Drones & UAS › FAA Certification
The FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. $175. 60 questions. 70% to pass. One to two weeks of focused study. Here's everything you need to know — in plain language.
If you're flying a drone over your own fields to look at your own crops and you're not getting paid by anyone else to do it, you're likely a recreational flyer under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
Key recreational requirements:
For a farmer in a hayfield launching a drone to check his corn across the road — these rules barely register.
→ Recreational rules apply. Part 107 not required.
→ You need Part 107.
→ You need Part 107.
$175 and a week of study buys complete legal clarity, the ability to help neighbors, and the option to offer services down the road.
The Part 107 exam is 60 multiple-choice questions at an FAA-approved testing center. You need 70% to pass. Cost: $175. Time: about 2 hours.
Testing centers: Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and most mid-sized cities.
The most heavily tested area. Classes B, C, D, E, and G — what rules apply in each. For rural agricultural flying, you're almost always in Class G (uncontrolled) — fewest restrictions.
Farmer advantage: If your farm is more than 5 miles from an airport with a control tower, you're almost certainly in Class G. No authorization needed.
Basic weather theory, how to read METARs and TAFs (aviation weather reports), and how weather affects small aircraft performance.
Farmer advantage: You understand weather better than most test-takers. The questions will feel familiar if you've decided whether to cut hay.
The specific rules governing commercial flight — altitude limits, visual line of sight, night operations, operations over people. This is the material you'll actually use in practice.
How weight, altitude, temperature, and humidity affect drone performance. Straightforward material — similar reasoning to loading a grain cart or calibrating a sprayer.
Safe operating practices, risk assessment, and emergency procedures. Common-sense material for anyone accustomed to operating heavy equipment.
Most people can pass with 1–2 weeks of focused study. No flight experience or aviation background required. It's a knowledge test — nobody asks you to fly anything.
"Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide" (FAA-G-8082-22). Available as a free PDF download at faa.gov. Dry reading, but thorough. Covers everything on the test.
Pilot Institute, DARTdrones, and Drone Pilot Ground School offer structured video courses. If you learn better from video, they're worth the modest cost.
Multiple free practice exams available online. If you're consistently scoring 85%+ on practice tests, you're ready to schedule the real exam.
| Step | Details | Time / Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Create IACRA account | FAA's online registration at iacra.faa.gov | 30 min / Free |
| Study for exam | FAA guide or paid online course | 1–2 wks / ~$150 |
| Schedule test | Testing center at faa.psi.com | — / $175 |
| Pass exam | 60 questions, need 70% | ~2 hours |
| Apply for certificate | Submit through IACRA | Free |
| Receive certificate | Temp cert immediately; permanent in 6–10 wks | — |
Whether flying recreationally or under Part 107, these core rules apply. Here they are in plain language, with the agricultural context that makes them practical.
400 feet above ground level — not sea level. For crop monitoring, this is a non-issue. Optimal imaging altitude is 200–300 feet. At 250 feet, individual corn plants are clearly visible.
You must see your drone with unaided eyes at all times. A Mini-series drone is visible to about 1,500–2,000 feet in good conditions. For large fields, reposition between passes.
Your crops don't count as people. Your cows don't either. Where it matters: workers in the field below, or family members nearby. DJI Mini series qualifies as Category 1 (lowest restriction) due to its weight.
If you see a crop duster or helicopter, bring the drone down to a safe altitude until it passes. Know who's dusting in your area during application season. A two-minute phone call prevents any conflict.
| Class | Where | Can You Fly? |
|---|---|---|
| G (Uncontrolled) | Most rural areas away from airports | ✓ No authorization needed |
| E (Controlled) | Some rural areas near smaller airports | Authorization usually required; check first |
| D | Around airports with control towers | LAANC authorization required |
| C | Mid-size airports (Dayton, Columbus) | LAANC authorization required |
| B | Major airports (Chicago, Detroit) | LAANC required; rarely granted for drones |
| Restricted/Prohibited | Military bases, sensitive areas | ✗ Not permitted |
If your farm is more than 5 miles from an airport with a control tower, you're almost certainly in Class G. That describes most agricultural land in Western Ohio and Eastern Indiana.
Open it, and it shows a map with your location and any restrictions nearby. Green = clear. Yellow = check details. Red = don't fly without authorization. As simple as opening a weather app.
Available free on iOS and Android
Similar airspace info with the added ability to submit LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization) requests directly. If you're near controlled airspace, LAANC authorization is usually processed automatically within seconds.
Free · iOS and Android
Your farm is 12 miles east of Dayton's James M. Cox International Airport. Open B4UFLY. Your location shows green — Class G airspace, no restrictions. You're good to go. It takes less time than checking the weather on your phone.
Required for any drone weighing more than 250 grams. The DJI Mini 4 Pro and Mini 5 Pro are designed to come in under 250 grams — they typically don't require registration for recreational use.
However, if flying under Part 107, registration is required regardless of weight.
Starting March 2024, most drones must broadcast Remote ID — a digital "license plate" transmitting identity, location, altitude, and control station location.
Good news: Any drone manufactured after September 2022 has Remote ID built in. The DJI Mini 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, and virtually every current consumer drone complies automatically. Nothing to install or configure.
On December 22, 2025, the FCC placed all foreign-manufactured UAS on the Covered List (Public Notice DA-25-1086). DJI products already FCC-authorized remain legal to buy and fly. Existing authorizations are not revoked. Your DJI Mini 4 Pro or Mini 5 Pro from current inventory is not affected.
Not legally required for recreational pilots, but strongly recommended. A flight log protects you legally, supports insurance claims, and helps you improve your operations over time.
A full flight log template is included in Appendix H of Drones Over the Back Forty. The Aloft and DJI Fly apps also automatically record flight data you can export.