Minds → Drones & UAS → What are the maximum altitude and speed limits for small unmanned aircraft operations under 14 CFR 107.51? Answer in under 100 words.
US FederalFAA14 CFR Part 107What are the maximum altitude and speed limits for small unmanned aircraft operations under 14 CFR 107.51? Answer in under 100 words.
Under 14 CFR 107.51, the maximum groundspeed for a small unmanned aircraft is 87 knots (100 miles per hour), and the maximum altitude is 400 feet above ground level. The only stated exception allows flight within a 400-foot radius of a structure, up to but not exceeding 400 feet above the structure's immediate uppermost limit.
Last verified: 2026-08-26 · Sources checked: 1/1 resolving · Next scheduled review: 2026-11-24
Details / How it works
Section 107.51 imposes operating limitations on both the remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system. These limits are mandatory whenever the small unmanned aircraft system is operated.
Numbers & thresholds
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum groundspeed | 87 knots (100 miles per hour) |
| Maximum altitude | 400 feet above ground level (AGL) |
Minimum flight visibility is also set at 3 statute miles from the control station, with cloud clearances of 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally.
Exceptions & edge cases
The 400-foot altitude ceiling does not apply when the aircraft:
- Is flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure; and
- Does not fly higher than 400 feet above the structure's immediate uppermost limit.
No other exceptions to the speed or altitude limits are provided in § 107.51.
Sources
- [1]U.S. National Archives, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations — 14 CFR 107.51 — Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft · as of 2026-08-26
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