14 CFR Part 107 — sUAS operating limitations and operations over people¶
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Record ID | EVID-0017 |
| Type | evidence |
| Title | 14 CFR Part 107 — sUAS operating limitations and operations over people |
| Status | reviewed |
| Confidence | high |
| Updated | 2026-09-09 |
| Source URL | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title14-vol2/pdf/CFR-2025-title14-vol2-part107.pdf |
| Topics | uav_operations |
| Archived source | retained internally |
Citation¶
14 CFR Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. eCFR: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107. GPO PDF: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2025-title14-vol2/pdf/CFR-2025-title14-vol2-part107.pdf
Related FAA overview: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/operations_over_people (local: FAA_Operations_Over_People.html)
Source¶
Federal regulation. Local GPO PDF and eCFR HTML archived.
Why This Source Matters¶
Answers the reviewer “how high to avoid people and buildings” only as a legal envelope. It does not set GPR/EMI standoff.
Source-Faithful Summary¶
§107.51(b): small unmanned aircraft altitude cannot be higher than 400 feet AGL, unless flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure and not more than 400 feet above that structure’s uppermost limit. Groundspeed cap is 87 knots. §107.39: no operation over a human being unless that person is participating in the operation, is under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can reasonably protect from a falling aircraft, or the flight meets a Subpart D over-people category. Those categories are additional eligibility rules, not a sensing specification.
Relevant Facts¶
- 400 ft is a maximum, not a recommended survey height.
- Cantonment flights over people/moving vehicles are restricted unless a category/waiver applies.
- Does not address DoD installation commander restrictions, national-security UAS prohibitions, or airfield Class B/C/D airspace (§107.41), which can be stricter than Part 107.
Quantitative Data¶
| Variable | Value | Units | Conditions | Source Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max altitude | 400 | ft AGL | unless near-structure exception | §107.51(b) |
| Near-structure extra | 400 | ft above structure | within 400-ft radius of structure | §107.51(b) |
| Max groundspeed | 87 | knots | 100 mph | §107.51(a) |
What This Source Supports¶
- Civil UAV surveys cannot use “400 feet” as the sensing altitude. Sensing literature (EVID-0013–0016) is 0.5–5 m AGL. People/buildings push up; sensors push down.
What This Source Does NOT Establish¶
- No GPR/EMI performance. No installation-specific SOP. No statement that 400 ft is usable for pipe detection.
Linked Findings¶
- FINDING-0003
Linked Questions¶
- Q01