How To Get A Drone License? Complete Guide 2023

How To Get A Drone License? Complete Guide 2023

Do you want to get your “drone license” so you can fly your drone without getting in trouble?

Drones provide entertainment and viewpoints you can’t get with any other device, from taking pictures and videos to racing and having fun every day. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone license is required if you intend to use a drone for commercial purposes.

How to get a drone license? You must be at least 16 years old, but getting a license is not difficult. Additionally, you need to pass an FAA exam, possess good English communication skills, and adhere to minimum physical and mental drone operator standards.

In this article, we’ll go over the requirements for obtaining an FAA drone license to use your drone for non-recreational purposes.

Who Requires A Drone License? 

You can essentially fly a drone in the UK only if you have formal authorization from the CAA, also known as a drone “license” and subject to certain rules. The CAA has made it a requirement that drones be used safely and in accordance with their rules.

The Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) license is the most widely used license; however, this is about to change as part of the new EU regulations that take effect on December 31, 2020. There will essentially be two “licenses”—the Operational Authorization, which can be obtained by finishing a GVC drone training course, and the A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC)—available to drone operators once the new regulations go into effect.

Read More: When Was The First Drone Made?

Do I Need A License To Operate A Drone?

The short answer is: yes. Whether using a drone for personal or professional reasons, everyone needs a certificate.

You must take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and have a basic understanding of drone operation if you fly a drone for recreational purposes. This quick and painless test lasts only 15 to 30 minutes.

However, you must register your drone with the FAA if you are using it for recreational purposes and it weighs more than 250 grams (for comparison, a DJI Mavic 3 weighs 895g/31.5oz). This three-year registration is only $5, and you can register as many drones as you like using the same registration number. FAADroneZone is where drones are registered.

A Part 107 license from the FAA is required if you are using a drone for any purpose other than entertainment. This entails meeting a number of requirements established by the FAA and passing a $160, non-refundable Part 107 test that covers both drone operation knowledge and FAA regulations with a passing score of 70%.

drone license

However, in order to be eligible, you must first fulfill the following requirements:

  • Be at least 16 years of age
  • Be able to read, write, understand, and speak English
  • Submit your application to the FAA after passing the Part 107 exam on how to fly a drone responsibly and safely
  • Be physically and mentally fit to fly a drone

You must obtain an FAA Tracking Number (FTN) in addition to registering for the knowledge test. Throughout your entire aviation career, this particular code will continue to be connected to you.

Related Post: Do I Need a Drone License?

How To Get A Drone License?

1. Create An Account

An FAA Tracking Number (FTN) will be your first requirement once you’re prepared to obtain your drone pilot’s license. The Integrated Airman Certification and Rating Application (IACRA) profile you create will grant you access to this.

2. Study Up

The next step is to succeed in an aeronautical knowledge test. Questions on drone regulations, flight operations, airspace classifications, flight restrictions, weather, emergency procedures, and more are covered in this test. There are online tutorials and study materials available, including materials from the FAA. A passing grade is one that is at least 70%.

3. Schedule Your Exam

Make an appointment for your exam at a nearby testing facility. You have two hours to finish the test, which consists of 60 multiple-choice questions. To register for the exam, you must have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.

You will be given a 17-digit Knowledge Test Exam ID number once you pass the test. You require it for the following step, so don’t lose it.

4. Apply For The License

Following your exam success, return to the IACRA website and finish FAA Form 8710-13 to obtain your remote pilot certificate. This can be found by selecting “Start New Application.” Choose “Pilot,” then under “Certifications,” choose “Remote Pilot,” followed by “Other Path Information” and “Start Application.”

5. Wait

The TSA will conduct a background check on you after you submit the application. When this step of the process is complete, you’ll receive an email with a temporary drone pilot license that you can print.

6. Take Off!

You should receive your physical license in the mail about a week after finishing these steps. You must retake the test after two years if you don’t pass the first time. Anytime you fly your drone, keep your drone pilot’s license on you.

Take Away

The need for a license has changed as a result of the new drone laws, and it is now more dependent on the size of your drone and the area where you intend to fly it than it is on whether you are conducting business or not.

FAQs

When will I be able to purchase a drone license?

From start to finish, it takes the majority of our students 4-6 weeks to get their pilot’s license issued by the FAA.

Following that, 6 to 8 weeks later, you’ll get your official certification card in the mail. It’s elegantly laminated and wonderful to pull out at gatherings!

What do drone operators earn?

Here are some key takeaways from this UAV Coach drone pilot salary article we researched for our students:

  • Salary ranges for full-time, salaried jobs range from $33,000 to $793,000 annually.
  • Freelance and client-based work can be found through drone pilot directories.
  • Many drone operators earn between $200 and $300 per project working in residential real estate. Of course, this can vary depending on how you choose to price your drone services.
  • With varying levels of client output requirements, drones are used in a wide range of industries. What you can make varies depending on whether you’re taking simple photos, assisting with the analysis of more intricate aerial data sets, performing technical inspection work with a thermal camera, being able to work on a film set, etc.

What is the price of a drone license?

Less than $500 is what it costs to obtain a drone license, which is comparatively low.

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