Important note ... and, yes, disclaimer. I've done my best to consolidate key information here. However, you should not rely fully on this information. The actual FAA Part 107 and NCDOT regulations are your ultimate sources.
Becoming a Certificated Remote Pilot
The Federal Aviation Administration lays out the process you'll follow to become a drone pilot. It's broken into two major categories:
First-time Pilots, which means you don't hold any pilot certificate;
Part 61 Certificate Holders, which means you hold a certificate to fly crewed aircraft.
For first-time pilots, the essence of the process is ...
Get an FAA Tracking Number (FTN). Beware, the FAA loves acronyms. (online)
Pass the "Unmanned aircraft general - small" exam at an FAA testing center (you have to pay to do this). 60 questions in 2 hours; 70 is lowest passing score. (at an FAA testing center)
Submit your passing exam score to the FAA. (online)
Get a temporary remote pilot certificate. (online)
Wait for your permanent certificate in the mail. (US mail)
Part 61 certificate holders (pilots of crewed aircraft) probably already have an FTN and can complete an on-line training course and associated exam to qualify for the remote pilot certificate.
You don't ever have to fly (or even see) a drone to get your remote pilot certificate!
**There is no longer a NC test, but you must still know NC regulations**
The North Carolina Department of Transportation administers State drone regulations in NC in addition to the Federal regulations. Generally speaking, the FAA regulates the airspace and the State regulates where you can take off and land, how you can (and cannot) use your aircraft, and restricts flying over certain places (e.g., prisons).
The state has three categories of pilot - recreational, commercial, and government - with somewhat different regulations for each. As of December 2024, the State no longer requires you to pass a State exam before flying your drone. You must have your Federal, Part 107, certificate and know State regulations. The NC Study Guide for the State exam that used to be required is still a good source of information for state regulations.
There is also a federal TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) certificate that you can get in 2-3 hours. This certificate is good for recreational flying and has more restrictions than the Part 107 certificate. There's more information in the Resource Library. You will all go through the process of getting this as part of the course - it covers the basics (and it's an assignment as part of this course).
Regulations
Federal
Part 107 - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems - these are the rules for piloting uncrewed aircraft less than 55lbs in weight- about 25 pages. You should read them all. You need to know them for the FAA's remote pilot exam. There are 3 major sections: operating rules, remote pilot certification process, operating over people. The section on operating over people is perhaps the most complex. AC-107-2, the Advisory Circular about uncrewed aircract, is also a good source of information that you should become familiar with.
We'll go over all of this, but you'll want to read the actual regulations yourself to become familiar with the language and approach. The writing is actually not that arcane (or maybe I've been reading it too long :-) And here is a useful FAA Study Guide.
Although there are no local (city, county, etc.) certification requirments, there are local rules in some states, including North Carolina. These can be really difficult to track down. UAV Coach, a training and industry organization, works to keep an updated list of drone laws. Neither they nor I can vouch for its completeness, so you always have to be careful to check with local jurisfictions before you fly.
Part 107 Regulations
Why do we have all of these regulations?
In short, safety. A remote pilot must be aware of what is going on around them and operate with safety as the top priority.
Think about this ...
You're piloting an aircraft that can weigh up to (but not including!) 55lbs (24.94 kg). What could go wrong? What are the consequences of things that could go wrong? Although it depends on what you're flying over and amongst, it shouldn't take too long to realize that such an aircraft falling from the sky or crashing into things during flight could cause significant harm.
Now think about how you'd fly an aircraft to mazimize the probability of avoiding such harm. That's where the rules come from.
If you keep questions like these in your head at all times, it's likely you'll become a safe remote pilot.
You really should just read all the rules straight from the FAA.
SubPart A ... General ... describes what these regulations apply to, definitions, penalties for falsifying information (don't!), compliance, and accident reporting requirements
SubPart B ... Operating Rules ... decribes the need for certification, aircraft registration, medical conditions that preclude piloting remote aircraft, the responsibilites of the remote pilot in command, and numerous operating requirements, conditions, and prohibitions.
SubPart C ... Remote Pilot Certification ... describes requirements for obtaining and keeping your remote pilot certificate.
SubPart D ... Operations Over People ... describes conditions under which you may operate remove aircraft over people. It is, in my opinion, the most complex SubPart.
SubPart E ... Waivers ... describes how you can apply to the FAA for waivers of the rules.
Part 89 Regulations - Remote ID
All uncrewed aircraft must have remote identification broadcast capability to fly within US airspace, other than in FAA-recognized Idenification Areas (FRIA). This requirement can be met by a standard remote identification module that is built into the aircraft or a remote identification broadcast module that is attached to the aircraft.
The details of this are contained in Title 14 / Chapter I / Subchapter F / Part 89.
You can find out which aircraft are certified for Remote ID in the FAA's UAS Declaration of Compliance database. If it's not certified, you will need to attach a remote ID broadcast module to the aircraft (unless in a FRIA).
Small uncrewed aircraft flown under Part 107 must weigh LESS than 55 pounds. [ Drones weighing 55 pounds or more - and their pilots - are subject to additional regulations. ]
Always have your paperwork with you when you fly - remote pilot certificate, aircraft registration, etc - and produce it on demand by appropriate authorities. (Part 107.7)
Report accidents in the case of serious injury, loss of consciousness, or damage more than US$500. (Part 107.9) [ Note that "serious injury" is defined in FAA Advisory Circular 107-2 - see 4.5-1. ]
SubPart B - Operating Rules
You can't operate a drone under Part 107 unless you have a certificate to do so, or are direcly supervised by someone who does. (Part 107.12)
All drones weighing more than 0.55lbs (250gms) and any aircraft operating under Part 107, regardless of weight, must be registered with the FAA (FAA DroneZone). (Part 107.13)
You don't need an FAA medical, but ...
Don't fly if you have a medical condition that may prevent safe operation of the aircraft. (Part 107.17)
Don't fly under the influence of alcohol or drugs. (Part 107.27)
There are rules for flying at night. You must meet anti-collision lighting requirements between sunset and sunrise the next day. You must meet training requirements to fly at night (30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise). The Part 107 certificate now satisfies these training requirements. (Part 107.29)
The remote pilot in command (RPIC) is fully responsible for the flight. (Part 107.19)
The remote pilot in command must complete a thorough preflight evaluation of the flight location, weather, and aircraft. (Part 107.49)
Speed limit: The aircraft may not be flown at more than 100 mph (87 knots).
Altitude limits: The aircraft may not be flown more than 400 feet above ground level; or more than 400 feet above and within a 400 foot radius of a structure. (Part 107.51)
Visibility from the control station must be no less than 3 statute miles. (Part 107.51)
You must remain clear of clouds: no less than 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally. (Part 107.51)
Always keep the aircraft within visual line of sight (VLOS), unless you have a waiver to do otherwise. This line of sight must be with unaided vision, other than by corrective lenses (glasses, contacts) - for example, you cannot use binoculars to maintain line of sight. Visual observers can (and should) help with this, but must be in immediate and direct communication with the remote pilot in command. You may NOT use a chain of visual observers to fly the aircraft beyond the remote pilot in commad's visual line of sight. (Part 107.31, Part 107.33)
Crewed aircraft always have the right of way - you must always yield, and you must not interfere with the operation of crewed aircraft, even unintentionally. Stay well clear and do not create a collision hazard. (Part 107.37)
You can only pilot one aircraft at a time, unless you have a waiver to do otherwise. (Part 107.35)
Don't fly over people, expect under very defined conditions (SubPart D). (Part 107.39)
There are rules for operating from a moving vehicle. You can only do this in sparsely populated areas. You can't drive and fly a drone at the same time - someone else has to drive. You cannot fly a drone from another (crewed) aircraft. And you cannot fly a drone from a moving vehicle while transporting someone else's property for pay. (Part 107.25)
In an emergency, you may deviate from any operational rule to safely resolve the emergency. You may be asked to submit a written report of the incident and you may be further questioned. (Part 107.21)
SubPart C - Remote Pilot Certification
You must be at leat 16 years old and able to read, write, and understand the English language. (Part 107.61)
You have to pass a knowledge exam. Although the certificate does not expire, you must take an exam every two years to demonstrate recency of knowlege. (Part 107.61)
If you change address, you must notify the FAA within 30 days. (Part 107.77)
Some drug and alcohol related offenses, or failure to sumbit to a drug or alcohol test when legally requested, may be disqualifying or results in suspension of your certificate. (Part 107.57)
Although marijuana has been decriminalized in many places, use is still a federal offense and may be disqualifying. (Part 107.57)
SubPart D - Operations over People & Vehicles
The FAA has an information page about operations over people & vehicles. This is probably the most complex area of operation. Although in some ways it's pretty simple - just don't.
Generally, you may not operate a drone over people unless they are participating in the drone operation, OR they are under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can protect them from a falling aircraft (Part 107.39), OR the operation meets one of the parts of 107.D.
There are 4 categories of operations over people. (Part 107.D)
Category 1: The aircraft weighs no more than 0.55 pounds AND has no exposed rotating parts (that would cause lacerations). The Tello aircraft we fly meets these criteria, with the propellor guards installed. Note that if you intend sustained flight over open air assemblies of people, the aircraft must also have remote ID. The Tello as configured out of the box fails on that account (it has no remote ID).
Category 2: The FAA wording on this is that the aircraft "... must not be capable of causing an injury to a human being that is more severe than an injury caused by a transfer of 11 ft-lbs of kinetic energy from a rigid object." (This is like being hit by a baseball thrown at 40-45mph; major league pitches throw fastballs at about 93-95mph.) This is to be certified by the manufacturer or modifier of the aircraft. As in category one, there must be no exposed rotating parts that can cause laceration. Remote ID is also required. I can't find any aircraft that have been so certified yet.
Category 3: This increases the allowable transfer of energy to 25 ft-lbs (a baseball at 55-60mph); prohibits flying over open air assemblies of people; and requires the operation to be over a restricted access area in which all people present are aware of the UAS operation OR the pilot doesn't maintain sustained flight over people unless they are part of the drone operation or protected by a structure or inside a stationary vehicle. Remote ID is not mentioned explicitly for this category of operations, for reasons I don't fully understand; but remote ID is required for operations except in very specific areas (FAA-Recognzed Identification Areas (FRIAs)), so you should assume it is required. There are a few AgEagle drones certified for Category 3.
Category 4: If you don't fit into one of the above 3 categories, you must get an airworthiness certification - just like for crewed aircraft - for your drone from the FAA. Remote ID is required.
For operations over moving vehicles, you have to meet categories 1, 2, or 3 AND operate in a restricted-access area in which everyone is on notice that drones may fly over them OR the aircraft does not maintain sustained flight over moving vehicles. For category 4, the aircraft must be operated within the limitations of the aircraft's flight manual, which cannot exclude operations over people.
NOTE: You can find out which aircraft are certified for which category in the FAA's UAS Declaration of Compliance database. As of this writing (2024 Jan 18) there seems to be one aircraft certified for operations over people, and it's Category 3. It's the AgEagle eBee X mapping drone.
SubPart E - Waivers
There is a process for obtaning exceptions to some of the rules. This FAA website describes that process. The key is that you must convince the FAA that you can complete the flight safely, even though you're asking to waive some of the normal safety rules. Approval of a waiver takes time - you should submit your waiver application at least 90 days before the proposed flight. (Part 107.E) We won't address this process any further.