UA.I.B.K26: Transportation of property.
ACS Area I — Regulations Task B: Operating Rules References: 14 CFR parts 47, 48, 89, and 107, subpart B; AC 107-2; FAA-H-8083-25; FAA-G-8082-22
Key Concepts
What “Transportation of Property” Means for Part 107 Operations
Under Part 107, carrying property is simply operating with a payload. When your small UAS transports any item, your responsibilities include configuring the aircraft in compliance with the manufacturer’s remote pilot operating instructions (RPOI) when applicable, and assessing added risk to people on the ground—especially if flight may occur over or near people. For aircraft eligible for operations over people in Category 2 or Category 3, you may not affix any payload unless it is listed in the RPOI; any permissible payload must be securely attached throughout the operation. If you add a payload not listed (or it is not secured), the aircraft becomes ineligible to operate over people in Category 2 or 3 for that flight. Practically, that can force route changes to avoid people or require you to select a closed/restricted access site before transporting property. A thorough preflight inspection is still required under Part 107 and should be more comprehensive when operating over people due to increased risk from payload mass and attachment points.[2][4]
Operating Over People While Carrying Property
Transporting property often brings you close to people. Know the Category-based limits for operations over people:
- Category 1 and Category 2: Sustained flight over open-air assemblies is prohibited unless the operation meets the Remote ID requirements of § 89.110 or § 89.115(a). This prohibition is subject to waiver. If you’re carrying property under Cat 1 or Cat 2, ensure your aircraft and operation meet these Remote ID provisions before planning any sustained flight over an open-air assembly.[6]
- Category 3: A Category 3 eligible small unmanned aircraft must not operate over open-air assemblies of human beings (§ 107.125(b)). Outside of closed/restricted access sites, Category 3 operations are limited to “transit only, no sustained flight” over people who are not directly participating. When transporting property in Cat 3, plan routes that avoid extended overflight of nonparticipants and consider using closed/restricted access sites when mission needs bring you near people.[6]
- Category 4: Operations over human beings may be conducted if not prohibited by operating limitations in the FAA-approved Flight Manual or as specified by the Administrator. As with Cat 1/2, sustained flight over open-air assemblies requires meeting § 89.110 or § 89.115(a) and is subject to waiver.[6]
Key implication: If your payload configuration invalidates your aircraft’s Category 2 or 3 eligibility (e.g., unlisted or unsecured payload), you cannot rely on those categories’ allowances over people. Adjust your plan to avoid people or reestablish compliance by configuring the payload exactly as permitted in the RPOI.[2][4][6]
Payload Configuration, Documentation, and Preflight
- Remote pilot operating instructions (RPOI): These must provide sufficient detail for configuring the aircraft to meet the requirements for operations over people. Even with clear instructions, the remote PIC retains final responsibility for determining safe operational parameters. Maintain the current RPOI for your make/model and follow its Required and Optional Components guidance before attaching any payload intended for property transport.[4]
- Permissible payloads for Cat 2/3: Only payloads listed in the RPOI may be affixed for operations over people, and they must be securely attached for the entire flight. Noncompliance makes the aircraft ineligible for Cat 2/3 over-people operations until corrected. Examine mounts, fasteners, and center of gravity impacts during preflight.[2]
- Preflight inspection and risk assessment: Part 107 requires a preflight inspection; for operations over people, make it more robust to account for payload-related risks (e.g., attachment integrity, flight performance, and potential ground impact consequences). Use checklists and risk tools to verify configuration, securement, and environmental considerations before transporting property.[2][8]
Regulatory Cross-References You Should Know
- 14 CFR Part 107 governs small UAS operations generally, including flights that carry property as a payload.[5]
- Remote ID requirements for sustained flight over open-air assemblies appear in § 89.110 and § 89.115(a). Category 3 prohibits operations over open-air assemblies per § 107.125(b). These provisions directly shape when and how you may fly over people while transporting property.[6]
- Additional FAA guidance addresses remote pilot responsibilities when conducting operations over people and provides sample checklists useful for preflight planning when carrying property.[8]
Bottom line for the exam and the field: When transporting property under Part 107, ensure payloads are permitted and secured per RPOI, verify whether your category and Remote ID status allow any over-people segments, and plan routes and sites to avoid sustained overflight of nonparticipants unless explicitly allowed by the applicable category and § 89.110/§ 89.115(a).[2][4][6]
Test Yourself
UA.I.B.K26No practice questions are currently available for this specific knowledge element.