UA.I.E.K9: Remote Pilot operating instructions.

ACS Area I — Regulations Task E: Operations Over People References: 14 CFRCode of Federal RegulationsCloseThe federal rulebook where Part 107, Part 89, Part 48, and other aviation rules live. parts 89 and 107; 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

Categories and When Operations Over People Are Allowed

• Baseline rule: §107.39 prohibits flight over a person who is not under safe cover (e.g., a protective structure or stationary vehicle) unless the operation qualifies under one of four categories in Subpart D. Direct participants (remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation., a person manipulating the controls, VOVisual ObserverCloseA person who helps the remote PIC see and avoid hazards during a drone operation., or necessary crewmembers) may be flown over.^[1]
• Category 1: sUASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. weighing 0.55 pounds (250 grams) or less at takeoff and throughout the operation, with no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin.^[1]
• Category 2 and Category 3: Allowed only with aircraft that meet performance-based injury limitation requirements (via an FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes.-accepted Declaration of Compliance).^[1]
• Category 4: Aircraft with an airworthiness certificate under 14 CFRCode of Federal RegulationsCloseThe federal rulebook where Part 107, Part 89, Part 48, and other aviation rules live. part 21, operating under any Flight Manual or Administrator-specified limitations.^[1]

Open-air assemblies: In a closed/restricted access site, Cat 1 and Cat 2 may conduct sustained flight over people not directly participating, subject to restrictions on open-air assemblies (see Remote IDRemote IdentificationCloseRemote ID broadcast requirements for most drones operating in U.S. airspace. references in footnotes), while Cat 3 requires those people be on notice and is prohibited from operating over open-air assemblies. Cat 4 depends on Flight Manual/Administrator limitations, with the same open-air assembly constraint for sustained flight unless Remote IDRemote IdentificationCloseRemote ID broadcast requirements for most drones operating in U.S. airspace. criteria are met. Outside a closed/restricted site, Cat 1 and Cat 2 may operate over people not directly participating; Cat 3 is limited to “transit only, no sustained flight.”^[2]

Over Moving Vehicles

• If not within or over a closed- or restricted-access site, you must not maintain sustained flight over any moving vehicle. Category 1–3 may only transit; Category 4 may operate if not prohibited by its FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes.-approved Flight Manual or Administrator-specified limitations.^[3]
• Within a closed/restricted-access site, all categories may operate over moving vehicles of people directly participating. For people not directly participating, Cat 1–3 require they be on notice; Cat 4 again depends on its operating limitations.^[3]
• Practical takeaway: Plan tracks to avoid loitering above roadways unless you are within a controlled site and meet the category-specific conditions. “Transit only” means brief, momentary crossing, not orbiting.

Remote Pilot Operating Instructions (RPOI): What You Must Know and Use

• The RPOIResponsible Person of InterestCloseAn FAA contact or responsible-party role used in some operational and compliance contexts. must be clear, current, and detailed enough to configure the aircraft for compliance with the intended category over people. Remote PICs must ensure they are using the current instructions and are ultimately responsible for determining safe operational parameters.^[4]
• RPOIResponsible Person of InterestCloseAn FAA contact or responsible-party role used in some operational and compliance contexts. content must identify required components for the eligible configuration and list any eligible/necessary components (e.g., safety devices) that must be installed. If the aircraft has variable modes/configurations, the RPOIResponsible Person of InterestCloseAn FAA contact or responsible-party role used in some operational and compliance contexts. must explain how to verify the mode and how to switch between modes.^[5]
• Allowable modifications must be described in the RPOIResponsible Person of InterestCloseAn FAA contact or responsible-party role used in some operational and compliance contexts.. Any modification that affects eligibility for Category 2 or 3 requires a new Declaration of Compliance (DOCDeclaration of ComplianceCloseManufacturer compliance document that matters for some Operations Over People categories.) to be accepted by the FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes. before operating over people.^[5]
• Payload restrictions for Cat 2/3: Only pre-approved cameras/payloads listed in the RPOIResponsible Person of InterestCloseAn FAA contact or responsible-party role used in some operational and compliance contexts. may be used; no other payloads may be attached unless listed. Any permissible payload must be securely attached. Failure to follow these instructions makes the aircraft ineligible for Cat 2/3 operations over people.^[6]

Remote Pilot Responsibilities: Preflight, Documentation, and Night

• Preflight: Part 107 still requires a preflight inspection and verification the sUASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. is in a condition for safe operation. For operations over people, make the preflight more robust—assess where people will be, and weather/other risk factors that could affect them.^[6]
• Documentation: Before conducting operations over people, the remote pilot must determine the aircraft is in the correct category, properly labeled, and listed on an FAAFederal Aviation AdministrationCloseThe U.S. aviation regulator responsible for Part 107 rules, airspace, and pilot certification processes.-accepted DOCDeclaration of ComplianceCloseManufacturer compliance document that matters for some Operations Over People categories..^[7]
• Night: The categories and their restrictions do not change at night. If the aircraft is eligible in a category, you may operate over people at night in accordance with §§ 107.29 and 107.39. For Cat 2/3 eligibility at night, manufacturers typically account for the mass of an anti-collision light in their compliance basis.^[7]
• Command authority: The remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. is the final authority for the safe operation (§107.19), and a person may not act as remote PICRemote Pilot in CommandCloseThe certificated remote pilot responsible for the Part 107 operation. or VOVisual ObserverCloseA person who helps the remote PIC see and avoid hazards during a drone operation. for more than one sUASSmall Unmanned Aircraft SystemCloseA small drone plus the control and communication links used to operate it. at the same time (§107.35). Direct participants are those necessary for safe operation.^[8]