What equipment and training does a remote pilot need to legally fly a drone at night under 14 CFR 107.29? Answer in under 100 words.

Details / How it works

Night operations (§ 107.29(a)): Except as provided for certificate of waiver operations, a small unmanned aircraft system may be operated at night only if:

• Pilot qualification: The remote pilot in command has completed an initial knowledge test or training under § 107.65 after April 6, 2021.
• Aircraft lighting: The small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision.

The remote pilot in command may reduce the intensity of, but may not extinguish, the anti-collision lighting if operating conditions make it in the interest of safety to do so.

Civil twilight operations (§ 107.29(b)): During civil twilight — defined as beginning 30 minutes before official sunrise and ending at official sunrise, and beginning at official sunset and ending 30 minutes after official sunset (with Alaska using the Air Almanac definition) — the aircraft must have the same anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles.

Waivers: Certificates of waiver issued under § 107.200 that authorize deviations from § 107.29 terminate on May 17, 2021.

Amendment history: § 107.29 was amended by Amdt. 107-8 on January 15, 2021 (86 FR 4382), with further amendment on March 10, 2021 (86 FR 13631), building on the original rule published June 28, 2016 under Docket FAA-2015-0150.

Numbers & thresholds

Exceptions & edge cases

• Certificate of waiver: Operations conducted under a certificate of waiver issued prior to April 21, 2021 under § 107.200 are excepted from paragraph (a) of § 107.29; however, waivers authorizing deviation from § 107.29 terminate on May 17, 2021.
• Lighting intensity reduction: The remote pilot in command may dim — but never fully extinguish — the anti-collision lighting when safety conditions warrant it.
• Alaska civil twilight: Alaska uses the civil twilight definition found in the Air Almanac rather than the fixed 30-minute windows applied elsewhere.
• Visual line of sight (§ 107.31): Even at night, the remote pilot in command, visual observer, and person manipulating flight controls must see the aircraft throughout the entire flight using vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses — binoculars, night vision devices, and other visual enhancement aids are prohibited.
• Certification prerequisite (§ 107.12): No person may act as remote pilot in command without holding a Remote Pilot Certificate with Small UAS Rating issued pursuant to Subpart C, satisfying § 107.65 recency-of-experience requirements every 24 calendar months. Foreign-registered aircraft may operate under FAA Administrator authorization consistent with ICAO Annex 2 and bilateral agreements.