video lessons. Each lesson includes text outlines.

The course also includes a printable study guide and instructor support with John himself through email and live chat.

Take a practice exam that includes questions FAA used on past Part 107 exams.

Review Peltiers test-taking tips, chat in the Pilot Lounge community, and follow the post-test walkthrough and certification steps so you do everything correctly and get your license in hand fast.

Drone Pro Academy

Do you want to learn drone basics quickly to prepare for the Part 107 exam? Drone Pro Academy is the choice for you.

Its FAA Part 107 bootcamp has two hours of lessons broken into several modules for easily digesting the materials.

The first module covers drone rules, which youll be tested on during the Part 107 exam, and the second module is all about crew resource management.

The third module covers aircraft performance, the fourth is about weather, and the fifth module goes over VFR charts and airspace rules.

Once you wrap up, you can take a practice exam. Theres also an included section on how to complete the post-exam IACRA form.

More than 15,000 drone pilots have chosen Drone Pro Academy to pass the Part 107 exam.

Drone Pro Academy

When you take the test, youre protected under the Drone Pro Academys pass guarantee. Easily pass your FAA Part 107 exam.

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How many hours does it take to study for the exam?

There is no right amount of time to study for the FAA Part 107 exam. It all depends on how you learn and retain information.

If you enroll in one of the drone prep courses we recommended above, youll spend at least 10 hours on the course material.

Youre also encouraged to use cram sheets and practice quizzes on your own time.

That doesnt mean you only have to study for 10 hours, of course. You can double or triple that time if you want.

A good rule of thumb is to spend at least an hour studying for the exam per day. This way, you can juggle your Part 107 exam prep with other obligations like work and school.

The sheer amount of studying you have to do also wont feel so overwhelming.

The more time you study, the more well-prepared youll feel for the FAA commercial drone exam. That will put you in a better position to pass so you dont have to pay to take the test again.

How much does it cost to become an FAA drone pilot?

This is another question thats difficult to answer. Rather, its more complex.

If were talking only about the cost of taking the Part 107 exam, thats $175. Assuming you pass the first time around, youll only have to pay that fee once.

However, there are other associated fees with becoming a commercial drone pilot, including the following:

• Purchasing a drone ($50 to $2,000 and up)
• Drone registration ($5 per drone)
• Drone prep course
• Drone insurance
• Filming and photography permits (cost varies)

Is becoming a drone pilot difficult?

Yes, becoming a drone pilot is difficult. The FAA wants to ensure that only the most qualified pilots take to the skies.

After all, drones may just be toys to some people, but theyre still aerial vehicles, and flying them is a great responsibility.

The most difficult part of the entire process by far isnt registering with IACRA or filling out paperwork but passing the Part 107 exam.

Thats why studying and preparation pay off so much, as goes getting a good nights sleep the night before the test (as good a night as you can muster, anyway) and eating a filling meal the day of.

How long is the FAA drone license good for?

Whew. You enrolled in an online drone prep course and passed the Part 107 exam. It was difficult, but you did it. You couldnt be happier, and youve used your drone every day since.

Enjoy your Remote Pilot Certificate while you have it, as its not valid forever. The license expires two years after its issued to you.

The FAA does this intentionally. Unmanned aircraft guidelines and rules change all the time. The FAA ensures youll stay current on those changing guidelines by requiring you to recertify your license every two years.

How do I get my drone pilot license if I already have a manned pilots license?

Are you a manned pilot looking to get into flying unmanned commercial aircraft to earn some extra money on the side? If you hold a Part 61 certificate, the methods for obtaining a Remote Pilot Certificate differ.

Lets go over what you need to know.

Step 1 Meet the eligibility requirements

Pilots with an existing Part 61 certificate must have a license issued according to 14 CFR Part 61 standards. Further, you must have had a flight review in the past 24 months.

Step 2 Make a FAASTeam account

If you dont have an existing FAA Safety Team or FAASTeam account (link), create one now.

Step 3 Take an online training course

Next, youll take the Part 107 Small UAS Initial (ALC-451) test (link), an online course that goes over the following subjects:

• Nighttime drone operations
• Preflight inspections
• Drone maintenance
• Small unmanned aircraft performance
• Crew resource management
• Emergency procedures
• Drone loading and performance
• How weather affects drones
• Flight operations
• Drone limitations
• Unmanned aircraft system ratings privileges

Step 4 Request your certificate

If you dont have an IACRA account, follow the link from earlier in this guide to sign up. Otherwise, log into IACRA and fill out Form 8710-13.

Select Start New Application, Application Type Pilot, then Certifications Remote Pilot, Other Path Information, and Start Application to find the form.

Sign your name electronically on the form and submit it.

Step 5 Validate your identity

Heres where things diverge. You must next validate your identity through an airman certification representative, FAA-designated pilot examiner, or an FAA Flight Standards District Office.

Youll need an online course completion certificate, photo ID, proof of your latest flight review, and Form 8710-13.

Step 6 Get your application signed

The representative you go through will sign the application and administer a temporary airman certificate for drone operation.

The FAA will later send your real certificate in the mail, but it will take a few weeks.

You can use the temporary airman certificate the same way you would a commercial exam.

Im not flying drones for money Do I still need a license?

What if youre not aspiring to become a commercial pilot but only want to use your drone for fun? Even hobbyists must have a drone certificate under FAA law.

However, you do not need a Remote Pilot Certificate. Instead, the certificate for recreational drone pilots is the TRUST license.

The FAA administers The Remote UAS Safety Test or TRUST exam to hobbyists. This exam differs from the Part 107 exam in several substantial ways.

For one, you dont have to pay to take it. Second, you dont have to take the TRUST test in an FAA-approved testing center.

You can sit down and answer the questions wherever you like, as the test is online, not with paper and pencil.

You dont have to answer as many questions, either. The TRUST test has about 20 questions versus the 60 on the Part 107 exam.

Its also far easier to pass. Anytime you answer a question on the TRUST exam, you can see whether you got it right or wrong.

Further, if you answer a question wrong, you can change your answer then and there before moving on to the next question.

Its impossible to fail the TRUST exam!

The last difference is the duration of the license. The TRUST certificate never expires. Do be aware that if you misplace your TRUST certificate, you must take the exam again.

My drone pilot license is about to expire How do I renew it?

Recalling that commercial drone licenses are only valid for two years, the time will inevitably come when you have to renew yours.

The FAA used to require pilots to take the Part 107 exam again, then again and again every two years for as long as they wanted a valid license. Now the policy has changed.

You can renew your drone exam for free by taking an online test. Here are the steps to get started.

Step 1 Sign into your FAA Safety account

If you dont already have an account on the FAA Safety website, register for one now. Next, log into your account.

Step 2 Sign up for the renewal course

On the FAA Safety website, choose Activities, then Courses, Seminars, and Webinars. The available courses are highlighted in blue.

Keep scrolling until you see ALC-677. Enroll in the course.

Step 3 Take the training course

Set aside two hours for FAA training. The course has six lessons or modules, including an introduction.

Step 4 Take the test

After going through the training materials, you should be ready to take the FAA commercial renewal exam.

The test consists of 45 questions, all multiple-choice. Youre given 90 minutes to complete the exam.

Like the TRUST exam, the FAA commercial renewal exam displays wrong answers while youre taking the test.

Make sure you correct any answers you got wrong, as you must pass the renewal exam with a 100 percent score.

We detailed all the steps for renewing your commercial exam in more detail here.

MORE: Renewal of Your Part 107 Certificate (5 Steps)

How can I see if someone has a license with the FAA to fly drones?

You have options for looking into them if youre curious about someone elses drone flight credentials. You can use an FAA site called the Airman Inquiry (link).

You must know their last name and certificate holder, but all other information you can input is optional. That includes the pilots first name, date of birth, city, state, and parachute seal symbol.

After typing in this information, the Airman Inquiry site will find you the pilot in question.

Drone Launch Academy

To help you apply the knowledge youve gathered,you can take a practice test that has more than 200 questions. DLA culled those questions from real FAA exams.

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A commercial drone license is mandatory for legally flying in the US.

Since the hardest part of the process is passing the Part 107 exam, take as much time as you need to study, then register for your test. Good luck!

MORE: How to Pass Part 107 (Step-by-Step Guide)