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Does merely having a Part 107 cert disqualify me from having a purely recreational drone that doesn't need to be registered? "
Drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are fundamentally changing aviation, and the FAA is committed to working to fully integrate drones into the National Airspace System (NAS). Safety and security are top priorities for the FAA and remote identification (remote ID) of drones is crucial to...
www.faa.gov
"All drone pilots required to register their UAS must operate their aircraft in accordance with the final rule on remote ID beginning September 16, 2023, which gives drone owners sufficient time to upgrade their aircraft."
The final rule:
48.15:
www.ecfr.gov
"No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for registration under
49 U.S.C. 44101-44103 unless one of the following criteria has been satisfied:
(a) The owner has registered and marked the aircraft in accordance with this part;
(b) The aircraft is operated exclusively in compliance with
49 U.S.C. 44809 and weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, including everything that is on board or otherwise attached to the aircraft; or
(c) The aircraft is an aircraft of the Armed Forces of the United States."
I read this as once a drone is registered, then it must comply with RID. The requirement is attached to a registered drone, not whether the pilot is part 107 certified. The word "exclusively" says you can't change your mind about that drone; once registered its registered.
I didn't find anything that says a part 107 pilot cannot fly recreationally. That's sensible; otherwise you would be requiring RID on nano drones flown indoors if a part 107 was the pilot. OTOH, just because I could not find it doesn't mean there isn't a different part 107 rule I don't know about.
Suggestion for all threads like this one: Only reference faa.gov or other FAA publications. there is much "expert" nonsense on the web.
Good luck!