Operations and aeronautical decision-making (ADM) is tied with Regulations as the largest exam topic. Where Regulations tests the fixed limits, Operations tests judgment: how you run a safe flight and how you manage the human factors that cause most accidents.
Core operating rules: you must keep the aircraft within visual line of sight (VLOS), either yourself or through a visual observer in direct communication. You may not operate from a moving vehicle except over a sparsely populated area, you may only operate one aircraft at a time, and you must yield right of way to all manned aircraft.
Night and over-people operations are now part of the standard rules. Night flight is allowed if your drone has an anti-collision light visible for at least 3 statute miles and you have completed the updated training. Flying over people is governed by four categories based on the drone's weight and injury risk. ADM itself uses checklists and the IMSAFE personal-minimums check to catch hazardous attitudes (anti-authority, impulsivity, invulnerability, macho, resignation) before they cause an incident.
Key facts to memorize
| Concept | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visual line of sight (VLOS) | The PIC or a visual observer must keep the aircraft in unaided sight at all times (glasses/contacts allowed). |
| Right of way | A small UAS must always yield the right of way to all other aircraft, manned or unmanned. |
| One aircraft at a time | A single remote pilot may not operate more than one small unmanned aircraft at the same time. |
| Night operations | Permitted with an anti-collision light visible for 3 statute miles and the updated night-operations training. No waiver needed. |
| Operations over people | Four categories (1–4) based on weight and injury risk; Category 1 is ≤0.55 lb with no exposed lacerating parts. |
| Moving vehicles | You may not operate over anyone in a moving vehicle, and may only fly from a moving vehicle over a sparsely populated area. |
| Hazardous attitudes (ADM) | Anti-authority, impulsivity, invulnerability, macho, and resignation; recognize and counter each. |
| IMSAFE checklist | Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion: a personal pre-flight fitness self-check. |
| Alcohol/drugs | No operation within 8 hours of consuming alcohol, while impaired, or with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.04% or greater. |
Flashcards
Active recall beats re-reading. Flip each card, say the answer out loud, then check yourself.
Card 1 / 8
0 marked known
Quick self-check
A short drill on this module. You get the explanation the moment you answer.
0 / 3 answered
Your drone and a small manned helicopter are converging at the same altitude. What must you do?
Which statement about night operations under current Part 107 rules is correct?
A pilot thinks 'rules are for other people' and skips the airspace check. Which hazardous attitude is this?
Original practice material, not the actual FAA exam questions.
Listen to this module
The Operations & ADM podcast episode: study on the go.
Test yourself
Take the full Part 107 practice exam.
Study material current as of June 2026 and sourced from the FAA (14 CFR Part 107 and FAA UAS guidance). Flashcards and quiz items are original practice material, not the actual FAA exam questions. Educational, not legal advice. Verify current rules at faa.gov/uas before you fly.