Newbee thoughts about Trust vs 107

[Matt W]

You need a part 107 if you use the drone “in furtherance of a business” or if you are getting reimbursed for its use. You don’t need a license to “help a friend” whatever that means.

 

[Ted Warren]

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

I had bad grades in school but became pretty ( average) at multiple choice questions. I am 65 and passed (87%) the first go.
I did not pay for courses and studied 3 time a week for about a month. The test prep book cost 10 bucks and takes you through several mock tests that contain actual FAA questions. Fantastic book and the 107 experience is a great opportunity to learn to fly right.
Highly recommend getting a part 107.

 

[Cafguy]

You need a part 107 if you use the drone “in furtherance of a business” or if you are getting reimbursed for its use. You don’t need a license to “help a friend” whatever that means.

A part 107 is needed to help a friend in any way. When you "Help a Friend" You are providing a service. You cannot do that without a 107 cert. As a recreational pilot the intent of your flight must be personal and that personal intent can have no value. (You can't inspect your own roof for the roofers!).

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

I had bad grades in school but became pretty ( average) at multiple choice questions. I am 65 and passed (87%) the first go.
I did not pay for courses and studied 3 time a week for about a month. The test prep book cost 10 bucks and takes you through several mock tests that contain actual FAA questions. Fantastic book and the 107 experience is a great opportunity to learn to fly right.
Highly recommend getting a part 107.

Thanks

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

You need a part 107 if you use the drone “in furtherance of a business” or if you are getting reimbursed for its use. You don’t need a license to “help a friend” whatever that means.

Well let’s say my friends tortoise escaped, I could use my drone to help my friend.

 

[mavic3usa]

Well let’s say my friends tortoise escaped, I could use my drone to help my friend.

I'll explain it the way I understand it simply so that we don't have to go thru a bunch of scenarios. *ALL* drone flights require a part 107 *except* if you are strictly flying for fun.

Helping my friend is not equal to flying for fun so it would require a part 107. It doesn't matter what you do with your drone, it's the intent of your flight. Only if you intend to fly for fun; otherwise.....part 107.

There isn't two buckets (commercial vs recreational) where you try to parse and split hairs over which is which. There's one bucket, it's part 107, and everybody is in it. There's only one way to come out of it: fly strictly for fun.

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

I'll explain it the way I understand it simply so that we don't have to go thru a bunch of scenarios. *ALL* drone flights require a part 107 *except* if you are strictly flying for fun.

Helping my friend is not equal to flying for fun so it would require a part 107. It doesn't matter what you do with your drone, it's the intent of your flight. Only if you intend to fly for fun; otherwise.....part 107.

There isn't two buckets (commercial vs recreational) where you try to parse and split hairs over which is which. There's one bucket, it's part 107, and everybody is in it. There's only one way to come out of it: fly strictly for fun.

Thanks. I was trying to be funny and obviously failed miserably.

 

[Matt W]

Well let’s say my friends tortoise escaped, I could use my drone to help my friend.

I think the best way to solve this issue is to read the FAA website. It would seem that flying even as non profit, not for yourself for whatever reason, including tortoise wrangling, requires a Part 107.

Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations | Federal Aviation Administration

Did your drone registration expire or does it expire soon? The DroneZone is the FAA's official website for registration. If you are having trouble logging into the DroneZone, you may need to reset your password (PDF).

www.faa.gov

 

[Ms Ivy]

Having a 107 protects me from myself.

Exactly, Too protect myself, from myself. is why I have a 107 as well.
But I have a trust cert as well for the giggle of it. right up until last year you needed a commercial drone certificate for North Carolina as well. But thankfully reason won out and they did away with that requirement.
each state enforces the drone laws differently. crazy But I always check the NOTAM and Aloft fr the area I am flying in
UVA coach has a helpful website as well. Where to Fly Your Drone (Organized by City and State) - UAV Coach

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

You need a part 107 if you use the drone “in furtherance of a business” or if you are getting reimbursed for its use. You don’t need a license to “help a friend” whatever that means.

If my friend wants me to look at his roof that is not recreational and as such requires a part 107. Intent of flight

 

[Fat Pappy]

Unless you are just boring holes in the sky just for the heck of it, you need a 107. I wanted to get some shots for our church web site - pro bono - needs a 107. I wanted to inspect my motohome roof, needs a 107. I discussed these scenarios with the FSDO and was told that these exact activities require a 107 and that ignoring that can result in hefty fines and the revocation of my private pilot license. I got the 107.

Yes, some of the topics covered in the 107 test are a bit out of the scope of drone operations. Then again, if you are flying in the Rockies, you just might want to know what lenticular clouds signify. As for NOTAMS, they do very much apply to drone ops. There is currently a NOTAM specifically for no drones over Los Angeles during the riots. Indianapolis and Cincinnati have drone-related NOTAMS for festivals this weekend. Ignoring those could get you in a heap of trouble.

Is getting the 107 worth the time and effort? I say it is because you will not have to examine every flight from the perspective of how someone else could construe it to be other than a pleasure flight. You will also learn some things along the way. You can also find your friend’s turtle or get some pics of his tree or roof without worrying about the intent of the flight.

Now, were the topic should the definition of flights covered under the exception be different …

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

Unless you are just boring holes in the sky just for the heck of it, you need a 107. I wanted to get some shots for our church web site - pro bono - needs a 107. I wanted to inspect my motohome roof, needs a 107. I discussed these scenarios with the FSDO and was told that these exact activities require a 107 and that ignoring that can result in hefty fines and the revocation of my private pilot license. I got the 107.

Yes, some of the topics covered in the 107 test are a bit out of the scope of drone operations. Then again, if you are flying in the Rockies, you just might want to know what lenticular clouds signify. As for NOTAMS, they do very much apply to drone ops. There is currently a NOTAM specifically for no drones over Los Angeles during the riots. Indianapolis and Cincinnati have drone-related NOTAMS for festivals this weekend. Ignoring those could get you in a heap of trouble.

Is getting the 107 worth the time and effort? I say it is because you will not have to examine every flight from the perspective of how someone else could construe it to be other than a pleasure flight. You will also learn some things along the way. You can also find your friend’s turtle or get some pics of his tree or roof without worrying about the intent of the flight.

Now, were the topic should the definition of flights covered under the exception be different …

I have decided to pass the part 107 with the help of PI.

 

[hank970]

Photography is one of my passions. I do it for my personal enjoyment and don't aspire to sell my work or take photographs for anyone else, though I sometimes share results with friends. For me, it's a recreational pursuit. I bought and fly a camera drone only to gain different perspectives from those available to me on the ground. It's an adjunct to my hobby -- a strictly recreational activity. I don't believe I need a Part 107 license for that. Neither do I need a Part 107 license to know and comply with the rules. to check NOTAMs, or to gauge the state of the weather in the Rockies (I sent my drone aloft for some photos above 10,666-foot Vail Pass on I-70 just two weeks ago on my way home from a high school graduation in Denver).

But maybe I'm wrong. How, exactly, does the FAA define "recreational?"

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

Photography is one of my passions. I do it for my personal enjoyment and don't aspire to sell my work or take photographs for anyone else, though I sometimes share results with friends. For me, it's a recreational pursuit. I bought and fly a camera drone only to gain different perspectives from those available to me on the ground. It's an adjunct to my hobby -- a strictly recreational activity. I don't believe I need a Part 107 license for that. Neither do I need a Part 107 license to know and comply with the rules. to check NOTAMs, or to gauge the state of the weather in the Rockies (I sent my drone aloft for some photos above 10,666-foot Vail Pass on I-70 just two weeks ago on my way home from a high school graduation in Denver).

But maybe I'm wrong. How, exactly, does the FAA define "recreational?"

What is the pilots flight intent? Technically if you are looking at your homes roof for possible hail damage that requires a part 107, technically speaking. At least from what I have learned, maybe someone will correct me.

 

[Fat Pappy]

Photography is one of my passions. I do it for my personal enjoyment and don't aspire to sell my work or take photographs for anyone else, though I sometimes share results with friends. For me, it's a recreational pursuit. I bought and fly a camera drone only to gain different perspectives from those available to me on the ground. It's an adjunct to my hobby -- a strictly recreational activity. I don't believe I need a Part 107 license for that. Neither do I need a Part 107 license to know and comply with the rules. to check NOTAMs, or to gauge the state of the weather in the Rockies (I sent my drone aloft for some photos above 10,666-foot Vail Pass on I-70 just two weeks ago on my way home from a high school graduation in Denver).

But maybe I'm wrong. How, exactly, does the FAA define "recreational?"

For what you outline, it sounds recreational to me. THBS, if a shared photo finds its way into a friend’s youtube video, the FAA may disagree. For me, it just wasn’t worth the hassle to not have the 107. YMMV.

 

[mavic3usa]

Hopefully AI will change everything and help people to change their mind about how they view "evidence." I understand for many folks it takes a legal case or a legal situation to understand what motivates a government entity to take action but shortly, it will be impossible for the FAA to use a photo or a video to do anything without a search warrant, not that they ever took such action in the first place. However, perhaps now the citizens can realize the same.

The FAA is responsible for aircraft flights and flight safety. The FAA has no legitimate enforcement business on YouTube (without a warrant); none.

 

[hank970]

What is the pilots flight intent? Technically if you are looking at your homes roof for possible hail damage that requires a part 107, technically speaking. At least from what I have learned, maybe someone will correct me.

I think you're absolutely right. It's all about intent, and yes, to be compliant with FAA regulations, you'd need a Part 107 license to deploy a drone to inspect a roof, shoot a free promotional video for a church or charitable organization, or hunt for a friend's lost dog. There aren't any regulatory exceptions for altruism.

I'm amused by the recurring chatter on this site about inspecting roofs with drones. There are better ways to inspect a roof and, unless one's a professional roofer, other reasons to want a Part 107 license. If I wanted to inspect the roof on my modest home, I'd climb up there with a ladder -- something I do anyway, every spring and fall, to service my evaporative cooler. Of course, I'm only 83 years old and acknowledge that someone younger or older might not feel comfortable doing that.

A daughter's tile roof sustained damage in a Denver hailstorm a year ago. Some of the contractors who submitted bids used drones to inspect her roof, and others did it the old-fashioned way. Invariably, the guys who climbed up to walk around and inspect her roof in person were able to identify and document far more evidence of damage than the drone operators. She and her insurance adjuster ultimately chose one of them to totally replace her roof.