Direct Answer — Part 107 Compliance in Four Sentences
To fly a drone commercially in the U.S., the person at the controls needs a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating under 14 CFR §107.12 and must stay current by accomplishing initial or recurrent training within the previous 24 calendar months under §107.65; the aircraft itself must be registered under 14 CFR Part 48 (via §107.13 and §91.203(a)(2)), and a commercial drone must be registered regardless of weight because the sub-0.55-pound exception in §48.15 applies only to aircraft flown exclusively under the recreational exception. The drone must also broadcast Remote ID under 14 CFR §89.105 — as a standard Remote ID aircraft (§89.110), with a broadcast module (§89.115(a)), or by operating within an FAA-recognized identification area (§89.115(b)). Under §107.7, the remote PIC must make the certificate and any required record available to the FAA on request, and under §107.9 certain accidents must be reported within 10 calendar days. The compliance picture is small but specific — certificate, currency, registration, Remote ID, and any waivers — and every piece is a dated document an inspector can ask to see.
Two different things people conflate: the person and the machine
The remote pilot certificate certifies the human; the registration certifies the aircraft. Holding a current certificate does not register your drone, and registering your drone does not make you a current remote PIC. Under §107.12 you need the credential, and under §107.13 the aircraft needs registration. Both, every time.
The Remote Pilot Certificate — §107.12, §107.61, §107.63, §107.65
The certificate is the foundational Part 107 credential. 14 CFR §107.12 states that no person may act as a remote pilot in command — or manipulate the flight controls of a small UAS — unless that person holds a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating issued under subpart C and satisfies §107.65. The only baseline carve-out is §107.12(a)(2): a non-certificated person may fly under the direct supervision of a remote PIC who can immediately take direct control.
Eligibility — §107.61
14 CFR §107.61 sets who can hold the certificate. An applicant must:
Be at least 16 years of age
§107.61(a). The remote pilot certificate has the same minimum age as a manned-aircraft solo pilot.
Read, speak, write, and understand English
§107.61(b). The FAA may impose operating limitations if a medical condition prevents meeting this requirement.
Be physically and mentally fit to operate safely
§107.61(c). The applicant must not know, or have reason to know, of a physical or mental condition that would interfere with safe operation of a small UAS.
Demonstrate aeronautical knowledge
Either pass the initial aeronautical knowledge test covering the §107.73 areas, or — if already a Part 61 pilot meeting the flight review requirement — complete the §107.74 training. §107.61(d).
Two Pathways to Issuance — §107.63
14 CFR §107.63 describes how the certificate is issued, and there are two routes depending on whether you are already a pilot.
For most new operators: pass the initial aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center and submit evidence of the passing airman knowledge test report. This is the standard path for someone who has never held a pilot certificate. §107.63(a)(1).
If you already hold a non-student pilot certificate under Part 61 and meet the §61.56 flight review requirement, you may instead complete the free FAA online initial training course and submit the certificate of completion. §107.63(a)(2). No second knowledge test required.
Staying Current — §107.65 Recurrent Training
The certificate does not expire, but your privileges lapse if you fall out of currency. 14 CFR §107.65 requires that, to exercise remote PIC privileges, you have accomplished one of the following within the previous 24 calendar months:
- §107.65(a): Passed an initial aeronautical knowledge test covering the §107.73 areas of knowledge.
- §107.65(b): Completed recurrent training covering the §107.73 areas of knowledge.
- §107.65(c): If you hold a non-student Part 61 certificate and meet §61.56, completed the §107.74 training.
The April 6, 2021 change — recurrent training, not a recurrent test
Recurrency used to be a separate recurrent knowledge test at a testing center. Since the rule change, currency is met by completing the FAA's free online recurrent training and keeping the completion certificate. §107.65(d) addresses operators who satisfied the prior recurrent test or training before April 6, 2021. The document that proves you are current today is your training completion certificate — and its date drives a 24-calendar-month clock you cannot afford to lose track of.
A lapsed currency date is the drone-world equivalent of an expired pilot recency check — the credential is on file, but the privilege is gone. The same expiration-tracking discipline that aviation operators apply to medical certificate dates and §61.57 recency of experience applies to the §107.65 training date.
Aircraft Registration — 14 CFR Part 48 (via §107.13)
Registration is about the machine, not the pilot. 14 CFR §107.13 provides that a person operating a civil small UAS for flight must comply with the registration provisions of §91.203(a)(2). For commercial / Part 107 use, registration is accomplished under 14 CFR Part 48 through the FAA DroneZone system — and unlike recreational registration, commercial drones are registered individually, aircraft-by-aircraft.
The 0.55-pound threshold — and why it does not help commercial operators
14 CFR §48.15 says a small unmanned aircraft must be registered unless it is operated exclusively in compliance with 49 U.S.C. 44809 (the recreational exception) and weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, including everything on board or attached.
The word that matters is exclusively. A drone flown for any Part 107 / commercial purpose is, by definition, not operated exclusively under the recreational exception — so it must be registered regardless of weight. A sub-250-gram drone used for paid photography still needs to be registered. The 0.55-pound carve-out is a recreational benefit, not a commercial one.
What the Registration Record Contains — §48.110
14 CFR §48.110 lists the information submitted to the Registry to register a small UAS for non-recreational operation. The record generally includes:
- Applicant name (or authorized representative for an entity)
- Physical address, mailing address, email, and telephone number
- The aircraft manufacturer and model name
- The serial number for a standard Remote ID aircraft (per the Part 89 design/production requirements)
- The serial number of a Remote ID broadcast module, if used
- Other information as required by the Administrator
Registration has an expiration
A Certificate of Aircraft Registration issued under Part 48 is effective for three years, after which it must be renewed by confirming the information on file remains accurate (see §48.100). That is another date to track — a registration that quietly expired is an aircraft you are no longer authorized to fly.
Mark the aircraft
Under §48.205, the unique identifier (registration number) must be maintained legible, affixed so it stays on for the duration of each operation, and legibly displayed on an external surface of the aircraft. A registration on file but not displayed on the airframe is an easy, avoidable finding.
The certificate-and-registration pairing mirrors how manned operators think about Part 47 aircraft registration records and the ARROW documents aboard a manned aircraft — different parts of the CFR, same underlying logic: the right paper, current, for the right aircraft.
Remote ID — 14 CFR §89.105 (the Digital License Plate)
Remote ID is the third leg of the stool. 14 CFR §89.105 provides that, after September 16, 2023, no person may operate an unmanned aircraft in the airspace of the United States unless the operation meets the requirements of §89.110 or §89.115. There are three practical ways to comply.
Standard Remote ID aircraft — §89.110
The aircraft itself broadcasts the Remote ID message elements (identity, location, and performance data) from takeoff to shutdown. Most newer drones are produced as standard Remote ID aircraft with a serial number listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance.
Remote ID broadcast module — §89.115(a)
An older or non-broadcasting drone can be brought into compliance by attaching an FAA-accepted broadcast module. From takeoff to shutdown the module must broadcast the message elements, and the person manipulating the controls must keep the aircraft within visual line of sight throughout the operation. If the broadcast fails in flight, land as soon as practicable.
FAA-recognized identification area (FRIA) — §89.115(b)
A drone without any Remote ID may be flown only within the boundaries of an FAA-recognized identification area, and the aircraft and the person manipulating the controls must remain within those boundaries and within visual line of sight throughout the operation. FRIAs are established at specific sponsored sites.
Where the Remote ID record actually lives
The CFR does not prescribe a separate Remote ID logbook. The proof of equipage is tied to registration: under §48.110 the serial number of your standard Remote ID aircraft — or of your broadcast module — is part of your Part 48 registration record. So your evidence that the aircraft satisfies §89.105 is the registration entry plus the module's or aircraft's declaration-of-compliance serial. Keep them together with the aircraft file.
Preflight, In-Flight Emergency, and Accident Reporting
Beyond the three credentials, Part 107 imposes per-flight duties that generate or substantiate records. None of these requires a formal logbook by rule, but each is the kind of thing you want documented when the FAA asks what happened.
Under §107.15, no person may operate a small UAS unless it is in a condition for safe operation, and the remote PIC must check that before each flight; you must not continue a flight when you know or have reason to know it is no longer in a condition for safe operation.
§107.49 requires a preflight that assesses weather, airspace and restrictions, and the location of persons and property on the surface; briefs participants on conditions and emergency/contingency procedures; confirms the control links work; verifies sufficient power; and ensures any payload is secure.
§107.21 lets the remote PIC deviate from any rule of Part 107 to the extent necessary to meet an in-flight emergency — but on request of the Administrator you must send a written report of that deviation.
§107.9 requires reporting an accident to the FAA within 10 calendar days if it caused serious injury or any loss of consciousness, or property damage (other than to the drone) above the $500 repair-cost / fair-market-value threshold.
Waivers and airspace authorizations are dated documents too
A Part 107 waiver authorizes a deviation from specified rules under defined conditions, and operations in controlled airspace generally require an airspace authorization (often via LAANC). Both carry effective dates, expirations, and conditions — which makes them exactly the kind of compliance document that belongs in your records right beside the certificate and registration, not buried in an email inbox.
Related Aviation Compliance Guides
Record Discipline — The Complete Part 107 Evidence Set
Part 107 compliance is proven by a compact, specific cluster of documents. Under §107.7, the remote PIC must make the certificate and any required record available to the FAA on request. Here is what a complete, audit-ready Part 107 record set looks like — and the specific ways operators leave it incomplete.
Complete Part 107 Record Set
- The remote pilot certificate with small UAS rating (§107.12)
- The current §107.65 recurrent-training completion certificate (24-month date)
- The Part 48 Certificate of Aircraft Registration for each drone (3-year date)
- Remote ID proof — the standard-aircraft or broadcast-module serial on the registration (§89.105)
- Any §107 waivers and airspace authorizations, with effective/expiration dates
- Preflight and any §107.9 accident or §107.21 deviation reports filed
How These Records Fail
- A current certificate but a §107.65 training date that quietly passed 24 months
- Assuming a sub-250-gram drone is exempt from registration on a commercial job
- A Part 48 registration that expired at the 3-year mark and was never renewed
- No documented Remote ID compliance path for an older airframe
- Waivers/authorizations relied on operationally but not filed or tracked to expiration
- Registration number not displayed on the airframe per §48.205
FileFlo as the Part 107 Records Layer
FileFlo is a compliance document intelligence platform — a read-only proof layer that sits alongside your operation and completes it. It does not fly aircraft, file your FAA registration, take the knowledge test, request waivers, or run a flight-operations or maintenance system. What it does is make the records that prove Part 107 compliance instantly producible.
- Classifies uploaded Part 107 documents by role — remote pilot certificate, recurrent-training completion, Part 48 registration, Remote ID/declaration-of-compliance serial, waiver, airspace authorization — and keeps them distinct
- Tracks the §107.65 24-calendar-month training date and the 3-year registration date, and surfaces an alert before either lapses
- Indexes each registered aircraft and its Remote ID equipage so a multi-drone fleet is one view
- Flags a missing or stale credential, registration, or authorization before an FAA inspection or a client onboarding request
- Generates a producible records package on demand, organized by operator and by aircraft
FileFlo classifies 600+ compliance document types and manages records across aviation operators — from Part 91, Part 135, and Part 145 to Part 107 drone operators — in a single platform. Pricing: Starter $89/mo, Professional $299/mo. 5-day free trial, no credit card required. FileFlo keeps the documents that prove compliance audit-ready — it does not fly drones, file registrations, or run a flight-operations program.
Where Part 107 Sits Next to Manned Aviation Compliance
Part 107 is its own regime, but the records logic is the same one that governs charter and corporate flying: a certificated person, a registered aircraft, and a stack of dated documents that prove both are legal today. An operator that runs both drones and manned aircraft — increasingly common in survey, inspection, public-safety, and media work — is tracking two parallel sets of expirations, and the failure mode is identical: the credential exists, but the date slipped.
Who is responsible
Remote PIC
Certificate + §107.65 training date + Part 48 registration + Remote ID. Lapse mode: a quietly-expired 24-month training currency.
Who is responsible
DOM + accountable manager
Pilot records, training, maintenance program, and aircraft files reviewed during FAA surveillance. Far heavier records load.
Who is responsible
Owner/operator
ARROW documents, inspections, and AD compliance — fewer mandated records than Part 135, but the same expiration discipline.
If your operation spans both worlds, the manned side carries far more recordkeeping weight. See what records a Part 135 operator must keep, the Part 135 pilot records the FAA requires, and how to prepare for a Part 135 FAA surveillance audit. For how long any of these documents should be retained, see the aviation records retention schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Part 107 remote pilot certificate to fly a drone for my business?
Yes, for almost all commercial or non-recreational drone work. Under 14 CFR §107.12, no person may act as remote pilot in command — or manipulate the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system in a Part 107 operation — unless that person holds a remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating issued under subpart C of Part 107 and satisfies the recency requirements of §107.65. There is one narrow exception in §107.12(a)(2): a person without the certificate may manipulate the controls if they are under the direct supervision of a remote pilot in command who has the ability to immediately take direct control of the aircraft. Recreational flying under the separate statutory exception (49 U.S.C. 44809) is not Part 107 and is not what this guide covers.
What is the difference between registering my drone and getting my remote pilot certificate?
They are two entirely separate requirements, and you need both. The remote pilot certificate is about the person — it certifies that the human flying the aircraft has passed the FAA aeronautical knowledge test (or qualifies through the Part 61 pathway). Aircraft registration is about the machine — it puts your specific drone on the FAA registry and assigns it a registration number. Under 14 CFR §107.13, a person operating a civil small UAS for flight must comply with the registration provisions of §91.203(a)(2). For commercial / Part 107 use, registration is done aircraft-by-aircraft through the FAA DroneZone system under 14 CFR Part 48. The certificate proves you may fly; the registration proves the aircraft is on file. An inspector can ask for both.
What is the 0.55-pound registration threshold, and does it apply to commercial drones?
The 0.55-pound (250-gram) line is an exception that mostly helps recreational flyers, not commercial operators. Under 14 CFR §48.15, a small unmanned aircraft must be registered unless it is operated exclusively in compliance with 49 U.S.C. 44809 (the recreational exception) AND weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, including everything on board or attached. The key word is exclusively: a drone flown for any Part 107 / commercial purpose is not operated exclusively under 44809, so it must be registered regardless of weight — even a sub-250-gram drone. In practice, if you are flying for business under Part 107, register the aircraft.
How long is a Part 107 remote pilot certificate valid, and what is the recurrent requirement?
The remote pilot certificate itself does not expire, but your privilege to act as remote PIC depends on staying current under 14 CFR §107.65. To exercise remote PIC privileges, you must have accomplished one of the following within the previous 24 calendar months: passed an initial aeronautical knowledge test (§107.65(a)); completed the FAA recurrent training covering the §107.73 knowledge areas (§107.65(b)); or, if you hold a non-student Part 61 pilot certificate and meet the §61.56 flight review requirement, completed the §107.74 training (§107.65(c)). Note the change effective April 6, 2021: recurrency is now met by completing free online recurrent training, not by sitting a separate recurrent knowledge test. Keep your training completion certificate — it is the document that proves you are current.
What records does a Part 107 remote pilot have to make available to the FAA?
Under 14 CFR §107.7, a remote pilot in command, owner, or person manipulating the controls must, upon request, make available to the Administrator the remote pilot certificate and any other document, record, or report required to be kept under the regulations of this chapter. §107.7 also requires you to allow the FAA to conduct any test or inspection of the small UAS and to question the remote PIC and crew to determine compliance with Part 107. Separately, §107.7(c)/(d) place additional production and inspection obligations on persons holding an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance under subpart D. The practical message: the certificate, the aircraft registration, the Remote ID equipage, any waivers or authorizations, and your preflight and incident records all need to be producible on request.
What is Remote ID and do I have to keep records for it?
Remote ID is the FAA's digital license plate for drones. Under 14 CFR §89.105, after September 16, 2023, no person may operate an unmanned aircraft in U.S. airspace unless the operation meets §89.110 or §89.115. §89.110 covers a standard remote identification unmanned aircraft that broadcasts the message elements itself. §89.115 covers the alternatives: (a) attaching an FAA-accepted remote identification broadcast module and keeping the aircraft within visual line of sight throughout the operation, or (b) operating without Remote ID only within the boundaries of an FAA-recognized identification area (FRIA), again within visual line of sight. The CFR does not prescribe a specific Remote ID logbook, but the serial number of your standard-Remote-ID aircraft or your broadcast module is part of your Part 48 registration record, so the proof of equipage lives in your registration documentation.
When do I have to report a drone accident to the FAA?
Under 14 CFR §107.9, the remote pilot in command must report an accident to the FAA no later than 10 calendar days after an operation if it resulted in serious injury to any person or any loss of consciousness, OR damage to any property other than the small unmanned aircraft — unless the cost of repair (including materials and labor) does not exceed $500, or the fair market value of the property does not exceed $500 in the event of total loss. Keep a copy of any report you file, the facts of the event, and your preflight assessment, because that package is what substantiates the report. (Reporting to the NTSB under 49 CFR Part 830 is a separate question for more serious events.)
Can I fly over people or beyond visual line of sight with just my Part 107 certificate?
Not automatically. The baseline Part 107 rules restrict certain operations — flight over people, at night the rule now permits it with anti-collision lighting and recurrent training, operations beyond visual line of sight, and others — and some still require either meeting a specific operational category (for operations over people, the §107.110 through §107.140 categories) or holding a waiver or airspace authorization. Operations in controlled airspace generally require an airspace authorization (commonly via LAANC or DroneZone). A Part 107 waiver issued by the FAA authorizes a deviation from specified rules under defined conditions. Those waivers and authorizations are compliance documents with effective dates and conditions, so they belong in your records right next to the certificate and registration.
What is the penalty for flying commercially without the right Part 107 credentials?
FAA civil penalties are significant. Under 14 CFR §13.301, for violations occurring on or after December 30, 2024, the maximum civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. 46301(a) is $75,000, and $1,875 for an individual or small business concern, per violation — and a single operation can implicate multiple rules. Beyond the dollar figure, an enforcement action against an unregistered aircraft, a lapsed remote PIC, or a Remote ID violation can disrupt the operation and the client relationship. The cheapest insurance is keeping the credential, registration, Remote ID equipage, and waiver records current and producible.
Does FileFlo fly drones, file my FAA registration, or run my Part 107 program?
No. FileFlo is a compliance document intelligence platform — a read-only proof layer. It does not fly aircraft, file your registration with the FAA, take the knowledge test for you, request waivers, or run a flight-operations or maintenance system. What FileFlo does is classify and index the documents that prove your Part 107 compliance — the remote pilot certificate, the recurrent-training completion certificate, the Part 48 aircraft registration, the Remote ID equipage proof, any §107 waivers and airspace authorizations, and your preflight and incident records — then track expiration and recency dates and surface alerts so a lapsed certificate, an unregistered aircraft, or a stale authorization never surprises you. You and the FAA do the flying and the filing; FileFlo keeps the proof audit-ready.
Keep your drone credentials current — and producible
FileFlo classifies your remote pilot certificate, §107.65 training completion, Part 48 registration, Remote ID equipage proof, and any waivers or airspace authorizations, tracks the 24-month and 3-year dates, and generates a producible records package on demand. Starter plan $89/mo. Professional $299/mo. 5-day free trial — no credit card required.
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Also related: ARROW Documents · Part 47 Registration Records · §61.57 Pilot Recency · Records Retention Schedule
Written by Chad Griffith, Founder & CEO of FileFlo — compliance document intelligence. Reviewed June 13, 2026. FileFlo is a compliance document intelligence platform, not legal counsel or an FAA authority. Part 107 is a fast-evolving rule set; verify all certificate, currency, registration, Remote ID, airspace, and waiver requirements against the current CFR, the FAA DroneZone, and your FSDO before operating.