On March 4, 2019 I passed my Unmanned Aircraft – General (UAG) test making me legal to fly unmanned aircraft (drones) for money. Why did I need to do this? This is what the FAA defines as commercial use of a drone:
“Recreational or hobby UAS or drone use is flying for enjoyment and not for work, business purposes, or for compensation or hire.”
Here are some examples:
- Selling photos or videos taken from a sUAS (this may also include videos uploaded to the internet when you are getting paid for views).
- Providing contract services with your sUAS, such as industrial equipment or factory inspection
- Using sUAS to provide professional services, such as security or telecommunications
- Monitoring the progress of work your company is performing using a sUAS
It has also been defined that you do not need to receive any compensation but if who you deliver the pictures to does you are flying commercially (ex. You take pictures of a house your real estate friend is selling and you give the pictures to your friend. Even though you were not paid this is still commercial use of the drone).
Another advantage is a commercial pilot is able to get authorizations and wavers to fly near airports, at night, over crowds, and many other situations. As a hobbyist pilot you can not fly any closer than 5 miles from any airport, heliport, sea plane strip.
How I started down the licensing road.
It all started when I found a practice part 107 test online. I took the test and got a 65% which would be a passing score but cutting it really close. At that time I decided that if I found a course for a reasonable price I would take it.
Well in December 2018 I was watching a video by Ken Heron about renewing his license and he recommended RemotePilot101.com. I went to the site and they were having a sale on the registration and with an additional 30% off I ended up paying $104.30 for the “Complete Course + Recurrent Course for Life”. This put the focus on studying and passing the test.
I didn’t study that seriously but I did go through the course at least three times until I was sure that I had everything understood. I also took the practice test about 8 times until I could get a 95% repeatedly. Their test gives you 60 random questions from a pool of questions.
Scheduling the test
When I got time to take the test I started out calling Computer Assisted Testing Service (CATS) . I called for 3 days and sat on hold for 10 minutes each time only to be transferred to a voice mail. I left a message the first day but as I had not gotten a call back in 24 hours I called again the next day. On the third day I got a call at 5:30am and as I was sleeping they left a message for me to call them back and left the same number I had been calling. I call back only to go through the same 10 minute wait and then be transferred to voice mail.
On their website I looked up the testing facility I wanted to go to (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University). Using the CATS website and called the phone number that was listed. They answered the phone on the 2nd ring. I told the nice person that I had been calling CATS and not getting any response and they said I could schedule the test with them. I scheduled the test for a couple of days from the current date, the next Monday.
Preparing for the test
During the next couple of days I went into full study mode. I used the following sites to brush up:
- 3DR Site’s Part 107 Drone Exam Practice Tests.
- Tony & Chelsea Northrup’s video FREE Drone Certification Study Guide: FAA Part 107 sUAS Test.
- Rupprecht Law’s FAA Part 107 Test Questions
- Drone Pilot Ground School The 13 Most-Missed Part 107 Test Prep Questions
- Drone Launch Academy 21 Questions You’re Sure to See on Your Part 107 Exam (with Detailed Explanations)
- Also doing a google search “part 107 practice test” will provide other sources of information.
Taking the test
Now it was off to the testing center. Be sure to bring ID and proof of residency. Your address can’t be a PO Box or Rural Route. Next I paid the $150.00 for the test and signed a non-disclosure statement.
As recommended I brought pencils, pen, calculator, and magnifying glass. Everything except for the magnifying glass was banned from going into the testing room including cell phone and any other papers except for identification (wallet, passport, etc). The testing center supplied pencils, paper, transparency sheet so you could write in the book without marking it, and a book that has all the figures (charts, etc) needed for the test. It is this book that you need the magnifying glass for as the print is small and fuzzy.
You have 2 hours to take the test that consisted of 60 questions. I went through the test completely and then went back to verify some of the questions that I wasn’t sure of. I also recalculated any items to make sure my math was correct. Then it was time to click on the “Finish” button. Then it asks if you really want to finish and again if you are you sure. At that point it puts up a survey about taking the test and the facility. Only after finishing the survey do you get your test score. The waiting was excruciating.
Then you can call in the proctor in and they ask if you want to go over the questions. As I had passed the test and the next time I would be taking the test is in 2 years from now I really didn’t care about the questions I missed.
They will print out an “Airman Knowledge Test Report” and emboss it for your records. You will need this to apply for your license, I bet you thought you would be getting your license as you had just passed the test, not so.
Applying for your license
48 hours later you will need to log into Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) site. There you will setup an account and “Start a New Application”. You will confirm your name, address and a number of other items. Because you waited for 48 hours your test results should be listed. When you have filed the application then in 24 to 48 hours you should have a “Temporary Certificate” that you can print out. It will still be 7 more days before you get your actual license number. Then you will have to wait on the mail for the actual license to be delivered. Whew what a process, but wait you are not done.
Registering your drones
Then you will have to go to the FAA Drone Zone and register yourself and all your drones that you plan to use for business. At the time I am writing this it costs $5.00 per drone.
On the home page of the FAA Drone Zone select “Fly sUAS under Part 107” and register. On the next page you will need to enter your email and password to setup an account.
This is the site you will use to register your drones. You MUST label every drone with it’s registration number in a spot that is visible WITHOUT having to open or remove anything. I just label my drone on the top.
That is the whole process. Now you can go out and start earning some money with your drone.
Followup
Above where I wrote “It will still be 7 more days before you get your actual license number”. Well I was way off. It took 38 days (28 work days) to get my number. On April 19th, 2019 and I finally received my actual license. That means it took 47 days (35 work days) to get my actual physical license.
