Regulations

20% of the Part 107 test · blueprint FAA-S-ACS-10B (April 2021)

Short answer

Area of Operation I is 15–25% of the 60-question Part 107 test. It covers what 14 CFR Part 107 applies to and its definitions; registration (Part 48) and Remote ID (Part 89); the remote pilot in command's responsibility and authority; operating limits — at or below 400 ft AGL, 100 mph, daylight or civil twilight with anti-collision lights, visual line of sight, no operations from a moving vehicle except in sparsely populated areas; operations over people by category; waivers; accident reporting within 10 days; and alcohol and drug rules.

Why it matters on this exam

Regulation questions are the most "look-up-able" on the test and the ones the FAA writes most precisely. Learn the numbers.

Key concepts (ACS Tasks I.A–I.F)

Applicability: civil sUAS under 55 lb; Part 107 does not apply to recreational flyers operating under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations (49 U.S.C. 44809).
Registration: aircraft over 0.55 lb; number marked on the exterior; certificate available during flight.
Remote PIC: final authority; may be a different person for each flight; one remote PIC per aircraft; a person may not be remote PIC of more than one aircraft at a time.
Operating limits (§107.51): ≤400 ft AGL unless within a 400-ft radius of a structure (then ≤400 ft above its top); ≤100 mph (87 kt); ≥3 SM visibility; 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds.
Night and civil twilight (§107.29): anti-collision lights visible for at least 3 SM; night operations require the recurrent/initial training that covers night.
VLOS (§107.31): remote PIC or VO must see the aircraft unaided (glasses/contacts allowed, binoculars not).
Over people (§107.110–145): Categories 1–4 with weight and injury-severity criteria; over moving vehicles only in closed/restricted-access areas or transiting.
Accident reporting (§107.9): within 10 calendar days if serious injury/loss of consciousness or property damage ≥ $500 (excluding the aircraft).
Alcohol/drugs (§107.27, §107.57): no flying within 8 hours of alcohol or with BAC ≥ 0.04.
Waivers (§107.200): most operating rules are waivable via the FAA DroneZone.

Common mistakes

Reading the 400-ft rule as AGL only, forgetting the structure exception.
Reporting an accident to the FAA when damage is below the $500 threshold and there was no injury.

Worked example

Inspecting a 900-ft tower: the aircraft may climb to 1,300 ft AGL as long as it stays within a 400-ft radius of the tower — but it still needs airspace authorization if that puts it in controlled airspace.

Original practice questions

RegulationsDifficulty 2/5

A remote pilot needs to inspect a 900-ft communications tower. Under Part 107, what is the maximum altitude the sUAS may fly while within a 400-ft radius of the tower?

A1,300 ft AGL
BAny altitude, because towers are exempt
C400 ft AGL
D900 ft AGL

Show answer and rationale

Correct: A. §107.51 limits flight to 400 ft AGL unless the aircraft stays within a 400-ft radius of a structure, in which case it may fly up to 400 ft above the structure's immediate uppermost limit: 900 + 400 = 1,300 ft AGL. Airspace authorization may still be required.

C — 400 ft AGL is the general limit, not the structure exception.
D — The limit is 400 ft above the top of the structure, not level with it.
B — There is no blanket exemption; the 400-ft-above-structure rule applies.

RegulationsDifficulty 2/5

During a Part 107 flight, an sUAS strikes a parked car causing $350 of damage; nobody is injured. What is required?

AReport to the NTSB immediately
BNo FAA accident report is required because damage is under $500 and there is no serious injury
CReport to the FAA within 24 hours
DReport to the FAA within 10 calendar days

Show answer and rationale

Correct: B. §107.9 requires a report within 10 calendar days only for serious injury or loss of consciousness, or property damage of at least $500 (excluding the sUAS). $350 with no injury does not trigger the requirement, though the remote PIC should still document the event.

D — The 10-day rule applies only above the thresholds.
A — NTSB rules apply to different criteria; not triggered here.
C — There is no 24-hour Part 107 reporting rule.

RegulationsDifficulty 2/5

Which weather minimums must be met for a Part 107 operation without a waiver?

A3 SM visibility; 1,000 ft above clouds
B1 SM visibility; clear of clouds
C3 SM visibility; 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds
D5 SM visibility; 1,000 ft below clouds

Show answer and rationale

Correct: C. §107.51(c)–(d): minimum flight visibility 3 statute miles from the control station, and the aircraft must remain at least 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds.

B — Those are not the Part 107 minimums.
D — 5 SM/1,000 ft are manned VFR values in some airspace, not Part 107.
A — sUAS stay below clouds; the vertical figure is 500 ft.

All 5 Regulations questions →

Tools for this topic

Part 107 preflight and operations checklist — A regulation-mapped preflight checklist — registration, Remote ID, airspace authorization, weather minimums, VLOS, anti-collision lighting, crew briefing — each item tied to the Part 107 rule it comes from.

4 flashcards for Regulations

Practice this topic

Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

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Primary references

Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-10B, April 2021) — Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · government · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21
14 CFR Part 107 — Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems — U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) · government · retrieved 2026-09-21, verified 2026-09-21

Last reviewed: 2026-09-21Next review by: 2026-11-20Draft — pending editorial reviewHow we verify facts