How to Legally Fly Your Drone at Night Under the FAA's New Rules - Drone Pilot Ground School (2024)

FAQs

How to Legally Fly Your Drone at Night Under the FAA's New Rules - Drone Pilot Ground School? ›

As of April 6th, 2021, you no longer need to apply for the Part 107.29 Daylight Operations waiver to fly your drone at night. You'll still need to have anti-collision lights on your drone and will need to be tested to understand how flying your drone at night presents unique challenges.

As of April 6th, 2021, you no longer need to apply for the Part 107.29 Daylight Operations waiver to fly your drone at night. You'll still need to have anti-collision lights on your drone and will need to be tested to understand how flying your drone at night presents unique challenges.

Can a recreational drone fly at night? Yes, there is nothing restricting a non-recreational or recreational person from flying at night. You just comply with either 14 CFR 107.29 or 49 USC 44809.

For example, the FAA requires that drones operating at night must be equipped with anti-collision lights visible from at least three statute miles away.

Drones operated at night must have appropriate lighting to ensure they are visible and can be safely navigated. Anti-Collision Lights: Drones must be equipped with anti-collision lights visible from at least 3 nautical miles.

You can fly at night as long as there is enough "lighting" around for you to be able to see where your flying.

Look for Lights

Drones are required to have blinking or strobing lights to make them visible at night. These drone lights are usually white, red, or green. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) mandates that these lights must must be visible for at least three miles and flash between 40-100 times per minute.

The Operations Over People rule became effective on April 21, 2021. Drone pilots operating under Part 107 may fly at night, over people and moving vehicles without a waiver as long as they meet the requirements defined in the rule.

Radar can detect drones with a larger RCS at a greater distance that a drone with a small RCS. Typically, radar systems can detect drones up to 1 mile away for a Phantom 4 Size drone. The range is affected by Drone size. Radar detection range is also slightly affected by weather conditions like rain and fog.

Drone pilots operating under Part 107 may fly at night, over people and moving vehicles without a waiver as long as they meet the requirements defined in the rule. Airspace authorizations are still required for night operations in controlled airspace under 400 feet.

Does the FAA enforce drone laws? ›

The FAA also has a number of enforcement tools available including warning notices, letters of correction, and civil penalties. The FAA may take enforcement action against anyone who conducts an unauthorized UAS operation or operates a UAS in a way that endangers the safety of the national airspace system.

(b) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft system during periods of civil twilight unless the small unmanned aircraft has lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision.

Drone pilots operating under Part 107 may fly at night, over people and moving vehicles without a waiver as long as they meet the requirements defined in the rule.

1-hour drone delivery is available 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. every day, during favorable weather conditions. At this time, we don't offer drone delivery at night or during heavy winds.