01 · New pilot
Just got a drone? Start with these 3 steps.
Take the free TRUST test, register if required, and meet Remote ID. Then check the airspace before each flight.
The U.S. drone pilot guide
Know before
you fly.
Where you can fly, what to buy, and how to go pro. Every rule traced to its official source.
Can I fly here?
See the airspace before you launch.
Controlled airspace, restricted zones and TFRs decide where you can launch. Start with a place, then follow the next step in plain English.
Opens our preflight checklist for any U.S. location. There is no live lookup on this page yet.
Sample view
- Controlled (LAANC)
- Class D
- Military / restricted
- TFR, authorization required
Sample
Example: near a Class B airport
- AirspaceControlled airspace
- Before you flyYou need FAA airspace authorization (LAANC or DroneZone)
- CheckThe FAA UAS facility map and NOTAMs for your exact spot
Sample view: an illustration, not live data. FAA-approved apps are the final word.
Southern border TFR: drones are restricted within 1 nautical mile north of the U.S.-Mexico border, up to 400 ft AGL, in effect through Oct 19, 2027. Need to fly there? Request authorization from CBP at least 48 hours ahead. Check the NOTAMs for exact boundaries.
Where are you starting?
02 · Go pro
Earn your Part 107 certificate.
About $175 test fee (set by the testing center) · 60 questions · 70% to pass. Your study plan, step by step.
03 · Shopping
Which drone to buy after the FCC rule.
Buying guidance by budget and mission, with FCC and Remote ID checks.
Part 108 isn't final yet. Part 107 and recreational rules still apply as they do today.
How to choose a drone after the FCC rule
01 · FCC
Check FCC authorization status
New foreign-made drone models can't get FCC approval unless they qualify for an exemption. Models the FCC already authorized can still be sold, and drones you already own can still be flown.
02 · Remote ID
Remote ID built in or add-on
If your drone must be registered, it must also broadcast Remote ID, either built in (Standard Remote ID) or with an add-on broadcast module. Flying inside an FAA-recognized identification area (FRIA) is the main exception.
03 · Weight
Weight and registration
Recreational flyers: register if your drone is heavier than 0.55 lb (250 g), $5 for 3 years. Part 107 pilots: register every drone, at any weight. Remote ID rules apply to registered drones.
Blue UAS-listed and U.S.-made drones are exempt through Jan 1, 2028. The FCC has proposed, but not finalized, limits on importing and selling some previously authorized models. Source: FCC DA 25-1086, DA 26-761.
Latest briefings
Rule changes that affect your next flight, checked against the source.
All 14 news briefs
FAA research awards ·
FAA's October 5 Drone Research Awards: $12 Million for 19 Listed Projects
The FAA announced $12 million for drone research on October 5, 2026.
FAA program update ·
FAA's August 27, 2026 BEYOND Phase 2 expansion: what changes for the program
On August 27, 2026, FAA announced plans to add up to eight lead participants to BEYOND Phase 2, which had already begun in 2025.
BIS FINAL RULE ·
BIS final rule eases export controls for some U.S. drone exports
BIS final rule changes some drone export-control boundaries, but it does not decide whether a specific drone, component, destination or transaction can proceed.
More guides
Prepare for Part 107
Start with free FAA study material, then decide whether a paid course is worth it.
FAA drone rules
The core federal rules in plain English, and whether you need to register next.
Check FAA drone registration stepsChoose a drone by use case
Match a drone to what you want to fly, then check the specs that matter.
Research exact drone recordsPlan drone work
Turn drone skills into paid work, and know what to ask when you hire a pilot.
Prepare a drone-service requestCompare drone software by workflow
Mapping, inspection and video tools, grouped by the job you need done.
Plan insurance questions for commercial drone work.
Know what to ask before you request a drone insurance quote.
How Drone Home verifies sources Read the source-review method behind Drone Home guides.
Also useful: Free Part 107 study resourcesFAA Section 927 drone waiver process