What is Operating limits (general)?
Operating limits for Part 107 drones include 400 ft AGL altitude, 100 mph speed, 3 statute miles visibility, daylight or civil twilight (with night exception), VLOS, and 55 lb maximum takeoff weight.
The full operating envelope for Part 107 small unmanned aircraft, drawn from § 107.51, § 107.31, § 107.29, § 107.39, and related sections:
• Maximum takeoff weight: 55 pounds (25 kg) • Maximum altitude: 400 ft AGL (or 400 ft above a structure within 400 ft horizontally) • Maximum groundspeed: 100 mph (87 kts) • Minimum visibility: 3 statute miles • Cloud clearance: 500 ft below, 2,000 ft horizontal • Time of day: daylight, civil twilight (with anti-collision lighting), or night (with anti-collision lighting and post-2021 training) • Visual line of sight: maintained by pilot or visual observer, unaided • Over people: only if drone meets a category (1–4) under § 107.39 • From a moving vehicle: only over sparsely populated areas • Right of way: drone yields to all manned aircraft • Single drone per pilot: § 107.35 (multi-drone requires waiver)
These limits apply to commercial operation. Recreational pilots have similar limits under 49 USC 44809 and CBO guidelines.
What this means for pilots
Memorize the operating limits — they appear in nearly every FAA exam question and govern every flight. Most pilots intuit the well-known ones (400 ft, VLOS, daylight) but forget the visibility and cloud clearance requirements.
FAQ
Can I waive any of these limits?
Many — § 107.205 lists the waivable rules. Operating limits like altitude, VLOS, and over-people can all be waived with FAA approval.
Are recreational limits the same?
Mostly. 400 ft AGL, VLOS, daylight equivalent, TFR avoidance all apply. Some specifics (multi-drone, moving vehicle) follow CBO guidelines.
What about the 55-lb weight limit?
Drones over 55 lb fall outside Part 107 entirely — they need certification under FAA Part 91 or similar, which is a different regulatory regime.
Related terms
FAA regulations change. Verify current rules at faa.gov/uas before relying on this article for flight planning. Altoa is not the FAA.