FAA Part 107 UAS License: What To Know

Quick Answer

TheFAA Part 107 UAS licenseis the remote pilot certificate required for anyone operating a drone commercially in US airspace. It costs $175 (written exam fee), takes roughly 1–3 months to obtain, and must be renewed every 24 months. Without it, commercial flights carry penalties up to $75,000 per violation. If you run an aerial survey, inspection, or delivery service, this certification is non-negotiable.

Introduction

You have a contract to inspect solar panels or capture orthomosaic maps, and the client asks one question: "Do you hold a Part 107 certificate?" The answer determines whether you get the job or lose it to a compliant competitor. Understanding theFAA Part 107 UAS licenserequirements is no longer optional for anyone generating revenue from unmanned aircraft. The regulatory framework is specific, the operational limits are concrete, and the consequences of non-compliance are financial and legal.

Table of Contents

Who Actually Needs a Part 107 Certificate

How to Get Certified: Process and Timeline

Key Operational Limits at a Glance

Where Small Component Choices Affect Compliance

Practical Questions Before You Fly

Making the Right Long-Term Decision

Who Actually Needs a Part 107 Certificate

The rule is straightforward: any UAS operation conducted for compensation or in support of a business purpose requires the certificate. Hobbyists flying under Section 336 (recreational exemption) do not. However, the moment you invoice a client, publish marketing footage for a real estate firm, or use drone data for a contractor, you enter Part 107 territory. In many cases, operators overlook that "commercial" includes indirect business benefit. A company owner filming its own warehouse for an internal safety audit may still trigger the requirement. Verify your use case with an aviation attorney before assuming you fall outside the rule.

How to Get Certified: Process and Timeline

The path has three steps. First, you complete an initial knowledge test at an FAA-approved Part 107 testing center (or obtain a waiver for existing military or Part 61 holders). Second, you submit Form AC 8093-10 through the FAA's online portal with a medical certification and a TSA security vetting. Third, you receive your remote pilot certificate, typically within 30–60 days. The exam covers airspace classes, weather minimums, and operational limitations. Most candidates who study 10–15 hours pass on the first attempt. You must carry the certificate or a digital copy in the operational area.

Key Operational Limits at a Glance

The following table summarizes the constraints most operators struggle to remember:

These limits define the operational envelope. Exceeding any of them without a specificaircraft registrationwaiver or operations authorization exposes you to enforcement action.

Where Small Component Choices Affect Compliance

Compliance is not only about the pilot. The airframe and its subsystems must meet FAAaircraft registrationand maintenance standards. A degradedservomotorin an actuator, an unlogged control-surface response, or a faulty gimbal mechanism can create a mechanical defect that renders the UAS inoperable under Part 107. When specifying components for a production UAS or a repair, verify that the supplier documents part traceability, electrical ratings, and mean-time-between-failure data. Brands Such askpower servoprovide industrial-gradeservosolutions with published torque and thermal specifications that simplify the engineering sign-off process. Matching the servo's rated current to your ESC and power supply prevents thermal runaway during extended mission cycles, a failure mode the FAA treats as a maintenance deficiency.

Practical Questions Before You Fly

Q: Can I use a Part 107 certificate to fly under a waiver for night operations?

A: Yes, the certificate is a prerequisite for any waiver request under Part 107.20. You must submit a safety case showing how you will maintain visual control after sunset.

Q: Does the certificate transfer between UAS types (eg, multirotor to VTOL fixed-wing)?

A: The remote pilot certificate is not platform-specific, but your operations manual must reflect the type of UAS you actually fly. Changing to a new airframe may require additional risk assessments.

Q: What happens if my UAS is found in Class B or C airspace without an authorization?

A: The FAA may issue a civil penalty, suspend your certificate, or require a recheck of your operational procedures. Repeated violations can lead to enforcement action.

Q: How often must I complete a recurrent knowledge test?

A: Every 24 calendar months. The FAA sends a notification 60 days before your renewal window opens. Missing the deadline grounds your certificate.

Making the Right Long-Term Decision

Holding aFAA Part 107 UAS licenseis a floor, not a ceiling. The operators who build durable aerial services treat compliance as a continuous engineering discipline: logging every flight, updating their UAS maintenance schedule, and auditing component suppliers quarterly. If you are assembling a UAS platform or replacing actuators in a fleet, start with a component-level review. Send your airframe specifications and mission parameters to your servo or actuator supplier for a fitment check. Atkpowerservo, our application The engineering team can verify torque margins, thermal derating, and signal-integrity requirements against your specific UAS design—before you log the first commercial hour. That single pre-flight review reduces the probability of a mid-mission actuator fault and keeps your Part 107 operations defensible from day one.