asset: faa-drone-weight-thresholds

asset_type: threshold

body: A drone's takeoff weight alone decides which federal rules apply to it, and the thresholds are scattered across three parts of 14 CFR plus the recreational-flying statute, with no single page stating all of them together. Two independent rules exempt anything weighing 0.55 pounds or less: a drone flown under the recreational exception in 49 U.S.C. 44809 does not have to be registered (14 CFR 48.15(b)), and the remote identification design and production requirements do not apply to it (14 CFR 89.501(c)(3)) -- separate exemptions that happen to share the same figure. The same 0.55 pounds is also the ceiling for flying over people as a Category 1 operation (14 CFR 107.110(a)(1)). At the other end, 'small unmanned aircraft' -- the category Part 107 governs at all -- is defined as weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff (14 CFR 107.3), and a recreational flyer may fly something 55 pounds or heavier only under community-based-organization standards at an approved fixed site (49 U.S.C. 44809(c)(3)). Each record is one threshold: the weight figure verbatim, what crossing it means, and the section that states it, quoted in full. Answers 'do I need to register my drone', 'does my drone need remote ID', 'how heavy can a drone be under Part 107', 'can I fly my drone over people'.

licence: Federal regulatory and statutory text (14 CFR, 49 U.S.C.), a US government work, not copyrightable

title: FAA drone weight thresholds that trigger a different rule set

type: dataset


body:
**Threshold:** Aircraft registration

**Weight limit:** 0.55 pounds or less

**What crossing it means:** A drone flown exclusively under the recreational exception in 49 U.S.C. 44809 and weighing 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff does not have to be registered; otherwise the owner must have registered and marked it before anyone may operate it.

**Citation:** 14 CFR 48.15(b)

> § 48.15 Requirement to register. No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for registration under <https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/49/44101> 49 U.S.C. 44101-44103 unless one of the following criteria has been satisfied: (a) The owner has registered and marked the aircraft in accordance with this part; (b) The aircraft is operated exclusively in compliance with <https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/49/44809> 49 U.S.C. 44809 and weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft; or (c) The aircraft is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-48>

threshold_name: Aircraft registration

title: Aircraft registration — FAA drone weight thresholds that trigger a different rule set

type: threshold

weight_limit: 0.55 pounds or less


body:
**Threshold:** Category 1 operations over human beings

**Weight limit:** 0.55 pounds or less

**What crossing it means:** To conduct Category 1 operations the remote pilot in command must use a small unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff and throughout the operation, with no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin on impact.

**Citation:** 14 CFR 107.110(a)(1)

> § 107.105 Limitations on operations over human beings. Except as provided in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.39#p-107.39(a)> §§ 107.39(a) and <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.39#p-107.39(b)> (b) and <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.145> 107.145 , a remote pilot in command may conduct operations over human beings only in accordance with the following, as applicable: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.110> § 107.110 for Category 1 operations; <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.115> §§ 107.115 and <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.120> 107.120 for Category 2 operations; <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.125> §§ 107.125 and <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.130> 107.130 for Category 3 operations; or <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.140> § 107.140 for Category 4 operations. § 107.110 Category 1 operations. To conduct Category 1 operations— (a) A remote pilot in command must use a small unmanned aircraft that— (1) Weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff and throughout the duration of each operation under Category 1, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft; and (2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107>

threshold_name: Category 1 operations over human beings

title: Category 1 operations over human beings — FAA drone weight thresholds that trigger a different rule set


body:
**Threshold:** Part 107 eligibility (small unmanned aircraft)

**Weight limit:** less than 55 pounds

**What crossing it means:** Part 107 applies to the registration, airman certification and operation of civil small unmanned aircraft systems, and this part defines a small unmanned aircraft as weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff including everything on board or attached -- a definition that controls over the one in § 1.1 of the chapter.

**Citation:** 14 CFR 107.3

> § 107.1 Applicability. (a) Except as provided in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.1#p-107.1(b)> paragraph (b) of this section, this part applies to the registration, airman certification, and operation of civil small unmanned aircraft systems within the United States. This part also applies to the eligibility of civil small unmanned aircraft systems to operate over human beings in the United States. (b) This part does not apply to the following: (1) Air carrier operations; (2) Any aircraft subject to the provisions of <https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/49/44809> 49 U.S.C. 44809 ; (3) Any operation that the holder of an exemption under section 333 of <https://www.govinfo.gov/link/plaw/112/public/95> Public Law 112-95 or <https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/49/44807> 49 U.S.C. 44807 elects to conduct pursuant to the exemption, unless otherwise specified in the exemption; or (4) Any operation that a person elects to conduct under <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-91> part 91 of this chapter with a small unmanned aircraft system that has been issued an airworthiness certificate. [Amdt. 107-8, <https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/86-FR-4381> 86 FR 4381 , Jan. 15, 2021] § 107.2 Applicability of certification procedures for products and articles. The provisions of <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-21> part 21 of this chapter do not apply to small unmanned aircraft systems operated under this part unless the small unmanned aircraft system will operate over human beings in accordance with <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-107.140> § 107.140 . [Amdt. 107-8, <https://www.federalregister.gov/citation/86-FR-4381> 86 FR 4381 , Jan. 15, 2021] § 107.3 Definitions. The following definitions apply to this part. If there is a conflict between the definitions of this part and definitions specified in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-1.1> § 1.1 of this chapter , the definitions in this part control for purposes of this part: Control station means an interface used by the remote pilot to control the flight path of the small unmanned aircraft. Corrective lenses means spectacles or contact lenses. Declaration of compliance means a record submitted to the FAA that certifies the small unmanned aircraft conforms to the Category 2 or Category 3 requirements under <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107/subpart-D> subpart D of this part . Small unmanned aircraft means an unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107>

title: Part 107 eligibility (small unmanned aircraft) — FAA drone weight thresholds that trigger a different rule set

weight_limit: less than 55 pounds


body:
**Threshold:** Recreational operation at 55 pounds or greater

**Weight limit:** 55 pounds or greater

**What crossing it means:** A person may operate an unmanned aircraft weighing 55 pounds or greater only if it complies with standards and limitations developed by a community-based organization and approved by the Administrator, and it is operated from an approved fixed site.

**Citation:** 49 U.S.C. 44809(c)(3)

> §44809. Exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft (a) In General .-Except as provided in subsection (e), and notwithstanding chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, a person may operate a small unmanned aircraft without specific certification or operating authority from the Federal Aviation Administration if the operation adheres to all of the following limitations: (1) The aircraft is flown strictly for recreational purposes. (2) The aircraft is operated in accordance with or within the programming of a community-based organization's set of safety guidelines that are developed in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration. (3) The aircraft is flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft or a visual observer co-located and in direct communication with the operator. (4) The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft. (5) In Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, the operator obtains prior authorization from the Administrator or designee before operating and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions. (6) Except for circumstances when the Administrator establishes alternative altitude ceilings or as otherwise authorized in section (c), in Class G airspace, the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more than 400 feet above ground level and complies with all airspace and flight restrictions and prohibitions established under this subtitle, such as special use airspace designations and temporary flight restrictions. (7) The operator has passed an aeronautical knowledge and safety test described in subsection (g) and maintains proof of test passage to be made available to the Administrator or law enforcement upon request. (8) The aircraft is registered and marked in accordance with chapter 441 of this title and proof of registration is made available to the Administrator or a designee of the Administrator or law enforcement upon request. (b) Other Operations .-Unmanned aircraft operations that do not conform to the limitations in subsection (a) must comply with all statutes and regulations generally applicable to unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems. (c) Operations at Fixed Sites.- (1) In general .-The Administrator shall establish a process to approve, and publicly disseminate the location of, fixed sites at which a person may carry out recreational unmanned aircraft system operations. (2) Operating procedures.- (A) Controlled airspace .-Persons operating unmanned aircraft under paragraph (1) from a fixed site within Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, or a community-based organization sponsoring operations within such airspace, shall make the location of the fixed site known to the Administrator and shall establish a mutually agreed upon operating procedure with the air traffic control facility. (B) Altitude .-The Administrator, in coordination with community-based organizations sponsoring operations at fixed sites, shall develop a process to approve requests for recreational unmanned aircraft systems operations at fixed sites that exceed the maximum altitude contained in a UAS Facility Map published by the Federal Aviation Administration. (C) Uncontrolled airspace .-Subject to compliance with all airspace and flight restrictions and prohibitions established under this subtitle, including special use airspace designations and temporary flight restrictions, persons operating unmanned aircraft systems from a fixed site designated under the process described in paragraph (1) may operate within Class G airspace- (i) up to 400 feet above ground level, without prior authorization from the Administrator; and (ii) above 400 feet above ground level, with prior authorization from the Administrator. (3) Unmanned aircraft weighing 55 pounds or greater .-A person may operate an unmanned aircraft weighing 55 pounds or greater, including the weight of anything attached to or carried by the aircraft, if- (A) the unmanned aircraft complies with standards and limitations developed by a community-based organization and approved by the Administrator; and (B) the aircraft is operated from a fixed site as described in paragraph (1).

Source: <https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title49-section44809&num=0&edition=prelim>

title: Recreational operation at 55 pounds or greater — FAA drone weight thresholds that trigger a different rule set

weight_limit: 55 pounds or greater


body:
**Threshold:** Remote ID design and production

**Weight limit:** 0.55 pounds or less

**What crossing it means:** The remote identification design and production requirements do not apply to unmanned aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, unless the aircraft was designed and produced to be a standard remote identification unmanned aircraft.

**Citation:** 14 CFR 89.501(c)(3)

> Subpart F— Remote Identification Design and Production § 89.501 Applicability. (a) This subpart prescribes— (1) Requirements for the design and production of unmanned aircraft with remote identification produced for operation in the airspace of the United States. (2) Requirements for the design and production of remote identification broadcast modules. (3) Procedural requirements for the submission, acceptance, and rescission of declarations of compliance. (4) Rules governing persons submitting declarations of compliance for FAA acceptance under this part. (b) Except as provided in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-89.501#p-89.501(c)> paragraph (c) of this section, this subpart applies to the design and production of all unmanned aircraft operated in the airspace of the United States. (c) Except for unmanned aircraft designed and produced to be standard remote identification unmanned aircraft, this subpart does not apply to the design or production of: (1) Home-built unmanned aircraft. (2) Unmanned aircraft of the United States Government. (3) Unmanned aircraft that weigh 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-89>

threshold_name: Remote ID design and production

title: Remote ID design and production — FAA drone weight thresholds that trigger a different rule set