What FAA Part 107 Certification Actually Means — and Why It Matters for Your Agency

If you've ever hired a drone operator and wondered whether the footage you received was legally captured, you're not alone. The commercial drone industry has a certification problem — there are operators out there flying without proper credentials, and the liability eventually lands on whoever commissioned the work.

What Is FAA Part 107?

Part 107 is the FAA's regulatory framework for commercial unmanned aircraft operations in the United States. To obtain a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, an operator must pass a knowledge test covering airspace classification, weather, emergency procedures, radio communication, and crew resource management.

This isn't a hobbyist certification. It's a commercial license. Flying commercially without it is a federal violation with fines up to $27,500 per incident.

Why It Matters for Agencies

When you hire a drone operator to shoot content for a client, you're the entity commissioning that work. If the operator is flying without a Part 107 certificate — or in restricted airspace without proper authorization — your agency is exposed.

Beyond legal risk, there's a practical one: uninsured, uncertified operators often can't get airspace authorization for urban or complex locations. That limits where and when you can shoot and can compromise entire production days.

What to Ask Before You Book

Verify three things before hiring any drone operator: their FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate number (verifiable on the FAA IACRA system), proof of liability insurance (a standard commercial policy covers $1M+), and their process for obtaining airspace authorizations through the FAA LAANC system.

How Lumin Aerial Handles This

Every pilot in the Lumin Aerial network is FAA Part 107 certified and carries commercial liability insurance. We handle all required airspace authorizations before any shoot. Agencies that work with us don't have to think about compliance — it's built into our process.

Learn more at luminaerial.com.