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

For Category 1 operations over human beings, weight limit is 0.55 pounds or less; what crossing it means is 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 is 14 CFR 107.110(a)(1), recorded from its source on 2026-08-26.

- **Threshold:** Category 1 operations over human beings _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Weight limit:** 0.55 pounds or less _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **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. _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Citation:** 14 CFR 107.110(a)(1) _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_

## What the source says

> § 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

Last verified: 2026-08-26. Review by: 2027-08-26.
Part of [FAA drone weight thresholds that trigger a different rule set](https://referencesource.org/faa-drone-weight-thresholds/).