UA.I.C.K1: Offenses involving alcohol or drugs.

ACS Area I — Regulations Task C: Remote Pilot Certification with an sUASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. Rating References: 14 CFRCode of Federal RegulationsCloseThe federal rulebook where Part 107, Part 89, Part 48, and other aviation rules live. part 107, subpart C; 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 counts as an alcohol- or drug-related offense under Part 107

• Convictions. A conviction for violating any Federal or State statute involving the growing, processing, manufacture, sale, disposition, possession, transportation, or importation of narcotic drugs, marijuana, or depressant or stimulant drugs or substances is specifically covered. Such a conviction is grounds for denial of a remote pilot certificate application for up to 1 year after the date of final conviction, or for suspension or revocation of an existing remote pilot certificate with a small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. rating (§107.57(a)).^[1]
• Prohibited acts referenced from Part 91. Committing an act prohibited by §91.17(a) (alcohol) or §91.19(a) (drugs) is also grounds for denial of an application for up to 1 year after the date of that act, or for suspension or revocation of a remote pilot certificate (§107.57(b)). For test purposes, know the cross-reference: the Part 91 prohibitions apply to you in the sense that committing those acts triggers Part 107 certification consequences, even though the detailed thresholds in Part 91 are not restated in Part 107.^[1]

Certification consequences and key timelines

• Denial window. Two separate 1-year denial clocks appear in §107.57:
  • Up to 1 year after the date of final conviction for covered drug offenses (§107.57(a)(1)).^[1]
  • Up to 1 year after the date of the act for violations of §91.17(a) or §91.19(a) (§107.57(b)(1)).^[1]
• Certificate action. In either case, the FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes. may suspend or revoke a remote pilot certificate with a small UASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. rating (§107.57(a)(2), (b)(2)). Practically, losing the certificate means you cannot act as remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation., and you cannot manipulate the controls unless directly supervised by a remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. who can immediately take control (§107.12).^[1][3]
• Link to certification subpart. These consequences fall within Subpart C, which prescribes requirements for issuing a remote pilot certificate; offenses can therefore affect both initial issuance and continued eligibility (§107.56).^[4]

Refusal to submit to alcohol testing

• Law enforcement testing requests. §107.59 addresses refusal to submit to an alcohol test “to indicate the percentage by weight of alcohol in the blood” when requested by a law enforcement officer in accordance with §91.17(c), as well as refusal to furnish or authorize release of the test results. For the exam, recognize that refusal itself is a regulated event under Part 107 Subpart C and is directly tied to your certification status (§107.59). The safe, compliant course is to avoid refusal when a valid request is made under §91.17(c).^[2]

Practical implications for remote pilots

• Maintain eligibility. Any conviction involving narcotic drugs, marijuana, or depressant/stimulant drugs or substances can postpone your ability to obtain a remote pilot certificate for up to 1 year from final conviction and can put an existing certificate at risk of suspension or revocation (§107.57(a)).^[1]
• Avoid prohibited conduct. Acts prohibited by §91.17(a) or §91.19(a) can trigger the same denial (up to 1 year from the act) or certificate action (§107.57(b)). On a checkride- or exam-style question, connect these Part 91 prohibitions to their Part 107 certification consequences rather than trying to recall thresholds that are not listed in Part 107’s text.^[1]
• Do not refuse lawful alcohol testing. A refusal when requested under §91.17(c), or refusal to furnish/authorize release of results, is addressed by §107.59 and pertains to your certification. Expect adverse certification implications if you refuse.^[2]
• Operational reality. Because you must hold a remote pilot certificate to act as remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation., any suspension or revocation stops certificated operations until resolved (§107.12). Plan compliance and professional conduct accordingly to preserve your privileges.^[3]