Cheat Sheet

Control Station

Corrective Lenses – This does not include binoculars, only glasses or contacts.

DOC – Declaration of Compliance

sUAS – Small Unmanned Aircraft System

Visual Observer

Required compliance records cannot be falsified. Reproduction of falsified records or alteration of records for fraudulent purposes is also prohibited.

Penalties for falsification offenses can include denial or suspension of certificates or waivers and civil penalties.

have their remote pilot certificate with sUAS rating in their possession while exercising its privileges.

present the certificate and ID upon request from: The Administrator; authorized representatives of the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB); federal, state, or local law enforcement; authorized representatives of the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).

make available, upon request, to the Administrator any document, record, or report required to be kept under the regulations of this chapter.

present the certificate and ID upon request from: The Administrator; authorized representatives of the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB); federal, state, or local law enforcement; authorized representatives of the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA).

allow the Administrator to make any test or inspection of the small unmanned aircraft system, the remote pilot in command, the person manipulating the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system, and, if applicable, the visual observer to determine compliance with this part.

if holding an FAA-accepted DOC must, upon request, make available to the Administrator the DOC and all records associated with the DOC.

Accidents must be reported to the FAA within 10 calendar days of any operation that results in serious injury, loss of consciousness or property damage over $500.

In applicable operations, only the certificate holder may manipulate the flight controls of a sUAS, having met all knowledge and testing requirements for the certificate.

If the certificate holding PIC has the ability to immediately take direct control (buddy box or similar), another person may manipulate flight controls under their direct supervision.

Consistent with international standards, foreign-registered sUAS may be operated without a remote pilot certificate pending authorization from the Administrator.

A person operating a civil small unmanned aircraft system for purposes of flight must comply with the provisions of § 91.203(a)(2) of this chapter.

PIC must check that the sUAS is in safe condition for operation prior to each flight.

If the PIC knows or has reason to know that conditions have become unsafe during operations, the operations must be discontinued.

No person may act as a PIC, Visual Observer, or direct participant in operations if that individual knows or has reason to know that a physical or mental condition interferes with their ability to do so safely.

The PIC must be designated before flight operations.

The PIC is directly responsible for and is the final authority on flight operations.

The PIC must ensure that the small unmanned aircraft will pose no undue hazard to other people, other aircraft, or other property in the event of a loss of control of the small unmanned aircraft for any reason.

The remote pilot in command must ensure that the small UAS operation complies with all applicable regulations of this chapter, and have the ability to direct the sUAS to ensure compliance.

A PIC may deviate from a rule of this part in an in-flight emergency situation, to the extent necessary. If this occurs the PIC must send a written report of the deviation to the Administrator if requested to do so by the Administrator.

No person may operate a sUAS or drop objects from a sUAS in a careless or reckless way that creates undue hazard or endangers life or property.

No person may operate a sUAS from a moving aircraft, land-, or water- vehicle unless doing so over a sparsely populated area (and also not transporting another person’s property for compensation or hire).

8 hours after alcohol and BAC below 0.04% before flight operations

No drugs until after flight operations

No transporting drugs using a sUAS

The PIC must have passed an aeronautical knowledge test to perform night operations.

The sUAS must have lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. The remote pilot in command may reduce the intensity of, but may not extinguish, the anti-collision lighting if he or she determines that, because of operating conditions, it would be in the interest of safety to do so.

ould be in the interest of safety to do so.

The above also applies during civil twilight (30 minutes before official sunrise or 30min after official sunset). Alaska has separate civil twilight times defined by the Air Almanac.

The PIC, Visual Observers or other people manipulating flight controls besides the PIC must coordinate to maintain visual line of sight (VLOS) contact with the sUAS using only corrective lenses (binoculars and view screens may be used only for situational awareness).

Either the PIC or a Visual Observer must maintain VLOS at all times.

The PIC and Visual Observer must maintain effective communication at all times.

The PIC must ensure the Visual Observer can maintain VLOS as necessary.

Coordinated activity must scan the airspace for hazards and maintain awareness of the location of the sUAS through VLOS contact.

A person may not manipulate flight controls or act as a remote pilot in command or visual observer in the operation of more than one unmanned aircraft at the same time.

A sUAS my not carry hazardous material.

sUAS must yield to all other aircraft. Yielding the right of way means that the small unmanned aircraft must give way to the aircraft or vehicle and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear.

sUAS may not be operated so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard.

that human being is participating in the drone operation

that human being is in a covered structure or stationary vehicle

as consistent with categories specified in subpart D

No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft 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 unless that person has prior authorization from Air Traffic Control (ATC).

No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with operations and traffic patterns at any airport, heliport, or seaplane base.

No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in prohibited or restricted areas unless that person has permission from the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.

A PIC must comply with NOTAM’s.

assess risks to persons and property in the immediate surface and air vicinity

assess local weather conditions

assess local airspace and any flight restrictions

assess the location of persons and property in the surface vicinity

assess other ground hazards

ensure that all persons directly participating in the small unmanned aircraft operation are informed about the operating conditions, emergency procedures, contingency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and potential hazards

ensure that control links are working properly

if the small unmanned aircraft is powered, ensure that there is enough available power for the small unmanned aircraft system to operate for the intended operational time

ensure that any object attached or carried by the small unmanned aircraft is secure and does not adversely affect the flight characteristics or controllability of the aircraft

ensure that the sUAS meets applicable subpart D requirements if it will be flown over human beings

The groundspeed of the small unmanned aircraft may not exceed 87 knots (100 miles per hour).

The altitude of the small unmanned aircraft cannot be higher than 400 feet above ground level, unless the small unmanned aircraft is within 400ft of a structure (must not fly higher that 400ft above the structure’s uppermost limit).

The minimum flight visibility, as observed from the location of the control station must be no less than 3 statute miles. For purposes of this section, flight visibility means the average slant distance from the control station at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and identified by day and prominent lighted objects may be seen and identified by night.

The minimum distance of the small unmanned aircraft from clouds must be no less than 500 feet below the cloud 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.