Part 107, explained · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.
What does a drone need for Category 2 operations over people?
It must be designed so it will not cause injury equal to or worse than a transfer of 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy from a rigid object, have no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate skin, and have no safety defects. It must also be on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance and labeled.
Sources: 14 CFR 107.115 · 14 CFR 107.120(a)
What the regulation says
§ 107.115 Category 2 operations: Operating requirements.
To conduct Category 2 operations—
(a) A remote pilot in command must use a small unmanned aircraft that— (1) Is eligible for Category 2 operations pursuant to § 107.120(a); (2) Is listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance as eligible for Category 2 operations in accordance with § 107.160; and (3) Is labeled as eligible to conduct Category 2 operations in accordance with § 107.120(b)(1).
Read all of § 107.115
(b) No remote pilot in command may operate a small unmanned aircraft in sustained flight over open-air assemblies of human beings unless the operation meets the requirements of either § 89.110 or § 89.115(a) of this chapter.
§ 107.120 Category 2 operations: Eligibility of small unmanned aircraft and other applicant requirements.
(a) To be eligible for use in Category 2 operations, the small unmanned aircraft must be designed, produced, or modified such that it— (1) Will not cause injury to a human being that is equivalent to or greater than the severity of injury caused by a transfer of 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact from a rigid object; (2) Does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact with a human being; and (3) Does not contain any safety defects.
(b) The applicant for a declaration of compliance for a small unmanned aircraft that is eligible for use in Category 2 operations in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, must meet all of the following requirements for the applicant's unmanned aircraft to be used in Category 2 operations: (1) Display a label on the small unmanned aircraft indicating eligibility to conduct Category 2 operations. The label must be in English and be legible, prominent, and permanently affixed to the small unmanned aircraft. (2) Have remote pilot operating instructions that apply to the operation of the small unmanned aircraft system. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must make available these instructions upon sale or transfer of the aircraft or use of the aircraft by someone other than the applicant who submitted a declaration of compliance pursuant to § 107.160. Such instructions must address, at a minimum— (i) A system description that includes the required small unmanned aircraft system components, any system limitations, and the declared category or categories of operation; (ii) Modifications that will not change the ability of the small unmanned aircraft system to meet the requirements for the category or categories of operation the small unmanned aircraft system is eligible to conduct; and (iii) Instructions for how to verify and change the mode or configuration of the small unmanned aircraft system, if they are variable. (3) Maintain a product support and notification process. The applicant for a declaration of compliance must maintain product support and notification procedures to notify the public and the FAA of— (i) Any defect or condition that causes the small unmanned aircraft to no longer meet the requirements of this subpart; and (ii) Any identified safety defect that causes the small unmanned aircraft to exceed a low probability of casualty.
AC 107-2A, 8.2 Category of Operations
Category 2 or 3 operations may only be conducted with small unmanned aircraft that fulfill performance-based safety requirements, which limit the risk and severity of injuries based on potential hazards.
Sources: 14 CFR 107.115 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 14 CFR 107.120 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · AC 107-2A, 8.2 Category of Operations
Exam traps
- The injury threshold for Category 2 is 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy; Category 3 uses 25.
- The aircraft must be listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance as eligible for Category 2 operations.
- The aircraft must carry a label in English that is legible, prominent and permanently affixed, indicating eligibility for Category 2.
- Sustained flight over open-air assemblies of human beings is allowed only if the operation meets 89.110 or 89.115(a).
Try it: practice questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions.
Practice question 1
To conduct Category 2 operations, the remote Pilot in Command must use a small Unmanned aircraft that
- A must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 11 ft-lb of kinetic energy.
- B must have an approved type certificate issued under Part 21.
- C must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 25 ft-lb of kinetic energy.
Show the answer
Answer: A. must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 11 ft-lb of kinetic energy.(To conduct Category 2 operations, the RPIC must use a small UA that: must not cause injury to a human being equivalent to 11 foot-pounds of kinetic energy upon impact, does not contain any exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skins upon impact. does not contain safety defects, is labeled as Category 2, is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance)
FAA source: 14 CFR 107.120(a)(1)
Practice question 2
You acquired a Category 2 sUAS and plan to use it to record video footage at weddings. Can you legally fly over the bride/groom during a private photo session?
- A Yes, as long as the bride and groom provided their written consent.
- B No, sustained flights over human beings are not allowed.
- C Yes, as long as the aircraft is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance.
Show the answer
Answer: C. Yes, as long as the aircraft is listed with an FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance.(As long as the aircraft has a listed Declaration of Compliance on the FAA website, you’re good to go and fly over small groups of people. Remote ID has not effect here, this requirement would only apply for flights being conducted over open air assembly. A couple does not qualify as open air assembly. While written consent is a good thing to have to cover yourself, it is not part of the regulation and not the most correct answer.)
FAA source: 14 CFR 107.115(a)(2)
Practice question 3
A Category 2 aircraft may conduct sustained flight over an open-air assembly of people only if
- A the operation meets the Remote ID requirements of 89.110 (standard Remote ID) or 89.115(a) (broadcast module).
- B every person in the assembly has given written consent.
- C never: Category 2 aircraft may not fly over open-air assemblies.
Show the answer
Answer: A. the operation meets the Remote ID requirements of 89.110 (standard Remote ID) or 89.115(a) (broadcast module).14 CFR 107.115(b): no sustained flight over open-air assemblies unless the operation meets 89.110 or 89.115(a). Categories 1 and 4 have the same condition (107.110(b), 107.140(a)(2)).
FAA sources: 14 CFR 107.115(b) · 14 CFR 107.125(b)
Who checks that the label and declaration of compliance are in place?
The remote pilot must make sure the aircraft is listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance as eligible for Category 2 and labeled as eligible. AC 107-2A says this can be checked on the FAA's DOC Portal and by inspecting the aircraft.
Source: AC 107-2A, 8.3.5.1