Part 107, explained › Operations · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.
How do fatigue and stress affect a remote pilot?
Fatigue degrades attention and concentration, impairs coordination, and decreases the ability to communicate, which seriously affects decision-making. Chronic stress is a level that exceeds your ability to cope and makes performance fall sharply. If you are suffering from acute fatigue, do not operate a small UA; training and experience cannot overcome it.
Stress is the body’s response to physical and psychological demands: adrenaline is released and heart rate, respiration and blood pressure rise. Acute stress is short term and normally copeable, while chronic stress is a long-term burden. Pilots at that level "are not safe and should not exercise their airman privileges," and those who suspect chronic stress should consult a physician (FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9). Anxiety also aggravates hyperventilation, the excessive rate and depth of breathing that causes an abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood (FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 17).
Fatigue is frequently associated with pilot error. Acute fatigue is cured by rest after exertion and 8 hours of sound sleep; chronic fatigue is not relieved by diet and rest and usually requires a physician. The Study Guide says to avoid flying a small UA without a full night’s rest, after working excessive hours, or after an especially exhausting or stressful day (FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9). Use the IMSAFE checklist before flying; its medical and drug rules are on our 107.17 and 107.27 pages.
Sources: FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Stress and Fatigue · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Fatigue (continued) · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, Mitigating Risk (IMSAFE) · FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 17, Hyperventilation
What the FAA says
FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Fatigue
Some of the effects of fatigue include degradation of attention and concentration, impaired coordination, and decreased ability to communicate.
FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Fatigue
If suffering from acute fatigue, a remote pilot should not operate a small UA. If fatigue occurs during the operation of a small UA, no amount of training or experience can overcome the detrimental effects.
FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Stress
Chronic stress can be defined as a level of stress that presents an intolerable burden, exceeds the ability of an individual to cope, and causes individual performance to fall sharply.
FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, Mitigating Risk
Fatigue continues to be one of the most insidious hazards to flight safety, as it may not be apparent to a pilot until serious errors are made.
Sources: FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Fatigue · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Fatigue · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Stress · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, Mitigating Risk
Exam traps
- Fatigue may not be apparent to a pilot until serious errors are made.
- If fatigue occurs during operation, no amount of training or experience can overcome its detrimental effects.
- While the regulations list medical conditions that require grounding, stress is not among them, but the pilot should consider its effects on performance.
- Chronic fatigue is not relieved by proper diet and adequate rest and sleep, and usually requires treatment by a physician.
Quick quiz: 3 questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions. Each answer shows its FAA source.
Question 1 of 3
Why is fatigue hazardous to flight safety?
- A The pilot is lazy and rushes to get done quickly.
- B The pilot hurries to get done in order to rest.
- C Fatigue may not be apparent to a pilot until serious errors are made (an impaired pilot is a dangerous pilot).
Show the answer
Question 2 of 3
You are a remote pilot for a co-op energy service provider. You are to use your UA to inspect power lines in a remote area 10 hours away from your home office. After the drive, fatigue impacts your abilities to complete your assignment on time. Fatigue can be recognized
- A easily by an experienced pilot.
- B by an ability to overcome sleep deprivation.
- C as being in an impaired state.
Show the answer
Question 3 of 3
When a stressful situation is encountered in flight, an abnormal increase in the volume of air breathed in and out can cause a condition known as
- A Aerosinusitis.
- B Hyperventilation.
- C Aerotitis.
Show the answer
Answer: B. Hyperventilation.Stress can make a pilot subconsciously breathe faster and deeper; the result is an abnormal loss of carbon dioxide from the blood, called hyperventilation (FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 17). Aerosinusitis and aerotitis are caused by pressure changes in the sinuses and middle ear.
FAA source: FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 17, Hyperventilation (p. 17-4)
What is the difference between acute and chronic fatigue?
Acute fatigue is short term, a normal result of strenuous effort, excitement or lack of sleep, and rest plus 8 hours of sound sleep ordinarily cures it. Chronic fatigue extends over a long period and is not relieved by rest.
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Fatigue
What is a stressor?
A stressor is an element that causes an individual to experience stress. Examples include physical stress such as noise or vibration, physiological stress such as fatigue, and psychological stress such as difficult work or personal situations.
Source: FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 9, Stress
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More on this topic: Part 107 operations and decision-making.