Rules
Temporary flight restrictions and drones
TFRs and similar flight restrictions are published by NOTAM, and 14 CFR 107.47 requires a remote pilot in command to comply with 91.137 through 91.145 and 99.7. Always check TFRs and NOTAMs before each flight, since a TFR can be issued for any event.
What does 107.47 say?
The whole rule is one sentence: a person acting as remote pilot in command must comply with the provisions of 14 CFR 91.137 through 91.145 and 99.7. Those sections are the manned-aircraft flight restriction rules, and 107.47 makes them yours. Typical causes are incident areas, disaster relief, space launches, presidential and other public-figure movement and large events. Source: eCFR 107.47, checked 2026-11-12; the quoted wording was rechecked 2026-11-14.
What are some TFR examples on the test?
| Situation | Rule area |
|---|---|
| Hazard on the surface, disaster relief, or unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft above an incident or event of high public interest | 91.137(a)(1) to (3) |
| National disaster areas in Hawaii | 91.138 |
| Emergency air traffic rules | 91.139 |
| Space operations areas | 91.143 |
| Presidential and other public-figure movements | 91.141 |
| Aerial demonstrations and major sporting events | 91.145 |
| Special security instructions in an ADIZ or Defense Area; the standing stadium restriction is issued under this part | 99.7 and FDC NOTAM 4/3621 |
Sources (checked 2026-11-12): FAA TFR list; 14 CFR 107.47 (eCFR).
Rechecked 2026-11-14 against the eCFR: 91.137(a) lists three reasons for a TFR NOTAM: to protect persons and property from a hazard associated with an incident on the surface, to give disaster relief aircraft a safe environment, and to prevent an unsafe congestion of sightseeing and other aircraft above an incident or event that may generate a high degree of public interest. Section 91.145 names events such as the Blue Angels, the Thunderbirds, the Olympic Games, the Indianapolis 500 and the World Series as examples, and lets the FAA add other aerial demonstrations or sporting events it decides need a restriction. The standing stadium restriction (stadiums seating 30,000 or more during MLB, NFL, NCAA Division I football games and major motor speedway events) is carried in FDC NOTAM 4/3621; read the current NOTAM text for its radius, altitude and hours. Check the FAA TFR list and current NOTAMs before you fly near a stadium.
Who can fly inside a TFR?
It depends on the section that created the TFR. Under 91.137(b), when the NOTAM is for a surface hazard, no person may operate an aircraft in the area unless it is participating in hazard relief and flown under the direction of the official in charge of on-scene emergency response. Disaster relief and sightseeing-congestion TFRs have their own lists of exceptions, such as aircraft on an ATC-approved IFR flight plan, aircraft carrying law enforcement or accredited news representatives with a filed flight plan, or flights directly to or from an airport inside the area that are not made to watch the event. None of those exceptions describe a remote pilot flying a drone for a client, so a drone pilot who is not part of the response generally stays out (eCFR 91.137, checked 2026-11-14).
The FAA's TFR page adds the practical route: public safety agencies, first responders and organizations such as media may be eligible for approval, and the way to ask is the Special Governmental Interest (SGI) process. To use it you must be a Part 107 remote pilot with a current certificate or hold a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA), complete the Emergency Operation Request form and send it to the FAA's System Operations Support Center. You must also coordinate with the controlling agency named in the TFR. Source: FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions, checked 2026-11-14.
How do I read a TFR NOTAM?
The FAA study guide says a flight data center NOTAM that creates a TFR begins with the phrase "FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS," followed by the location, the effective time period, the area defined in statute miles and the altitudes affected. It also gives the FAA coordination facility and telephone number, and the reason for the restriction (checked 2026-11-14, FAA-G-8082-22). Work through it in order: where, when, how big, how high, why.
Worked example
Are you inside the restriction?
Constructed for practice, not a real NOTAM. Say a TFR is centered on a wildfire, covers a 5 statute mile radius, and runs from the surface up to 4,000 ft MSL. Your job site is 3 SM from the center, and the ground there is 1,500 ft MSL. You plan a flight at 300 ft AGL.
- Horizontal: 3 SM is inside the 5 SM radius.
- Vertical: 1,500 + 300 = 1,800 ft MSL, which is below 4,000 ft MSL, so you are inside the vertical limit too.
- Time: check the effective period; if the flight falls in it, you are inside the TFR.
The answer is no flight unless you are part of the hazard relief under the official in charge, or you get approval through the controlling agency. Being low is no defense, because this TFR starts at the surface.
How do I check before flying?
Review the FAA TFR list, current NOTAMs and an airspace app on the day of the flight. The FAA says active TFRs are published on its TFR list, updated in real time, that the easiest way to see whether one exists in your area is to filter by state, and that you must always check NOTAMs before your flight. The agency also says TFRs appear in LAANC applications from FAA-approved companies and in the B4UFLY app. AC 107-2A section 5.10.3 adds that the remote PIC must check for NOTAMs before each flight to determine whether any airspace restrictions apply, and it points to 1800wxbrief.com for flight planning. A standing restriction does not replace checking for a specific TFR. Brief your crew on flight restrictions as part of the 107.49 preflight assessment, which requires you to assess local airspace and any flight restrictions before every flight.
Sources (checked 2026-11-12): FAA TFR list; 14 CFR 107.49 (eCFR); FAA Advisory Circular 107-2A.
What happens if I fly into a TFR?
The FAA says it investigates all reported TFR violations, and the outcome ranges from warnings or fines to certificate suspension or revocation, depending on the circumstances. The study guide notes that since the events of September 11, 2001, TFRs have become much more common and that incursions have led to security investigations and certificate suspensions. Treat a TFR check the same as checking the battery: it takes a minute and prevents the costly mistake. See tfr.faa.gov and the FAA TFR page, both checked 2026-11-14.
Does LAANC clear a TFR?
No. LAANC covers controlled airspace near participating airports, not temporary restrictions. A LAANC approval for Class D near an airport does not let you fly into a TFR that overlaps it; the FAA notes that LAANC applications display TFRs so you can see them, and to fly in a TFR you coordinate with the controlling agency listed in it. See the LAANC guide.
What are the common test traps?
- "No FAA permission needed in uncontrolled airspace." Class G has no authorization requirement, but a TFR can sit on top of Class G. Check the NOTAM.
- "A TFR only matters near airports." TFRs follow events and hazards, so a rural wildfire or a stadium downtown both qualify.
- "Waiver or authorization covers it." A Part 107 airspace authorization does not cancel a TFR.
- Reading altitudes wrong. TFR altitudes are given in the NOTAM; convert MSL to AGL the way you do for chart shelves (see MSL vs AGL).
For airspace you can see on a chart before you leave home, read the special use airspace guide. The free chart lessons also build the habit of checking restrictions on every figure.
How should I brief my crew on flight restrictions?
14 CFR 107.49(b) requires the remote PIC to make sure everyone directly participating is informed about the operating conditions, emergency procedures, contingency procedures, roles and responsibilities, and potential hazards, and 107.49(a)(2) makes local airspace and any flight restrictions part of the preflight assessment (eCFR 107.49, checked 2026-11-14). A short briefing that covers restrictions can follow this order:
| When | What to check | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Day before | FAA TFR list for your state, planned events near the site, NOTAMs | Remote PIC |
| Morning of the flight | Recheck the TFR list and NOTAMs; TFRs can appear on short notice | Remote PIC |
| At the site | Tell the crew where the boundary is and what to do if a manned aircraft or a restriction notice appears | Remote PIC and crew |
| Before each new flight | Look again if the first flight was hours ago | Remote PIC |
Worked example
The stadium job that is not a stadium job
Say a survey crew plans to fly near a college football stadium on a Saturday at 10:00, and the game starts at 15:00. The standing stadium restriction applies during games, so ask what the NOTAM says about the hours before kickoff and the radius, and check it on the TFR list rather than guessing. A flight finished well before the event may be fine, but a late start that slips into the restricted period is a violation. Tell the crew a hard stop time, and write it on the briefing sheet.
Free practice questions on this topic
3 original questions from the Sectional Cue bank. Try each one, then open the answer.
Sightseeing congestion TFR
1. Which situation fits a TFR under 91.137(a)(3)?
- Protecting a rocket launch area
- Preventing unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft above an event drawing high public interest
- Protecting the route of the President
Show answer and explanation
B. Preventing unsafe congestion of sightseeing aircraft above an event drawing high public interest
Section 91.137(a)(3) addresses unsafe congestion of sightseeing and other aircraft above an incident or event of high public interest. Space launch areas are handled under 91.143. Presidential movements are handled under 91.141.
Source: 14 CFR 91.137(a)(3); 14 CFR 107.47
Stadium restriction applicability
2. Which event is covered by the standing stadium flight restriction?
- A minor league baseball game in a 9,000-seat park
- A high school football game in a 5,000-seat stadium
- A regular season Major League Baseball game in a 40,000-seat stadium
Show answer and explanation
C. A regular season Major League Baseball game in a 40,000-seat stadium
The standing restriction applies to stadiums seating 30,000 or more during MLB, NFL and NCAA Division I football games, plus major motor speedway events. The high school and minor league events do not meet the league or seating criteria. A specific TFR could still be issued for any event, so a NOTAM check is still needed.
Source: 14 CFR 99.7; 14 CFR 107.47; FDC NOTAM 4/3621
How TFRs take effect
3. How does the FAA put a 91.137 disaster or hazard TFR into effect?
- By issuing a NOTAM that designates the area and states the hazard or condition
- By printing it on the next edition of the sectional chart
- By posting signs around the edge of the affected area
Show answer and explanation
A. By issuing a NOTAM that designates the area and states the hazard or condition
Section 91.137(a) says the FAA issues a NOTAM designating the area and specifying the hazard or condition that requires the restriction. Charts are printed on fixed cycles and cannot show emergency restrictions. Ground signs are not how the FAA establishes airspace restrictions.
Source: 14 CFR 91.137(a); 14 CFR 107.47
Related guides
- Airspace authorization and LAANC for Part 107 pilots
- Special use airspace and military routes for drone pilots
- Preflight and maintenance for Part 107 flights
- Aviation weather briefings, PIREPs, AIRMETs and SIGMETs for drone pilots
- 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
- 14 CFR 107.47 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-14
- FAA TFR list, checked 2026-11-14
- 14 CFR 91.137 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-14
- 14 CFR 107.49 (eCFR), checked 2026-11-14
- FAA Advisory Circular 107-2A, checked 2026-11-14
- FAA: Temporary Flight Restrictions, 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.