Operations over people and vehicles

Part 107 generally prohibits flight over a human being unless the person is directly participating, is under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection, or the operation meets one of the regulatory categories. Category 1 through 4 have different aircraft eligibility, injury-severity or certification conditions, and operating limits. A label such as 'lightweight' or 'safe propeller guards' does not establish eligibility; use current FAA rules and manufacturer documentation for the precise aircraft configuration.

Category 1 is limited to aircraft weighing 0.55 pounds or less throughout the operation, including everything on board or attached, and it cannot have exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin upon impact. Categories 2 and 3 depend on injury-severity criteria and an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance that identifies the eligible make/model, with labeled aircraft and operating instructions. Category 4 requires an airworthiness certificate and compliance with its operating limitations. Check the exact current provisions before classifying a mission.

A person directly participating in the operation—such as the RPIC, a person manipulating controls under supervision, or a visual observer—has a different status from a bystander. Participation requires meaningful involvement and appropriate briefing; being the client or standing nearby is not enough. For operations over people who are not directly participating, select the category that actually covers the aircraft and operation, and observe its conditions. If the planned path crosses a crowd, Category 3 limits are especially restrictive: that category prohibits any operation over open-air assemblies. For other people, Category 3 permits flight within or over a closed- or restricted-access site when all people on site have notice, or flight that is not sustained over a person unless that person directly participates or is protected by a covered structure or stationary vehicle.

Operations over moving vehicles have additional requirements. Categories 1, 2, and 3 generally require the aircraft to stay within or over a closed- or restricted-access site where people inside moving vehicles have notice, or prohibit sustained flight over moving vehicles. Category 4 follows the aircraft's airworthiness and operating limitations. Plan how vehicles enter and leave the site. A temporary traffic gap or verbal request from a driver does not create a controlled-access area.

Category eligibility is not a substitute for site control and risk management. Minimize time over people, keep a route away from gathering points, use barriers and spotters to prevent entry, and identify an immediate safe landing area. Consider what happens if the aircraft loses power, experiences a flyaway, or drops a payload. Coordinate with site managers and emergency contacts, but verify that the plan meets the FAA's definitions and conditions rather than relying on a contract clause.

Check the aircraft's declaration or airworthiness status, required markings, Remote ID status, and operating limitations for the intended category. A software update, payload, or configuration change may affect eligibility. If documentation is unclear, do not infer approval from a marketing claim. Choose a route outside people/vehicle exposure, obtain qualified guidance, or use an aircraft and category whose requirements can be demonstrated. The RPIC remains responsible for right of way, visual line of sight, airspace, and all other applicable Part 107 rules.