Part 107, explained › Operations · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.
What is the best way to scan the sky for other aircraft?
In daylight, use a series of short, regularly spaced eye movements that bring successive areas of the sky into central vision. Each movement should not exceed 10 degrees, and each sector should be observed for at least 1 second. At night, switch to off-center viewing and scan slowly instead of staring at one spot.
The handbook adds that each pilot should develop the scanning pattern that is most comfortable and then stick to it, and that even a pilot entitled to the right-of-way should yield if another aircraft seems too close (FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 14). Under Part 107 the duty is yours: the small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all aircraft (14 CFR 107.37(a)), and the remote PIC, the person manipulating the controls, or a visual observer must be able to see the aircraft and observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards (14 CFR 107.31).
At night the day method fails because the center of your vision has a blind spot. Scan from right to left or left to right, with each stop covering an area about 30 degrees wide, and do not hold any stop longer than 2 to 3 seconds. Once you detect something, keep watching it by looking 10 degrees to either side, above or below it, for no more than 2 to 3 seconds at each position (FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 17). How the eyes adapt to darkness has its own page, and the right-of-way rule is on our 107.37 page.
Sources: FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 14, Collision Avoidance · FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 17, Night Vision · 14 CFR 107.37 · 14 CFR 107.31
What the regulation says
§ 107.31 Visual line of sight aircraft operation.
(a) With vision that is unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, the remote pilot in command, the visual observer (if one is used), and the person manipulating the flight control of the small unmanned aircraft system must be able to see the unmanned aircraft throughout the entire flight in order to: (1) Know the unmanned aircraft's location; (2) Determine the unmanned aircraft's attitude, altitude, and direction of flight; (3) Observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards; and (4) Determine that the unmanned aircraft does not endanger the life or property of another.
(b) Throughout the entire flight of the small unmanned aircraft, the ability described in paragraph (a) of this section must be exercised by either: (1) The remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls of the small unmanned aircraft system; or (2) A visual observer.
§ 107.37 Operation near aircraft; right-of-way rules.
(a) Each small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all aircraft, airborne vehicles, and launch and reentry vehicles. Yielding the right of way means that the small unmanned aircraft must give way to the aircraft or vehicle and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear.
(b) No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft so close to another aircraft as to create a collision hazard.
FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 14, Collision Avoidance
Effective scanning is accomplished with a series of short, regularly spaced eye movements that bring successive areas of the sky into the central visual field. Each movement should not exceed 10°, and each should be observed for at least 1 second to enable detection.
FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 17, Night Vision
Off-center viewing is another type of scan that pilots can use during night flying. It is a technique that requires an object be viewed by looking 10° above, below, or to either side of the object.
14 CFR 107.37(a)
Each small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all aircraft, airborne vehicles, and launch and reentry vehicles.
Sources: 14 CFR 107.31 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · 14 CFR 107.37 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-21) · FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 14, Collision Avoidance · FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 17, Night Vision · 14 CFR 107.37(a)
Exam traps
- Daytime scanning uses eye movements that do not exceed 10 degrees, with each sector observed for at least 1 second.
- The night technique is different: off-center viewing, looking 10 degrees above, below or to the side of the object, with no stop longer than 2 to 3 seconds.
- A small unmanned aircraft must yield the right of way to all aircraft, and may not pass over, under, or ahead of one unless well clear.
- Even if entitled to the right-of-way, a pilot should yield if another aircraft seems too close.
Quick quiz: 3 questions
Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions. Each answer shows its FAA source.
Question 1 of 3
The most effective method of scanning for other aircraft for collision avoidance during daylight hours is to use
- A peripheral vision by scanning small sectors and utilizing off-center viewing.
- B a series of short, regularly spaced eye movements to search each 10-degree sector.
- C regularly spaced concentration on the 3-, 9-, and 12-o’clock positions.
Show the answer
Question 2 of 3
Which technique should a remote pilot use to scan for traffic? A remote pilot should
- A concentrate on relative movement detected in the peripheral vision area.
- B systematically focus on different segments of the sky for short intervals.
- C continuously scan the sky from right to left.
Show the answer
Question 3 of 3
Eye movements during daytime collision avoidance scanning should
- A not exceed 10 degrees and view each sector at least 1 second.
- B use peripheral vision by scanning small sectors and utilizing off-center viewing.
- C be 30 degrees and view each sector for at least 3 seconds.
Show the answer
Who has to watch for other aircraft during a drone flight?
The ability to see the aircraft and observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards must be exercised by the remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls, or by a visual observer.
Source: 14 CFR 107.31
Why is scanning most important near an airport?
The handbook says the pilot can contribute to collision avoidance by being alert and scanning for other aircraft, and that this is particularly important in the vicinity of an airport.
Source: FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 14
Practice this with the UAV Campus AI Flight Instructor
It quizzes you on questions like these, explains why each answer is right with the FAA page behind it, and retests the ones you miss. Free to start: 300 credits every month.
More on this topic: Part 107 operations and decision-making.