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906 

14 CFR Ch. I (1–1–24 Edition) 

§ 107.43 

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 authoriza-
tion from Air Traffic Control (ATC). 

§ 107.43

Operation in the vicinity of 

airports. 

No person may operate a small un-

manned aircraft in a manner that 
interferes with operations and traffic 
patterns at any airport, heliport, or 
seaplane base. 

§ 107.45

Operation in prohibited or re-

stricted areas. 

No person may operate a small un-

manned aircraft in prohibited or re-
stricted areas unless that person has 
permission from the using or control-
ling agency, as appropriate. 

§ 107.47

Flight restrictions in the prox-

imity of certain areas designated by 
notice to airmen. 

A person acting as a remote pilot in 

command must comply with the provi-
sions of §§ 91.137 through 91.145 and 99.7 
of this chapter. 

§ 107.49

Preflight familiarization, in-

spection, and actions for aircraft 
operation. 

Prior to flight, the remote pilot in 

command must: 

(a) Assess the operating environ-

ment, considering risks to persons and 
property in the immediate vicinity 
both on the surface and in the air. This 
assessment must include: 

(1) Local weather conditions; 
(2) Local airspace and any flight re-

strictions; 

(3) The location of persons and prop-

erty on the surface; and 

(4) Other ground hazards. 
(b) 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; 

(c) Ensure that all control links be-

tween ground control station and the 
small unmanned aircraft are working 
properly; 

(d) If the small unmanned aircraft is 

powered, ensure that there is enough 

available power for the small un-
manned aircraft system to operate for 
the intended operational time; 

(e) Ensure that any object attached 

or carried by the small unmanned air-
craft is secure and does not adversely 
affect the flight characteristics or con-
trollability of the aircraft; and 

(f) If the operation will be conducted 

over human beings under subpart D of 
this part, ensure that the aircraft 
meets the requirements of § 107.110, 
§ 107.120(a), § 107.130(a), or § 107.140, as 
applicable. 

[Docket FAA–2015–0150, Amdt. 107–1, 81 FR 
42209, June 28, 2016, as amended by Amdt. No. 
107–8, 86 FR 4382, Jan. 15, 2021] 

§ 107.51

Operating limitations for 

small unmanned aircraft. 

A remote pilot in command and the 

person manipulating the flight controls 
of the small unmanned aircraft system 
must comply with all of the following 
operating limitations when operating a 
small unmanned aircraft system: 

(a) The groundspeed of the small un-

manned aircraft may not exceed 87 
knots (100 miles per hour). 

(b) The altitude of the small un-

manned aircraft cannot be higher than 
400 feet above ground level, unless the 
small unmanned aircraft: 

(1) Is flown within a 400-foot radius of 

a structure; and 

(2) Does not fly higher than 400 feet 

above the structure’s immediate upper-
most limit. 

(c) The minimum flight visibility, as 

observed from the location of the con-
trol station must be no less than 3 stat-
ute 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. 

(d) The minimum distance of the 

small unmanned aircraft from clouds 
must be no less than: 

(1) 500 feet below the cloud; and 
(2) 2,000 feet horizontally from the 

cloud. 

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