Part 107 Requirements for Commercial Drone Work
Aerial content can transform a property listing, document a construction milestone, or give a solar project team a clearer view of site conditions. But premium results start before the drone leaves the case. FAA Part 107 requirements set the operating standard for commercial drone work, protecting the project, the client, the crew, and the public.
For Nashville businesses investing in aerial media, compliance is more than a box to check. It is a visible sign that the operator understands how to plan flights, manage risk, secure required approvals, and deliver dependable footage without creating unnecessary exposure for the client.
What Part 107 Covers
Part 107 is the FAA rule framework for small unmanned aircraft systems used for non-recreational purposes. In practical terms, it governs most drone flights performed for a business purpose, including real estate photography, construction documentation, solar site imaging, inspections, marketing footage, and stock media production.
The rules generally apply to drones weighing less than 55 pounds at takeoff. A flight does not become recreational simply because it is short, performed on private property, or captured with a small consumer drone. If the imagery supports a business, marketing campaign, client deliverable, or paid service, Part 107 is the appropriate baseline.
Some projects require more than standard Part 107 compliance. Flights near airports, after dark, over people, or in complex urban environments may involve additional equipment, planning, operational limits, or FAA authorization. That distinction is why professional aerial work begins with project review rather than a camera setting.
Part 107 Requirements for the Remote Pilot
The person responsible for the flight must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate with a small UAS rating, unless operating under the direct supervision of a certified remote pilot. Certification requires passing the FAA aeronautical knowledge test, which covers airspace, weather, emergency procedures, regulations, loading and performance, radio communication, and decision-making.
The certified remote pilot is not simply the person holding the controller. They are the pilot in command, responsible for determining whether conditions are safe and whether the operation can be completed within the rules. On a commercial shoot, that responsibility includes evaluating the launch area, flight path, nearby people, weather, obstacles, and airspace before filming begins.
Remote pilots must also complete recurrent training every 24 calendar months. This keeps operators current on regulatory changes and reinforces critical operating knowledge. For clients, an active certification is a meaningful credential, but it should be paired with real field experience. Aerial work around active construction sites, occupied properties, utility infrastructure, and public spaces demands judgment that goes beyond passing an exam.
Visual Line of Sight Is Still the Standard
Part 107 generally requires the remote pilot or a visual observer to maintain visual line of sight with the drone throughout the flight. The operator must be able to see the aircraft well enough to know its location, orientation, and surrounding hazards.
This requirement affects how a shoot is planned. Long tracking shots, large site coverage, and flights around structures may need multiple launch locations or a visual observer. A capable aerial team plans those logistics around the desired visuals instead of pushing the drone beyond a safe operating position.
Registration and Remote ID Requirements
Commercial drones must be registered with the FAA before operation. Registration applies to drones used under Part 107 regardless of weight, and it ties the aircraft to the responsible owner or operator. Registration must be kept current and available when required.
Remote ID is also a central part of commercial compliance. Most drones operating in U.S. airspace must broadcast identification and location information through a standard Remote ID system or an approved broadcast module, unless they are flown in a designated FAA-recognized identification area. Many current professional drones include Remote ID capability, but it must be properly configured and operating as required.
For a client, these details may seem administrative. They are not. Registration and Remote ID reflect an operator who treats the aircraft as part of an accountable aviation operation, not as a casual camera platform.
Airspace Approval Can Shape the Shoot
A business may own or control the land where filming takes place, but it does not own the airspace above it. Drone pilots must follow FAA airspace rules wherever they fly.
In uncontrolled airspace, often called Class G airspace, Part 107 operations can usually proceed without prior airspace authorization if all other requirements are met. In controlled airspace, including areas near many airports, authorization is required before flight. Depending on the location, operators may receive near-real-time authorization through an FAA-approved system or need to request a more detailed approval in advance.
This is especially relevant in the Nashville area, where airport proximity and heliport activity can affect otherwise straightforward projects. Aerial coverage near downtown, medical facilities, event venues, or developed commercial corridors should never be assumed to be clear for flight. A professional operator verifies the airspace, understands the approved altitude limit, and adjusts the flight plan accordingly.
Airspace authorization is not a blanket permission to fly however the operator chooses. It is one component of the plan. The pilot must still avoid aircraft, stay within the authorized parameters, maintain visual line of sight, and assess changing conditions on site.
Operating Limits That Protect People and Property
Part 107 sets several baseline operating limits. Flights are generally limited to a maximum groundspeed of 100 mph and an altitude of 400 feet above ground level. The altitude rule has important exceptions near structures, which can allow operations higher than 400 feet when the drone remains within a defined distance of the structure. That flexibility can be useful for tall commercial assets, but it requires precise planning.
Drones must yield right of way to all manned aircraft. This is non-negotiable. Helicopters, low-flying aircraft, and unexpected traffic can change the safety picture quickly, particularly near hospitals, infrastructure corridors, and active event areas.
Pilots must also avoid careless or reckless operation and may not fly from a moving vehicle except in limited circumstances over a sparsely populated area. A polished orbit around a building is valuable only if the flight path, location, and conditions make that maneuver appropriate.
Flights Over People and Moving Vehicles
Part 107 permits certain operations over people and moving vehicles, but the rules are more detailed than many clients expect. The aircraft category, exposed rotating parts, weight, injury risk, and the way the drone is flown all matter. Flying directly over an uninvolved person is not automatically permitted simply because the drone is small.
The most reliable approach is often operational rather than technical: establish a controlled area, keep nonparticipants clear of the flight path, and design shots that deliver strong composition without placing the aircraft over people. For active job sites or occupied commercial properties, coordination with the site contact is part of the production plan.
Operations over moving vehicles have separate limitations and are typically limited to circumstances where people are inside a closed or restricted-access site, or where the drone does not sustain flight over the vehicle. For automotive, development, or construction projects, the intended shot should be reviewed before flight day so the team can determine what is both visually effective and permissible.
Night Flights Require More Than a Sunset Setting
Part 107 allows night operations when the remote pilot has completed the required training and the drone is equipped with anti-collision lighting visible for at least three statute miles. The lighting must flash at a rate sufficient to avoid a collision.
Night footage can add real value to hospitality, retail, skyline, and high-end property marketing. It also introduces trade-offs. Reduced visibility, reflective surfaces, lower camera performance, changing pedestrian activity, and more difficult obstacle recognition can narrow the margin for error. The best nighttime aerial work is deliberate, not rushed to capture a dramatic final frame.
Weather, Site Conditions, and Preflight Discipline
Part 107 establishes minimum visibility and cloud-clearance rules, but compliant weather is not always good production weather. Wind can compromise smooth motion. Haze can flatten a skyline. Wet surfaces, temporary cranes, dust, power lines, and new construction activity can change a site between planning and arrival.
A strong preflight process accounts for these realities. Before launch, the pilot should confirm aircraft condition, battery status, Remote ID functionality, airspace status, weather, obstacle risks, crew roles, and emergency procedures. On a construction or solar project, the operator should also coordinate with the site representative about active equipment, restricted zones, work schedules, and people on the ground.
That preparation protects the footage as well as the flight. It reduces avoidable reshoots, helps keep the schedule on track, and gives project teams confidence that aerial documentation will be consistent from one milestone to the next.
Why Compliance Matters to Commercial Clients
Part 107 compliance supports better outcomes because it creates a disciplined operating process. The result is not merely legal footage. It is footage captured with a clear plan for access, safety, timing, airspace, and the visual objective.
For real estate professionals, that means aerial assets that showcase setting, scale, access, and surrounding amenities without last-minute disruptions. For construction and solar teams, it means repeatable documentation that can be captured safely around changing site conditions. For marketing teams, it means premium visuals produced by an accountable aviation professional.
Skybound Views approaches every commercial flight with that standard in mind: certified expertise, careful project planning, and aerial imagery built to serve a business purpose. The strongest view from above is the one captured with equal attention to compliance, safety, and the story the project needs to tell.