Always Learning: Remote pilot

Those of you who have RC airplanes and drones at home, as I do, may not realize how easy it is to parlay your hobby into an FAA certificate that enables you to earn compensation. Even if you’ve never flown a drone, you can obtain a remote pilot certificate simply by passing one written test—no practical flight test is required.

If you’re not a fan of drones, you might consider taking this training to gain a better understanding of how small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS)—drones that weigh less than 55 pounds—and manned aircraft share the national airspace. By knowing where to expect drone activity, manned aircraft pilots and remote pilots can share the skies and remain safe. After all, the number of drones, and remote pilots, is likely to keep increasing in the future.

There are two paths to earning an sUAS remote pilot certificate, often referred to as an FAA Part 107 commercial drone pilot license. One is for certificated pilots with a current flight review, and the other is for anyone over the age of 16 who can read, speak, write, and understand English. Neither path is difficult nor overly time consuming.

Certificated pilots with a current flight review can log onto the FAA Safety Team website and take the Part 107 sUAS initial course ALC-451. The course focuses primarily on sUAS operational safety. It takes about two hours to study and pass the 35-question test. You must answer all the questions correctly, but it’s open book and you can take the test repeatedly until you pass.

After receiving a certificate of completion, log into your FAA Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) account and complete an application for a remote pilot certificate. A paper application is also available—but discouraged. A meeting with your CFI to check your ID, fluency in English, and completion certificate earns you a temporary remote pilot certificate you can print and begin using immediately. A permanent plastic certificate will be mailed to you. The entire process takes about three hours and is free.

The process for everyone else differs only slightly. You’ll study for the FAA Unmanned Aircraft General–Small (UAG) knowledge test, typically using online test prep software or the free FAA study guide. This test covers additional topics including weather and airspace and has 60 questions. The test must be taken at an FAA-approved testing center and, as with all other FAA knowledge tests, you must answer 70 percent of the questions correctly to pass. The fee for the test is typically about $150.

After passing, log on to IACRA and complete the remote pilot certificate application process. There is no need to meet with a CFI, and the FAA will email you instructions for how to print your temporary certificate. AOPA offers a complete guide to remote pilot certification online.

With remote pilot certificate in hand, you can now fly a drone for hire. Paying gigs include real estate photography, insurance claims, and media. Many other industries also use drones, although more sophisticated equipment and expertise are often required. Years down the road, unmanned electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft may ply the skies in urban neighborhoods. The industry may need remote pilots to fly those aircraft, and a remote pilot certificate could be your stepping stone to becoming a new breed of pilot.