Big changes to 107 explained. Avoid the confusion.

I ran across a very poorly written article about the upcoming new rules and testing/training this morning. So I figured DSPA better put this article out to help.

The article in question was in a well respected blog, although it’s a tech blog not a drone blog. Which proves the point that you need to check your sources. The author of that article was using the wrong terminology and references. It created much more confusion that it solved.

Today is Sunday, April 4th. We believe it’s probably a safe bet that the DOT will NOT delay the rules again. As a matter of fact, last week the FAA notified PSI (the testing centers for the FAA) to not allow any UGR tests to be scheduled after 4/5/21. That’s about the only confirmation we’ve seen, but it’s a pretty solid one.

So, as things stand now, and most likely will continue to stand, the recurrent training and initial testing change over on 4/6/21. And the new rules go into effect on 4/21/21. So even if you take your initial or training between 4/6 and 4/21, you can’t take advantage of the new rules until 4/21. 

So what do we do?

If you need your initial 107 test, the process will not change. You’ll still need to go to a PSI testing center (https://faa.psiexams.com/FAA/login) and pass that. It will still cost. And supposedly the cost will be going up. We’re not sure of the exact cost yet, but it is supposed to stay less than $180. There will be new questions on the test. The initial test will include all of the regular questions, and it will include Night  Operations and Operations Over People (OOP) (& ops over moving vehicles since it’s tied to OOP). Ops of Moving Vehicles (OMV)  and OOP will likely be two of the more commonly violated new rules. DSPA willhave a more in-depth article and accompanying video to explain those better soon. We’ll get that out by 4/7/21.

In case you’ve been living under a rock lately, the new system to maintain your Remote Pilot Currency has been turned on its head. Those who have already passed their initial 107 test will no longer go to a PSI Testing Center and pay the fees. Instead, we will go to www.FAASafety.gov and take the online recurrent training (NOT testing). The course number is rumored to be ALC-677. That has not been confirmed by anyone at the FAA, but it has been leaked in a few places. So that’s very likely the test number you’ll search for. 

And oh yeah, the new online training is FREE!

And be careful, there is another 107 Recurrent Test already there, but that is strictly for manned aviators who have their 107 tied to their manned ticket. That course it ALC-515. DO NOT take that course if you only have a Remote Pilot Certificate. You won’t be current if you do.

The new 107 only recurrent course (ALC-677) will contain all of the material you learned in the initial 107 test, and it will have training on night ops and OOP. It may also contain training on Remote ID. That is not confirmed yet. Once that is confirmed or denied, we’ll change this article.

This new training will have lots of new information on it.

And there still seems to be a lot of confusion about the changes still out there. So we’ll try and resolve some of the confusion.

First, and the most oft asked question: Where do we find the study material for the recurrent training? Simply answer is, “We don’t”. There is none. The “study material” is the training course itself. You learn the info, you take a short quiz that proves you retained it, and then at the end you print out a certificate that shows you completed it and passed. Most Remote Pilots don’t come from an aviation background, and we’re conditioned to take the UGR test every two years. So it’s natural to look for the study material. We don’t need to worry about that anymore. Yay!

Also, having training instead of a test allows the FAA to be more flexible when it comes to implementing new rules or regulations into the Part 107 system.

If you’re taking your initial Remote Pilot test after 4/6/21, you’ll have all of the stuff that’s been on there since 2016, as well as questions about night ops and operations over people. You will not have any questions about Remote ID.

The online recurrent training (again, not testing) will have all of the initial test knowledge as well as Night Ops, OOP (& OMV). In addition, there will be Remote ID training. That will be live on 4/6/21. Many people are anxiously awaiting the online training because they’ve put off paying the $165 +/- to get the UGR. As such, the FAA is worried about www.FAASafety.gov getting overwhelmed the first day or two. So DSPA and others are encouraging everyone to wait to take the training unless you absolute have to take it to fly commercially. There is no reason to take it early to fly at night without a waiver. You can’t take advantage of that until 4/21 anyway.

Think of it like you would when your plane is late to the gate after a flight. The Flight Attendants get on the intercom and ask everyone to stay seated so those with short connections can make their flights. Same thing here, don’t take the online training unless you absolutely need it, so others who do need it can make their flights. Literally.

And one more issue of confusion is what the new test/training will allow you to do (after 4/21). The only new rule tied to the actual test/training is night operations without a waiver. In order to take advantage of that, you MUST have the new test/training. OOP and OMV are not tied to the new test/training. Those rules automatically go into effect at 12:01AM on 4/21/21. You do not have to have the new test/training under your belt for OOP and OMV. You just need to make sure you know the rules and are following them. And OOP/OMV are VERY restrictive at first. So make sure you know them very, very well. Don’t get in trouble because you don’t understand the new rules. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. And by the way, if you’re breaking those rules, and something bad happens, your insurance won’t cover you because those are technically “illegal flights”. Remember that.

Also, these new rules are only for 107 Pilots. They do not cover recreational flights.

Hopefully this helps alleviate some of the confusion still prevalent around the new 107 rules, as well as the new initial test and recurrent training. If not, please let us know. Reach out to us and we’ll get back to you ASAP. We’re here to help.

One more work of advice. While the new testing/training will cover Remote Pilots for the legalities of night operations, they will NOT cover the safety aspects of those operations. DSPA strongly suggests that you take additional safety training from a qualified course. We recommend Pilot Institute’s online night ops training. Flying at night is much more than adding 3SM strobes and learning about vision issues at night. Much more, be smart about it. Take more training.

But it’s worth it. Flying at night opens up a brand new world of UAS use. Photo and video opportunities alone are worth the new training. And that’s not even including so many new areas for the enterprise verticals.

As always, fly safe and have fun.

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