Part 107

News, deep dives, and analysis — every Part 107 story, newest first.

Articles

Beats covered

Reporters on beat

Oct 23

Last updated

UAV EXPO

Pilot Institute Warns Of A Drone Hiring Cliff In Two To Three Years

Greg Reverdiau told Commercial UAV Expo the affordable drone that created this industry is disappearing, and aviation already ran this experiment once.

Haye KestelooSep 1

A DJI Mini 5 Pro hovering above a field of goldenrod

State Law

Washington Commercial Drone Fees Jump 10x to $150 After Jet Tax Repeal

Washington will charge commercial drone operators $150 per aircraft a year from January 2027, up from $15, in the bill that repealed its luxury jet tax.

Haye KestelooAug 25

Close-up of a DJI Mini 5 Pro in flight, its gimbal camera and forward sensors facing the viewer against blurred green trees.

OPERATORS

DJI Ban Hits Home: Drone Pilots Ask Whether Their Businesses Survive

A new Part 107 pilot asked Facebook if the DJI ban killed his drone business before launch. 268 comments show what operators face ahead of September 3.

Haye KestelooAug 20

DOCKET 26-189

Idaho Quadcopter Says The Drone Noose Keeps Tightening. The FCC Notice Answers One Fear

Idaho Quadcopter says tariffs and FCC rules are pushing hobbyists out. The FCC's own notice answers his biggest fear about the drones he already owns.

Haye KestelooAug 16

A quadcopter drone hovering beside a glass skyscraper with an upward arrow and the text Above 400ft Legally

FAA

Three Legal Ways To Fly A Drone Above 400 Feet, And The One Mistake That Brings Big Fines

Most new pilots think 400 feet is a hard ceiling. It isn't. Greg Reverdiau of Pilot Institute walks through the structure rule, FAA waivers, and CBO fixed sites, plus the LAANC mistake that trips up Part 107 pilots.

Greg ReverdiauAug 12

Data Privacy

AUVSI Is Selling FAA Drone Registration Data The FAA Itself Stopped Publishing

AUVSI sells a drone registration database for up to $8,500, but the FAA's public registration file stopped in 2023 and federal rules limit bulk lookups.

Haye KestelooJul 31

Section 2209

NPPA Tells FAA Its Section 2209 Drone Rule Ignores The Press, And Drone Pilots Already Asked For The Same Fixes

The National Press Photographers Association told the FAA its proposed Section 2209 drone rule would create opaque, potentially permanent no-fly zones with no expiration, no review clock, and no practical protection for newsgathering — the same structural fixes drone pilots already asked for.

Haye KestelooJul 20

FAA

East Orange’s Drone Program: Transforming City Maintenance and Training

In East Orange, New Jersey, an innovative drone training program is empowering residents with unique skills while providing practical benefits to the city. The program, a partnership between the city and Alpha Drones USA, offers free commercial drone training, reports The Patch. Graduates of the 2023 program, including 20 East Orange residents of diverse ages…

Haye KestelooJan 13

Part 107

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.