What Is FAA Part 107?

Anyone can buy a drone. Not everyone can legally fly one for your business. That distinction matters more than most people realize.

If you have been thinking about adding drone photography or videography to your business's marketing, you have probably already started searching around. If you have spent any time on that search, you have likely come across the term FAA Part 107 without a clear explanation of what it actually means or why it keeps coming up.

This post is going to answer that question plainly and honestly because before you hand your brand over to anyone with a drone, there are some things you genuinely need to know. Not to scare you away from aerial content, which is one of the most powerful visual tools available to a business right now, but to make sure that when you invest in it, you are doing it the right way with the right person.

What FAA Part 107 actually is

FAA Part 107 is the set of regulations established by the Federal Aviation Administration that governs the commercial operation of unmanned aircraft systems in the United States. In plain terms, it is the legal framework that covers anyone who flies a drone for business purposes, which includes creating content for a client, shooting footage for a brand, capturing aerial photos for marketing use, or any other situation where money or business value is involved.

To operate legally under Part 107, a pilot must pass a knowledge test administered by the FAA that covers airspace classifications, weather conditions, flight operations, emergency procedures, and a range of other topics related to safe drone operation. Passing that test earns the pilot a Remote Pilot Certificate, which is the official credential that authorizes them to fly commercially in the United States.

The certification is not a one-time thing and forget it. Part 107 pilots are required to stay current with FAA regulations, which change as airspace rules evolve, new drone technologies emerge, and aviation authorities respond to an increasingly crowded sky. A certified pilot is not just someone who passed a test once. They are someone who has committed to operating within a professional and legally compliant framework every time they fly.

Why this matters more than most people think

Here is the part of the conversation that gets glossed over most often. Drones are widely available and they are more affordable than they have ever been. Because of that, there are a lot of people willing to show up with one and offer to shoot footage of your business for a relatively low price. Some of them do genuinely good work. However, if they are not Part 107 certified, what they are doing is not legal, and that matters to you as the business hiring them.

When an uncertified pilot flies commercially and something goes wrong, the liability does not stay with the pilot alone. Depending on the circumstances, the business that hired them can be exposed as well. A drone flying over a public space, a private property, near an airport, or in controlled airspace without the proper authorization is not just a regulatory issue. It is a real safety concern with real consequences if something goes sideways.

Beyond the legal exposure, there is the practical issue of what an uncertified pilot does not know. Part 107 training covers airspace restrictions, which are especially important in a place where proximity to any airport or military base creates complex airspace rules that an untrained pilot may not even be aware of. Flying in restricted or controlled airspace without authorization is a federal violation, and it is not a hypothetical risk. It happens regularly with unlicensed operators who simply do not know what they do not know.

A Part 107 certification does not just mean someone passed a test. It means they know what they are allowed to do, where they are allowed to do it, and what happens when something does not go as planned.

What a certified pilot can do that others legally cannot

One of the most practical differences between a certified Part 107 pilot and someone flying recreationally or without a license is the ability to legally operate in situations that would otherwise be off limits.

Flying in controlled airspace

Much of the airspace around populated areas, airports, and certain government facilities is classified as controlled airspace, which requires specific authorization before any commercial drone can fly there. A Part 107 certified pilot can apply for and receive that authorization through the FAA's LAANC system, which in many cases grants approval almost instantly. An uncertified operator cannot legally apply for or receive that authorization at all, which means certain locations and certain shots are simply not available to them, regardless of how good their equipment is.

For a business on Florida's Space Coast, this is particularly relevant. The region sits near multiple active aviation facilities, and the airspace here is more complex than in many other parts of the country. A pilot who does not understand that complexity and cannot navigate the authorization process legally is a liability, not an asset, no matter how compelling their portfolio looks.

Flying over people and moving vehicles

Part 107 also governs the conditions under which a drone can legally fly over people who are not directly involved in the shoot, and over moving vehicles. These are common scenarios for business content, especially for events, outdoor locations, and properties with foot traffic. A certified pilot understands the specific rules around these situations and can operate within them safely and legally. An uncertified one may not even be aware that these rules exist.

Flying at night

Night operations, which can produce some of the most striking aerial footage available, require compliance with updated Part 107 rules around anti-collision lighting. A certified pilot knows how to operate legally after dark. An uncertified operator cannot legally offer this capability at all for commercial use.

What to ask before you hire any drone pilot

If you take nothing else from this post, take this. Before you hire anyone to fly a drone for your business, there are three things worth asking directly.

QUESTION ONE

Are you FAA Part 107 certified?

This is the baseline. If the answer is no, or if it comes with a qualifier like "I am working on it" or "I fly recreationally," that is your answer. Recreational drone pilots are legally prohibited from flying for commercial purposes. There is no gray area here. The FAA is explicit about it, and the penalties for violating it can be significant.

A legitimate certified pilot will have no hesitation answering this question and should be able to provide their Remote Pilot Certificate number if you ask for it. That number is verifiable through the FAA's public database.

QUESTION TWO

Do you carry liability insurance?

Part 107 certification establishes legal operating authority, but it does not automatically come with insurance. A professional drone operator who is serious about their work should carry liability coverage that protects both themselves and the clients they work with in the event that something goes wrong during a shoot.

This is not a question that should feel awkward to ask. Any professional working in this space will expect it, and the ones who cannot answer it confidently are telling you something important about how seriously they take the professional side of what they do.

QUESTION THREE

Do you understand the airspace restrictions for the location we want to shoot?

This question separates the pilots who know their craft from the ones who simply own a drone. A knowledgeable Part 107 pilot should be able to tell you immediately whether a given location requires airspace authorization, how they would obtain it, and what the realistic timeline looks like. If they look at you blankly or tell you it will not be a problem without explaining why, that is a red flag worth paying attention to.

On the Space Coast specifically, this question is especially important. The combination of military airspace, commercial flight paths, and populated areas creates a situation where local knowledge and regulatory awareness are not optional. They are the difference between a successful shoot and a serious problem.

What drone photography actually does for a small business

Now that you understand the credentials side of it, here is the part that is probably more exciting to think about. Drone photography and videography open up a category of visual content that was simply not accessible to most small businesses even five years ago. The equipment was too expensive, the operators were too scarce, and the regulatory landscape was still being figured out.

That has changed and what is now available to a small business with the right creative partner is genuinely remarkable.

Aerial photography gives your audience a perspective on your business, your location, your property, or your work that no ground-level camera ever could. It contextualizes your business within its surroundings in a way that feels cinematic and immediate. It creates a scale and a drama that stops people mid-scroll in a way that standard photography rarely does anymore. For certain types of businesses, from real estate and hospitality to events, construction, retail, and outdoor services, it is not just a nice-to-have. It is the kind of content that makes a potential client immediately understand the scope of what you do and the quality of how you do it.

At Garzone Media, we are now FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots. That means when we bring aerial photography and videography to your project, it is done legally, safely, and with full awareness of the airspace rules specific to our region. We carry the credentials, we carry the knowledge, and we carry the creative vision to turn the view from above into content that actually works for your brand. We serve businesses across Palm Bay, Brevard County, and the broader Space Coast area.

The bottom line

Drone photography is one of the most exciting additions to the creative toolkit available to small businesses right now. It produces content that genuinely stands out, tells your story from a perspective nobody else is showing, and gives your brand a visual presence that feels current, professional, and memorable.

Like any powerful tool, it matters enormously who is holding it. The difference between a certified Part 107 pilot and someone flying without credentials is not just a piece of paper. It is the difference between a shoot that goes smoothly, legally, and professionally and one that carries real risk for you and your business.

Before you book anyone, ask the questions. Check the credentials. Make sure the person you are trusting with your brand in the air is someone who has put in the work to do it the right way. The view from above is extraordinary when everything is done correctly and it is a headache you do not need when it is not.

Garzone Media is FAA Part 107 certified and ready to bring professional aerial photography and videography to your next project. Book a free consultation and let us show you what your business looks like from above.

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