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Part 107 vs TRUST: which rules apply to your drone flight
Fly purely for fun and you take the free TRUST test under the recreational exception. Fly for work, business or any non-recreational purpose and you fly under Part 107, which needs the remote pilot certificate. The FAA says compensation is not the only test, and when in doubt you should assume Part 107.
What is the difference between Part 107 and TRUST?
| Part 107 | Recreational (TRUST) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | 14 CFR Part 107 | 49 U.S.C. 44809, limited recreational exception |
| Credential | Remote pilot certificate (UAG knowledge test) | TRUST completion, proof carried while flying |
| Cost of credential | PSI sets the test fee | Free, online |
| Purpose of flight | Work, business, goodwill and other non-recreational flying | Purely recreational |
| Aircraft under 55 lb | Yes, the rule covers small UAS under 55 lb | Recreational rules have their own limits |
| Registration | Required for the aircraft, every weight | Required above about 0.55 lb (250 grams) |
| Keeping current | Recurrent training every 24 calendar months | See the FAA TRUST page for its own rules |
Sources (checked 2026-11-12): FAA: Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations; FAA: Become a Certificated Remote Pilot.
How do I decide which one applies to a flight?
Ask in this order, and stop at the first yes:
- Is the flight for work, a business, a service or a non-profit's benefit? Then it is non-recreational, and for almost all such flights under 55 lb the rule is Part 107.
- Is it purely for personal enjoyment? Then the recreational exception can apply, if you meet all its conditions.
- Still unsure? The FAA says to assume Part 107 and meet all of its requirements.
The FAA also lists a third group: complex commercial operations, agricultural operations and government flights (Public Aircraft Operations) may be flown under a waiver to 14 CFR Part 91 and, as applicable, other rules. Its examples of non-recreational Part 91 flights include commercial beyond-visual-line-of-sight package delivery, agricultural spraying, law enforcement event monitoring and wildfire response support. For a person who wants to start a drone photography or inspection business, Part 107 is the path. Source: FAA: Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations, checked 2026-11-14.
Is a flight recreational just because I am not paid?
No. The FAA states that compensation, or the lack of it, does not decide whether a flight is recreational. Taking photos to help sell a property, roof inspections and photographing a school football game for its website are listed as non-recreational Part 107 examples, and volunteering to survey a coastline for a non-profit can count too. Source: FAA: Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations, checked 2026-11-12.
Worked example
Five flights, sorted
| Flight | Which rule? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Photographing a neighbor's house to help them sell it, no fee | Part 107 | The FAA lists photos to help sell a property as non-recreational, paid or not |
| A volunteer shoots a coastline survey for a conservation group | Part 107 | The FAA lists goodwill, such as a survey for a non-profit, as non-recreational |
| Filming a high school football game for the school website | Part 107 | Listed by the FAA as a non-recreational example |
| Flying a small drone at a park to enjoy it, and keeping the footage for yourself | Recreational exception | Purely personal enjoyment, if the recreational conditions are met |
| Spraying a field for a farm customer | Part 91 (waiver) | The FAA lists agricultural spraying as a non-recreational Part 91 example |
The first, second and third rows are the ones people get wrong, because no one gets paid. Each fails the "purely recreational" test, so each falls under Part 107 and needs a remote pilot certificate.
What are the rules for recreational flyers?
The FAA lists these conditions for flying under the recreational exception (49 U.S.C. 44809), summarized from its recreational flyers page (checked 2026-11-14):
- Fly only for recreational purposes (personal enjoyment).
- Follow the safety guidelines of an FAA-recognized community-based organization (CBO).
- Keep the drone within visual line of sight, or use a visual observer who is co-located and in direct communication with you.
- Give way to and do not interfere with other aircraft.
- In controlled airspace (Class B, C, D and surface Class E designated for an airport), fly at or below FAA-authorized altitudes and only with prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone.
- Fly at or below 400 feet in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace.
- Take TRUST and carry proof of passage while flying.
- Have a current FAA registration where one is required, mark the drone with the number, and carry proof of registration.
The page adds that as of September 16, 2023, a drone that needs a registration number must also broadcast Remote ID, unless flown inside a Federally-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA). See also Remote ID for Part 107 pilots. Source: FAA: Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations.
What is TRUST, and how do I take it?
TRUST is the Recreational UAS Safety Test that Congress required for recreational flyers. The FAA says all approved test administrators offer it free, online, and all questions are correctable to 100 percent before the completion certificate is issued. You download, save or print the certificate. The test administrators do not keep a record of it, and the FAA says that if you lose the certificate you need to retake TRUST. You must show a copy if law enforcement officers ask. The FAA page lists the approved administrators and was last updated August 21, 2026 when we checked. Source: FAA: The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), checked 2026-11-14.
How do the operating limits compare?
| Topic | Part 107 (14 CFR 107.51) | Recreational exception (FAA page) |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 400 ft AGL, or within a 400 ft radius of a structure and no higher than 400 ft above its uppermost limit | At or below 400 ft in Class G; at or below FAA-authorized altitudes in controlled airspace |
| Visibility and clouds | At least 3 statute miles flight visibility; 500 ft below and 2,000 ft horizontally from clouds | Visual line of sight; the FAA page does not list numeric weather minimums |
| Groundspeed | Not above 87 knots (100 mph) | Not listed on the FAA page |
| Controlled airspace | Authorization from ATC (see the LAANC guide) | Prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone |
| Proof you carry | Remote pilot certificate easily accessible | TRUST certificate, plus registration proof where required |
Where the table says the FAA page does not list a limit, that only describes that page; other rules can still apply to you, so do not read a blank as permission. Part 107 numbers are from eCFR 107.51, checked 2026-11-14.
Does registration depend on the rule I fly under?
Yes. The 0.55 lb registration exception in 14 CFR 48.15(b) applies only to aircraft flown exclusively under the recreational statute, and only if the aircraft weighs 0.55 pounds or less on takeoff, including everything on board or attached. A 0.5 lb drone used for paid Part 107 work must be registered, and registered aircraft must meet a Remote ID option. See Remote ID for Part 107 pilots. Source: eCFR 48.15, checked 2026-11-14.
Worked example
A 0.5 lb drone, two uses
Say a 0.5 lb drone, with its battery and camera, weighs 0.50 lb at takeoff. Flown only for fun, it fits the 48.15(b) exception and does not need registration. Use the same drone once to photograph a house for a realtor and it is no longer flown exclusively under the recreational statute, so 48.15(b) no longer applies and you register it, and the Remote ID requirement follows. The weight did not change; the purpose did.
Can TRUST be used for Part 107 work?
No. TRUST is the recreational requirement. Operating under Part 107 needs the remote pilot certificate, and that path starts with the UAG knowledge test. Read how to get the certificate. The test's content is broader than TRUST's, and it covers regulations, airspace, weather, loading, operations and more.
What if I want to move from recreational flying to Part 107?
- Create an IACRA profile to get an FTN.
- Book the UAG test with PSI (see test day) and study with the plan here.
- Finish Form 8710-13 in IACRA, clear the TSA check and print your temporary certificate.
- Register the drone if it is not already, and meet a Remote ID option.
- Keep current with the free FAA course every 24 calendar months (recurrent training).
What are some common questions about which rule applies?
I run a hobby channel. Which rule applies? The FAA says compensation, or the lack of it, does not settle the question and that when in doubt you should assume Part 107. Its recreational page also offers a short tool to help you work out what kind of drone user you are, and points to Advisory Circular 91-57D for the recreational exception. If your flying serves a business or a service, the safe reading is Part 107.
Can a recreational flyer fly near an airport? Only with prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone when the flight is in Class B, C, D or surface Class E airspace designated for an airport, and the FAA says to fly within visual line of sight and give way to other aircraft.
Do both groups have to check for TFRs? Anyone flying in the National Airspace System is responsible for knowing the rules. The FAA says you must always check NOTAMs before your flight, and notes that B4UFLY, its app for recreational flyers, shows TFRs. See the TFR guide.
Source: FAA: Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations and FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions, checked 2026-11-14.
Free practice questions on this topic
3 original questions from the Sectional Cue bank. Try each one, then open the answer.
Part 107 applicability
1. Section 107.1 lists operations to which Part 107 does not apply. Which is on that list?
- Air carrier operations
- Operations at night
- Operations in Class B airspace
Show answer and explanation
A. Air carrier operations
Under 14 CFR 107.1(b)(1), Part 107 does not apply to air carrier operations. Night flight is allowed under Part 107 with the conditions in 107.29, so it remains a Part 107 operation. Class B flights also stay under Part 107 and need ATC authorization under 107.41.
Source: 14 CFR 107.1(b)(1)
Recreational exception
2. A certificated remote pilot goes flying purely for fun on a weekend. Which statement is correct?
- After earning a remote pilot certificate, every flight must be flown under Part 107
- The pilot may fly under the recreational exception if every condition of 49 U.S.C. 44809 is met
- Personal flights by a certificated pilot are exempt from both sets of rules
Show answer and explanation
B. The pilot may fly under the recreational exception if every condition of 49 U.S.C. 44809 is met
Holding a remote pilot certificate does not take away the option to fly recreationally under 49 U.S.C. 44809, and Part 107 does not apply to aircraft subject to 44809 under 107.1(b)(2). The pilot can also choose to fly under Part 107. No rule exempts personal flights from both frameworks.
Source: 14 CFR 107.1(b)(2); 49 U.S.C. 44809(a)
Registration and Remote ID
3. A pilot uses a 0.5 lb drone for paid event photos under Part 107. Which statement is correct?
- It must be registered, and as a registered aircraft it must meet a Part 89 Remote ID option
- It needs neither registration nor Remote ID because it weighs 0.55 lb or less
- It must be registered but is exempt from Remote ID because it is under 0.55 lb
Show answer and explanation
A. It must be registered, and as a registered aircraft it must meet a Part 89 Remote ID option
The 0.55 lb registration exception in 48.15(b) applies only to aircraft flown exclusively under the recreational statute, so a drone used for paid Part 107 work must be registered. Section 89.105 applies Remote ID to unmanned aircraft that are registered or required to be registered, and there is no separate weight exception for those aircraft. So the drone needs standard Remote ID, a broadcast module or a FRIA.
Source: 14 CFR 48.15; 14 CFR 89.105
Related guides
- How to get a Part 107 remote pilot certificate
- Remote ID for Part 107 pilots
- Part 107 operating rules: altitude, speed, visibility and clouds
- Drone registration for Part 107 pilots: who, how much, how long
- All Part 107 guides
Study the charts on your phone
Sectional Cue has 1150+ original questions with explanations, 27 FAA figures you can tap to read, and timed 60-question rehearsals. About 152 questions and three chart lessons are free.
Sources
- FAA: Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations, checked 2026-11-14
- 14 CFR Part 107 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-14
- 14 CFR 48.15 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-14
- 14 CFR 107.51 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-14
- FAA: The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), checked 2026-11-14
How this page was made: written by Certloom Learning from the sources above, with the rules checked against the current regulation text. Practice items are original questions from the app's reviewed bank. Spot an error? certloomlearning@gmail.com.