This is another of my How-to articles that could be useful if you are thinking of getting a drone for fun or for profit. This came to mind because it is exactly two years since I first took (and passed) my Drone Pilot’s exam (known as Part 107) and I needed to take a mandatory refresher course and exam.
You can fly a drone for pleasure without going to the trouble and expense of taking this exam. But if you want to use the drone commercially in any way – that means if someone gives you a gift for photographing their house, you take a commission from a realtor to help sell a home with some aerial photos, or if you simply want to create and sell prints of local beauty spots, then you do need a license. This is actually a pretty complex piece of learning to be honest – I think I spent a couple of weeks reading first the FAA regulations in this area and then various blogs and sites giving more advanced tuition on subjects to be covered. The ability to read air maps was perhaps the hardest to learn, but it is critical to knowing where you can safely fly in the vicinity of an airport and when you need permission from the local tower to fly your drone. What you learn is when and where you can safely fly a drone and how to manage it (and yourself) to avoid any accidents. You certainly don’t want to do this:
The written exam is held at a local airport and lasts around 2 hours and so the pressure is certainly high. I did pass mine the first time and created a composite to celebrate:
This isn’t, of course, the real me in the jacket! I think it came from the film Maverick and it just has my head attached!
After two years, you originally had to repeat a simplified written test at the airport but thank goodness that was changed last year and now you take an online course (about 2 hours) and then take a test at the end of it. If you pass, you get a certificate to continue flying!
If you want to learn anything more about this new recurrent training and test, just ask in the comments below or via my contact page.
Louis Dallara
12 Feb 2022Great job on the 107, some day I might need your help.
admin
12 Feb 2022Thanks Louis – feel free to ask!
Bill
12 Feb 2022Good of you to clear the “recurrent” part up for people. I’ve seen quite a few posts elsewhere asking about what to do and/or unsure of the changes.
I am still a good while away from my Part 107 – so I’ll have two years plus a couple of months before I do the recurrent training/testing. Once I take a Biennial Flight Review to bring my Private Pilot license back to being current I will do the online training and test for my Part 107. I am looking forward to that – but am also having a great time on vacation here in Myrtle Beach.
admin
12 Feb 2022Thanks Bill – it should be easier starting from an existing pilot knowledge base. The area that I have the most difficulty with is all the complexity about air maps and there were quite a number of questions in the original exam just on that topic. I’ll also add your website to my “follow” list to allow you to get a proper link that might be useful to you.
Steve
Bill Swartwout
12 Sep 2022I apologize for not following up. It worked out to be less expensive for me to take an online (review) course. I went with Pilot Institute – completed the program in a week – signed up for the testing center at Dover Air Force Base. Passes the test on May 24th. I was issued the Temporary Certificate later that evening when I applied online and received the actual license about seven weeks later.
If anyone else is looking for good training I do highly recommend the Pilot Institute course. It isn’t cheap – but it is excellent.