If you plan on operating an sUAS under 14 CFR Part 107, make sure you fully understand your operating limitations.
Operating Limitations
The sUAS must be operated in accordance with the following limitations:
• Cannot be flown faster than a ground speed of 87 knots (100 miles per hour).
• Cannot be flown higher than 400 feet above ground level (AGL) unless flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure and not flown higher than 400 feet above the structure’s immediate uppermost limit. See Figure 1-1.
Crewmembers must operate within the following limitations:
• Minimum visibility, as observed from the location of the control station, must be no less than 3 statute miles.
• Minimum distance from clouds must be no less than 500 feet below a cloud and 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.
Note: These operating limitations are intended, among other things, to support the remote pilot’s ability to identify hazardous conditions relating to encroaching aircraft or persons on the ground, and to take the appropriate actions to maintain safety.
Below is the regulation outlined in 14 CFR Part 107.51
§107.51 Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft.
A remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls of the small unmanned aircraft system must comply with all of the following operating limitations when operating a small unmanned aircraft system:
(a) The groundspeed of the small unmanned aircraft may not exceed 87 knots (100 miles per hour).
(b) The altitude of the small unmanned aircraft cannot be higher than 400 feet above ground level, unless the small unmanned aircraft:
(1) Is flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure; and
(2) Does not fly higher than 400 feet above the structure’s immediate uppermost limit.
(c) The minimum flight visibility, as observed from the location of the control station must be no less than 3 statute miles. For purposes of this section, flight visibility means the average slant distance from the control station at which prominent unlighted objects may be seen and identified by day and prominent lighted objects may be seen and identified by night.
(d) The minimum distance of the small unmanned aircraft from clouds must be no less than:
(1) 500 feet below the cloud; and
(2) 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.
You can find all the sUAS Part 107 regulations in this years 2018 FAR|AIM available NOW!
