What does category 2 Standard mean?
In the new regs that were promulgated on 06 April 2021 and go live on 21 April 2021, the rules for flying over people are changed and create 4 categories of drones. Categories 1 thru 3 are drones most folks will be able to buy while category 4 drones need a Part 21 certification and will likely not be cost effective for most folks.
Category 1 is for drones under 250 grams and they must have rotors that cannot cut human flesh. To fly over assemblies, the drone must have RID.
Category 2 must have rotors that cannot cut human flesh, be approved by the FAA as Cat 2 and bear a sticker that so states, not have an impact energy greater than 11 pound feet, and have RID to fly over assemblies.
Category 3 cannot fly over assemblies, cannot have an impact energy greater than 25 pound feet, must not have rotors that can cut human flesh, must have the Cat 3 sticker and related FAA approval. They also need RID. Then there are certain restrictive requirements to fly over people at all.
Read the new regs to get the full story.
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