Newbee thoughts about Trust vs 107

[1gratedulflyingdawg]

Hello again
Let me start out by saying I am terrible at test taking, I know it so that compounds the issue. I’m 70 so my test taking abilities I’m sure are diminished. With that said it seems like I really do need a 107 even though I have no intention of flying as a business. I like to help people and I could see myself using the drone to help someone as a friend even if I just met them and then find myself in deep trouble with only a Trust license and drone registration. With a 107 I can help who I want and have better knowledge than a Trust pilot. Does make sense?
I assume Drone Pilot Ground School is the place to go?

Anyone else a terrible test taker but made it through the 107?
Thanks

 

[mavic3usa]

Yeah, you gotta follow the rules; however, I don't think you'll find yourself in "deep trouble" for flying a drone trying to help a friend; that's not a thing (yet). Flying a drone is not a crime (yet). Good luck with your test, try the Pilot Institute.

 

[Cafguy]

For all the discussions you see on the Forum about regulations The truth is The FAA nor anyone else has the funds to fund a Drone goon squad lol. You are Flying under the Trust system here in the U.S. honestly, and unless you do something really stupid around a bunch of witnesses you will never see the FAA. Is it wrong to help your friends out a little with your drone Not really no But it all depends on what you are doing to help YES it is illegal for you to help your Buddy BUT Lets say you did, Would you get reported? Chances are NO BUT if a Local Drone operator with their 107 sees the nice add you helped your buddy make, you just may be in for a legal battle. I would not do it without a 107 its just too risky. Once again it depends on what you are doing as to if you will get reported or not.

 

[1gratedulflyingdawg]

For all the discussions you see on the Forum about regulations The truth is The FAA nor anyone else has the funds to fund a Drone goon squad lol. You are Flying under the Trust system here in the U.S. honestly, and unless you do something really stupid around a bunch of witnesses you will never see the FAA. Is it wrong to help your friends out a little with your drone Not really no But it all depends on what you are doing to help YES it is illegal for you to help your Buddy BUT Lets say you did, Would you get reported Chances are NO BUT if a Local Drone operator with their 107 sees the nice add you helped your buddy make, you just may be in for a legal battle I would not do it without a 107 its just too risky. Once again it depends on what you are doing as to if you will get reported or not.

Having a 107 protects me from myself.

 

[Cafguy]

The fines are HUGE and you also face the IRS in these cases. They seem to get a little miffed if you don't report income. If you did get reported . the FAA would probably forward it to the IRS...Never Know!

 

[mavic3usa]

Here are a couple of interesting stories about drone flights and the FAA; fwiw I believe the FAA called in response to these individuals being reported rather than the FAA being proactive:

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[hank970]

I'm strictly a recreational flyer, have no commercial aspirations, and I know better than to sell drone images, post videos on You Tube, or take pictures of my neighbor's roof in support of his insurance claim. I take pictures (mostly stills) from an aerial perspective for my own enjoyment as a photography enthusiast and to share with family and friends. I seldom, if ever, fly my drone purely for the joy of flying.

I have my Trust certificate and enrolled in a Part 107 course only because I thought it would better familiarize me with applicable regulations, constraints, and restrictions. It helps in that regard but also devotes a lot of time to topics that are of absolutely no interest or value to me. Because I'm content to stay five miles or more away from airports, do I really need to know about airport traffic patterns or how to decipher runway and taxiway signage and markings? Do I need to know about the various radio frequencies in use at airports or what class of airspace occurs at altitudes tens of thousands of feet higher than I'll ever operate a drone? Do I need to know the intricacies of the Bernoulli Principle and of weather phenomena? Do I need to memorize an airman's phonetic alphabet or know that pilots say niner instead of nine when communicating with control towers? Do I need to clutter my feeble mind with all of that trivia only because I might need to know it to pass an FAA exam? The answer is no. It's apparent to me that the knowledge required to obtain Part 107 certification far exceeds what I need to know to enjoy flying as a responsible recreational drone pilot.

 

[1gratedulflyingdawg]

Here are a couple of interesting stories about drone flights and the FAA; fwiw I believe the FAA called in response to these individuals being reported rather than the FAA being proactive:

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Thanks

 

[1gratedulflyingdawg]

I'm strictly a recreational flyer, have no commercial aspirations, and I know better than to sell drone images, post videos on You Tube, or take pictures of my neighbor's roof in support of his insurance claim. I take pictures (mostly stills) from an aerial perspective for my own enjoyment as a photography enthusiast and to share with family and friends. I seldom, if ever, fly my drone purely for the joy of flying.

I have my Trust certificate and enrolled in a Part 107 course only because I thought it would better familiarize me with applicable regulations, constraints, and restrictions. It helps in that regard but also devotes a lot of time to topics that are of absolutely no interest or value to me. Because I'm content to stay five miles or more away from airports, do I really need to know about airport traffic patterns or how to decipher runway and taxiway signage and markings? Do I need to know about the various radio frequencies in use at airports or what class of airspace occurs at altitudes tens of thousands of feet higher than I'll ever operate a drone? Do I need to know the intricacies of the Bernoulli Principle and of weather phenomena? Do I need to memorize an airman's phonetic alphabet or know that pilots say niner instead of nine when communicating with control towers? Do I need to clutter my feeble mind with all of that trivia only because I might need to know it to pass an FAA exam? The answer is no. It's apparent to me that the knowledge required to obtain Part 107 certification far exceeds what I need to know to enjoy flying as a responsible recreational drone pilot.

I really appreciate that perspective

 

[Cafguy]

I'm strictly a recreational flyer, have no commercial aspirations, and I know better than to sell drone images, post videos on You Tube, or take pictures of my neighbor's roof in support of his insurance claim. I take pictures (mostly stills) from an aerial perspective for my own enjoyment as a photography enthusiast and to share with family and friends. I seldom, if ever, fly my drone purely for the joy of flying.

I have my Trust certificate and enrolled in a Part 107 course only because I thought it would better familiarize me with applicable regulations, constraints, and restrictions. It helps in that regard but also devotes a lot of time to topics that are of absolutely no interest or value to me. Because I'm content to stay five miles or more away from airports, do I really need to know about airport traffic patterns or how to decipher runway and taxiway signage and markings? Do I need to know about the various radio frequencies in use at airports or what class of airspace occurs at altitudes tens of thousands of feet higher than I'll ever operate a drone? Do I need to know the intricacies of the Bernoulli Principle and of weather phenomena? Do I need to memorize an airman's phonetic alphabet or know that pilots say niner instead of nine when communicating with control towers? Do I need to clutter my feeble mind with all of that trivia only because I might need to know it to pass an FAA exam? The answer is no. It's apparent to me that the knowledge required to obtain Part 107 certification far exceeds what I need to know to enjoy flying as a responsible recreational drone pilot.

I will say studying and taking the 107 makes you a much much more knowledgeable pilot. Lets discuss some of these "not needed" things the 107 covers just for the heck of it.

do I really need to know about airport traffic patterns or how to decipher runway and taxiway signage and markings?

I'll give you the Taxiway markings one for sure but as a recreational pilot lets say you are flying near an airport maybe even an uncontrolled one, Off in the distance you ,see a cessna that you want to make sure you avoid.......Quik is that Cessna entering the pattern or taking off or perhaps joining from a 45 from unusual direction, This info would help you a bunch in deciding what to do. if the situation occurred.

Do I need to know about the various radio frequencies in use at airports or what class of airspace occurs at altitudes tens of thousands of feet higher than I'll ever operate a drone?

it does make you much more aware of what is happening around you. and having an aircraft radio to listen to can be quite handy if you know what the pilots are talking about. some companies require their 107 pilots to have aircraft radios in certain situations.

Do I need to know the intricacies of the Bernoulli Principle and of weather phenomena?

I will give you this one too but if you are a 107 operator weather planning can save you a bunch of time and money.

It's apparent to me that the knowledge required to obtain Part 107 certification far exceeds what I need to know to enjoy flying as a responsible recreational drone pilot.

Very true but to become a responsible, Educated pilot, I think the exam covers what will be expected of you as a commercial pilot. The ones I know are always having to take recurrent training in F.A.R.s.
As a recreational pilot The knowledge given in the 107 exam would be kinda ridiculous to expect the average recreational pilot to know. If you know this info tho, you are WAY ahead in the game.