UA.I.A.K6: Multiple category sUAS.

ACS Area I — Regulations Task A: General References: 14 CFRCode of Federal RegulationsCloseThe federal rulebook where Part 107, Part 89, Part 48, and other aviation rules live. parts 89 and 107, subpart A; ACAdvisory CircularCloseFAA guidance that explains acceptable ways to comply with rules or understand FAA procedures. 107-2; FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes.-H-8083-25; FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes.-G-8082-22

Key Concepts

What “Multiple Category sUAS” Means

• One small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. can be eligible for more than one operations-over-people category (for example, the same aircraft may be labeled for both Category 2 and Category 3). Category eligibility drives where and how you may fly over people and near moving vehicles. Category 1 relies on weight and design; Categories 2 and 3 require a declaration and labeling; Category 4 requires an airworthiness certificate and Flight Manual limitations that permit these operations^[6][3][5].

Core Rules for Operations Over People and Moving Vehicles

• Over people, “directly participating” individuals may be overflown in all categories. For people not directly participating:
  • Within a closed or restricted-access site, Category 1 and Category 2 are allowed; Category 3 requires people to be “on notice”; Category 4 must follow its operating limitations and is also subject to the open-air assembly restriction noted below^[2].
  • Not over or within a closed/restricted site, Category 1 and Category 2 are allowed; Category 3 is limited to transit only, with no sustained flight; Category 4 is permitted if consistent with operating limitations^[2].
• Open-air assemblies: Category 1, 2, and 4 may not conduct sustained flight over open-air assemblies unless the operation meets § 89.110 or § 89.115(a). Category 3 may not operate over open-air assemblies at all^[2][5].
• Moving vehicles:
  • Outside a closed/restricted site, Category 1–3 may only transit—no sustained flight over moving vehicles. Within a closed/restricted site, persons not directly participating must be on notice. Category 4 may operate over moving vehicles if the Flight Manual or Administrator’s limitations do not prohibit it^[1].

Practical implication: Know whether your operation is inside a closed/restricted site, whether people are directly participating or on notice, and whether any open-air assembly is present. Category 3 in public areas is especially constrained—transit only over nonparticipants, no open-air assemblies^[2][1].

Eligibility, Labels, and Instructions

• Category 1: Aircraft must weigh 0.55 pounds (250 grams) or less at takeoff and throughout the operation and must not have exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact. No FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes. label is required, but the remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must make this determination before flight^[6].
• Category 2: Eligibility requires that the aircraft be designed/produced/modified so it will not cause injury equivalent to or greater than 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy, has no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate skin, and has no safety defects. A label indicating Category 2 eligibility must be legible, prominent, permanently affixed, and in English. The applicant must provide remote pilot operating instructions covering the system description (including declared category or categories), allowable modifications, and how to verify/change modes/configurations relevant to category compliance^[3].
• Category 3: Similar labeling requirements apply for Category 3, and because Category 3 has operating limitations, the label also alerts the remote pilot to those limitations. If a Category 2 or 3 label is damaged, destroyed, or missing, the remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must re-label the aircraft in English, legibly, and prominently for the duration of the operation before conducting operations over human beings^[6][4].
• Category 4: The aircraft must have an airworthiness certificate under part 21, be operated in accordance with Flight Manual/Administrator-specified operating limitations that do not prohibit operations over people, and maintenance/alterations/inspections must be performed as required. The remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. must follow all applicable operating limitations and may not conduct sustained flight over open-air assemblies unless § 89.110 or § 89.115(a) are met^[5].

Practical implication: Expect exam questions on the exact kinetic energy threshold (11 foot-pounds), the 0.55 pounds (250 grams) Category 1 weight, and labeling duties—including the PICPilot in CommandCloseThe person responsible for the flight. Under Part 107, this is usually the remote pilot in command.’s duty to re-label if the Category 2/3 label is missing^[3][6][4].

Modifications and Maintaining Eligibility

• If you modify an aircraft in a way not allowed by its remote pilot operating instructions, you render it ineligible for Category 2/3 operations over people. To regain eligibility, you (as the modifier/applicant) must ensure it meets the performance-based safety requirements using an FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes.-accepted means of compliance and submit a new declaration of compliance before conducting those operations. Applicants should specify allowable modifications in the operating instructions and keep those instructions up-to-date so remote PICs can configure the aircraft properly for compliant operations^[7][8].

Practical implication: Before flight, verify (1) the aircraft’s category label(s), (2) that your configuration/mode matches the operating instructions for the intended category, and (3) that no unapproved modifications have been made. If anything changed, your prior eligibility may no longer apply^[3][6][7][8].