Advisory - Federal Aviation Administration

1 Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular Subject: Small Unmanned Aircraft System (Small UAS) Date: 2/1/21 AC No: 107-2A Initiated by: AFS-800 Change: This Advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for conducting small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations in the National Airspace System (NAS) in accordance with title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107. Robert C. Carty Deputy Executive Director, Flight Standards Service 2/1/21 AC 107-2A ii CONTENTS Paragraph Page Chapter 1. General .. Purpose of This Advisory Circular (AC) .. Where You Can Find This What This AC Request for Information .. AC Feedback Form .. 1-2 Chapter 2. References .. Related Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts .. Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) .. Related Reading Material .. 2-1 Chapter 3. Background .. PL 112-95, title III, Subtitle B .. Organization of Part 107 .. 3-1 Chapter 4. Part 107 Subpart A, General.

2 Applicability .. Falsification, Reproduction, or Alteration .. Accident Reporting .. 4-5 Chapter 5. Part 107 Subpart B, Operating Rules (Small UAS) .. Applicability .. Aircraft Operation .. Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) and Crew Resource Management (CRM) .. Aircraft Registration .. Small Unmanned Aircraft Maintenance, Inspections, and Condition for Safe Medical Condition .. Civil Twilight and Operations at Night .. Operations Over Open-Air Assemblies of Persons .. VLOS Aircraft Operation .. 5-52/1/21 AC 107-2A iii Operation Near Airports, in Certain Airspace, in Prohibited or Restricted Areas, or in the Proximity of Certain Areas Designated by a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) .. Preflight Familiarization, Inspection, and Actions for Aircraft Operation .. Operating Limitations for Small Unmanned Aircraft .. Remaining Clear of Other Aircraft .. Operations from Moving Vehicles .. Transportation of Property .. Operations While Impaired.

3 Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems .. In-Flight Emergency .. Careless or Reckless Operation .. Certificate of Waiver .. Supplemental Operational Information .. 5-16 Chapter 6. Part 107 Subpart C, Remote Pilot Certification .. Applicability .. Remote Pilot Certification .. Eligibility .. Application Process .. Security Disqualification .. FAA Tracking Number (FTN) Requirement .. Aeronautical Knowledge Test .. Aeronautical Knowledge Training .. 6-6 Chapter 7. Small UAS Maintenance and Inspection .. Applicability .. Maintenance .. Preflight Inspection .. 7-2 Chapter 8. Small Unmanned Aircraft Over People .. Applicability .. Category of Operations .. Operations Over People .. Applicant .. Means of Compliance General Information .. 8-122/1/21 AC 107-2A iv FAA-Provided MOC .. Voluntary Consensus Standards Body MOC .. Means of Compliance .. Declarations of Compliance .. Accountability for Holders of DOCs.

4 Product Labeling .. Remote Pilot Operating Instructions .. Remote Pilot Responsibilities When Conducting Operations Over People .. Operations Over People at Night .. 8-36 Appendix A. Risk Assessment Tools .. A-1 Appendix B. Supplemental Operational Information .. B-1 Appendix C. Small UAS Maintenance and Inspection Best Practices .. C-1 Appendix D. Remote Pilot Certification and Applicant Identity Verification .. D-1 Appendix E. Sample Preflight Assessment and Inspection Checklist .. E-1 List of Figures Figure 4-1. FAA Regional Operations Centers Telephone List .. 4-6 Figure 6-1. Recurrent Training Cycle Examples .. 6-6 Figure 8-1. Requirement to Submit a DOC for a Modified Small Unmanned Aircraft .. 8-12 Figure 8-2. Sample Remote Pilot Operating Instructions.. 8-32 Figure A-1. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Process Chart .. A-3 Figure A-2. Sample Safety Risk Assessment and Mitigation Steps Before Flight .. A-4 List of Tables Table 4-1.

5 Abbreviations/Acronyms Used in This AC .. 4-3 Table 8-1. Operations Over Moving Vehicles Over or Within a Closed/Restricted Access Site .. 8-3 Table 8-2. Operations Over Moving Vehicles Not Over or Within a Closed/Restricted Access Site .. 8-3 Table 8-3. Operations Over People Over or Within a Closed/Restricted Access Site .. 8-9 Table 8-4. Operations Over People Not Over or Within a Closed/Restricted Access Site .. 8-10 Table 8-5. Maximum Impact Speeds (ft/sec) for a Given Weight and Impact Kinetic Energy Under FAA-Provided MOC .. 8-162/1/21 AC 107-2A v Table 8-6. Maximum Impact Speeds (mph) for a Given Weight and Impact Kinetic Energy Under FAA-Provided MOC .. 8-16 Table C-1. Small UAS Condition Chart .. C-12/1/21 AC 107-2A 1-1 CHAPTER 1. GENERAL Purpose of This Advisory Circular (AC). This AC provides guidance in the areas of airman (remote pilot) certification, aircraft registration and marking, aircraft airworthiness, and the operation of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System (NAS) to promote compliance with the requirements of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 107.

6 Effects of Guidance. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. It does not provide, nor is it intended to provide, a legal interpretation of the regulations. This AC uses mandatory terms, such as must, when the language is describing an established statutory or regulatory requirement. This AC does not change, add to, or delete regulatory requirements or authorize deviations from regulatory requirements or restrictions. Part 107 Provisions. This AC is not intended to cover every provision of part 107. Rather, this AC is intended to provide guidance on those provisions of part 107 where additional information may be helpful. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emphasizes, however, that persons subject to part 107 are responsible for complying with every applicable provision of part 107, regardless of whether the provision is discussed in this AC.

7 Privacy-Related Laws. Part 107 operators should be aware that State and local authorities may enact privacy-related laws specific to UAS operations. The FAA encourages small UAS operators to review those laws prior to operating their UAS. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has also published the Voluntary Best Practices for UAS Privacy, Transparency, and Accountability (dated May 18, 2016), available at This document outlines and describes voluntary best practices that small UAS operators could take to advance UAS privacy, transparency, and accountability for the private and commercial use of UAS. Where You Can Find This AC. You can find this AC on the FAA s website at What This AC Cancels. AC 107-2, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), dated June 21, 2016, is canceled. Request for Information. Direct comments and suggestions for improving this publication to: Federal Aviation Administration General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS-800) 55 M Street SE, 8th Floor, Zone 1 Washington, DC 20003 2/1/21 AC 107-2A AC Feedback Form.

8 For your convenience, the AC Feedback Form is the last page of this AC. Note any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements regarding the contents of this AC on the Feedback Form. 2/1/21 AC 107-2A 2-1 CHAPTER 2. REFERENCES Related Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Parts. The following regulations and parts can be found at title 14 CFR. Part 1, Definitions and Abbreviations. Part 43, Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, and Alteration. Part 47, Aircraft Registration. Part 48, Registration and Marking Requirements for Small Unmanned Aircraft. Part 71, Designation of Class A, B, C, D, and E Airspace Areas; Air Traffic ServiceRoutes; and Reporting Points. Part 73, Special Use Airspace. Part 89, Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Part 91, General Operating and Flight Rules. Part 93, Special Air Traffic Rules. Part 99, Security Control of Air Traffic. Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft title 47 CFR.

9 Part 87, Aviation Services. title 49 CFR. Part 830, Notification and Reporting of Aircraft Accidents or Incidents and Overdue Aircraft, and Preservation of Aircraft Wreckage, Mail, Cargo, and Records. Notices to Airmen (NOTAM). Information on how to obtain NOTAMs can be found at Additional resources to create NOTAMs, check weather, and prepare flight plans can be found at Related Reading Material. The following listed reference materials contain additional information necessary to ensure safe operations in the NAS. A small UAS operator may want to consider seeking out additional publications to supplement the lists below. FAA ACs and Directives (current editions). You can find the current editions of the following publications on the FAA websites and AC 00-6, Aviation Weather. AC 00-45, Aviation Weather AC 107-2A 2-2 AC 60-28, FAA English Language Standard for an FAA Certificate Issued Under14 CFR Parts 61, 63, 65, and 107. AC 61-141, Flight Instructors as Certifying Officials for Student Pilot and RemotePilot Applicants.

10 AC 120-92, Safety Management Systems for Aviation Service Providers. FAA Order JO , Air Traffic Organization Policy, Flight Services. FAA Order JO , Air Traffic Organization Policy, Air Traffic Control. FAA Order JO , Air Traffic Organization Policy, Processing of UnmannedAircraft Systems Requests. FAA Order JO , Air Traffic Organization Policy, Facility Operation andAdministration. FAA Order JO , Air Traffic Organization Policy, Airspace Designations andReporting Points. FAA Order , Airworthiness Certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems andOptionally Piloted Aircraft. FAA Order , Volume 16, Unmanned Aircraft Additional FAA Online/Mobile Sources. UAS website: UAS Registration website: B4 UFLY mobile app. UAS Flight Planning, NOTAMs, temporary flight restrictions (TFR): and FAA Safety website: FAA UAS Data Delivery System website: FAA Waiver Safety Explanation Guidelines for Part 107 Waiver Applications: FAA Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA): Airman Certificate Testing Service (ACTS): Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO): AC 107-2A FAA Handbooks, Manuals, and Other Publications.