What is 14 CFR Part 107?
Part 107 is the FAA's framework for commercial sUAS operations — drones under 55 lbs flown for compensation or hire. Distinct from Part 91 (hobby drone flying), Part 137 (agricultural), and the more permissive Part 91.205 (private experimental).
280,000+ remote pilots hold Part 107 certificates as of 2026. Common commercial uses: real estate photography, infrastructure inspection (solar farms, cell towers, wind turbines), agriculture survey, mapping + surveying, public safety + search-and-rescue, film production, delivery (still limited under standard 107).
Step 1: Remote Pilot Certificate
Each pilot flying commercially needs a Remote Pilot Certificate. The Initial Aeronautical Knowledge Test (UAS) is a 60-question multiple-choice exam at an FAA-approved testing center — $175, 2 hours, 70% passing.
Pass the test, file FAA Form 8710-13 via IACRA. The FAA mails the certificate in 6-8 weeks. Recurrent online training is required every 24 months to maintain currency.
Step 2: drone registration + Remote ID
Every commercial drone over 0.55 lbs gets registered with the FAA at $5 per aircraft. Registration is tied to the specific drone (serial number) and the owner. Mark the FAA registration number on the drone.
Remote ID has been mandatory since September 2023. Your drone must broadcast its identity + position via either built-in Remote ID (most 2022+ DJI / Skydio drones have it) or a bolt-on Remote ID Broadcast Module. Flying without Remote ID is now a violation.
Step 3: LAANC for controlled airspace
Flying in controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or E surface) requires authorization. LAANC (Low-Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) is the digital system — file via Aloft / AirMap / Skyward / DroneUp apps and receive automated authorization for the airspace + altitude you request.
LAANC altitude caps vary by location — usually 50-400 feet depending on proximity to the airport. Stay below the cap; LAANC is auditable.
Step 4: Part 107.205 waivers
Standard Part 107 doesn't allow night ops (107.29), operations over people (107.39), beyond-visual-line-of-sight (107.31), operating multiple aircraft simultaneously (107.35), exceeding speed/altitude/distance limits (107.51), or operating from a moving vehicle in populated areas (107.25). All of these require a 107.205 waiver.
Apply via the FAA DroneZone portal. Waivers require a written safety case + a risk assessment. Approval timelines: 60-90 days typical for simple night/OOPP waivers; 6-18 months for BVLOS. Each waiver is location-specific or operator-specific (depending on the type).
Step 5: insurance
Commercial drone operations almost universally carry hull + liability insurance. Hull covers the aircraft; liability covers damage to third-party property + persons. Typical commercial liability: $1M-$5M per occurrence.
BWI / Avemco / Verifly / Skywatch.AI are the dominant commercial drone insurers. Premium varies by drone class, operator history, and waiver portfolio. Annual policies range $500-$3,000 for typical small commercial operators.
Step 6: operations software
Beyond LAANC apps + drone OEM apps (DJI Fly, Autel Explorer), commercial drone businesses need: fleet registry (every drone with FAA reg + Remote ID flag + battery count), flight log (per-flight pre/post records + incident reports), waiver vault (track each active 107.205 waiver + expiration), customer billing.
AviationAlley's /app/drones surface handles all of these in one workspace, gated by the PART_107 module. /features/drone-operations has the deep dive.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a Part 107 business?
Bare minimum: $175 for the test + $5 per drone registered + insurance ($500-3K/year) + your first commercial drone ($1.5K-15K). All-in startup: $3K-30K depending on equipment + insurance + initial marketing. Many operators start solo with a single Mavic 3 + $1K insurance + $5K marketing.
Do I need an LLC for commercial drone work?
Strongly recommended. LLC separates personal assets from liability if you cause damage or injury on a job. Single-member LLC is straightforward in most states; talk to a CPA about S-corp tax election once revenue grows past ~$60K/year.
Can I fly at night?
Yes if your drone has anti-collision lights + you have a 107.29 night-ops waiver. Most 2023+ commercial drones come with night lights built in or as an option. Waiver typically takes 60-90 days.
What's BVLOS?
Beyond Visual Line Of Sight — flying the drone where you can't see it. Requires a 107.31 waiver, much higher safety bar (detect-and-avoid systems, visual observer chain, command-and-control reliability). Approvals take 6-18 months; only ~50 operators currently hold BVLOS waivers nationally.
Does AviationAlley support drone-only operations?
Yes — Part 107 is a standalone module (PART_107). The setup wizard has a 'Part 107 drone operations' preset that enables just the drone-ops surfaces without the crewed-aviation modules. Pricing is $99/mo base + $19/mo per drone + $25/mo per remote pilot.
Related guides
How to set up a 14 CFR Part 141 pilot school
Part 141 schools issue PPL / CPL / IR under structured curricula. This is the practical guide to standing one up — FAA Form 8420-8 / 8710-9, syllabus approval, chief instructor authorization, stage checks, FSDO surveillance.
How to set up a 14 CFR Part 135 charter operation
Part 135 is the FAA certificate for on-demand charter and commuter operations. This guide covers the FAA's 5-phase certification process, Operations Specifications (OpSpec) authoring, AAIP setup, drug + alcohol testing program, and Avinode marketplace integration.