How to Apply for a Part 107 Waiver
A Part 107 waiver is an FAA approval to conduct a specific operation that would otherwise exceed certain operating rules. It does not waive every requirement, and it is not permission to ignore the rules. First confirm that a waiver is actually needed; then describe the exact operation and explain how you will address its risks.
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Check whether a waiver is neededWhere to submit a new applicationPrepare a complete safety explanationSubmit and follow the applicationOperate within the approved conditionsAvoid common application errorsCommon questionsCheck whether a waiver is needed
The FAA lists the Part 107 provisions that may be waived. Examples include certain operations from a moving vehicle or aircraft, night lighting deviations, visual line of sight, use of visual observers, multiple aircraft, right of way, operations over people or moving vehicles, controlled-airspace operations, and specified operating limits. The rules impose limits on some waiver requests; for example, a waiver of the moving-vehicle rule cannot authorize carrying another person’s property for compensation or hire. Check the current FAA list and the specific waiver conditions.
Many flights do not need a waiver. Night operations can be flown under the standard rule when the pilot meets the night knowledge requirement and the aircraft has compliant anti-collision lighting. Operations over people may be allowed under the applicable aircraft categories and conditions. A routine controlled-airspace request is an authorization; it is separate from an operational waiver.
Make sure the planned flight actually exceeds a rule. For example, a flight at 500 feet AGL more than 400 feet from a structure exceeds the ordinary altitude limit; a flight near a structure may fall under a separate exception if it meets that rule’s conditions.
Where to submit a new application
New Part 107 operational waiver applications are submitted through the FAA FAA Aviation Safety Hub. The FAA says applications submitted earlier will continue to be processed in DroneZone. Part 107 airspace authorization requests continue through LAANC or DroneZone. Check the FAA FAA: Part 107 Waivers page for current steps and system updates.
Prepare a complete safety explanation
The FAA asks you to describe the proposed operation, identify its possible risks, and explain the measures you will use to reduce those risks. Its trend analysis says many applications are too brief for the FAA to assess the risk. Include details that fit the requested deviation, such as:
- The operation: location, route or area, dates or times, altitude, aircraft, payload, people involved, and who is responsible.
- The deviation: identify the particular rule and explain exactly how the flight would differ from the ordinary requirement.
- Hazards and mitigations: describe likely failure modes and the controls, procedures, equipment, training, personnel, or site limits that address them.
- Abnormal situations: explain how the crew will respond to lost links, aircraft problems, changing weather, unexpected people or traffic, and other relevant events.
- Supporting material: include maps, diagrams, aircraft information, procedures, and other documentation that helps the FAA evaluate this operation.
Use the FAA’s current safety-explanation guidance and instructions in the Aviation Safety Hub. Approval depends on showing that the specific proposed operation can be conducted safely; no template guarantees approval.
Submit and follow the application
The FAA aims to approve or disapprove applications within 90 days. This is a target, not a guaranteed decision date; complexity and whether the initial application is complete affect processing. Apply early. A commercial deadline does not by itself guarantee expedited processing. The FAA describes a separate emergency process for eligible emergency-response operations.
Check the portal for status and requests for information. Respond by the deadline shown in the request; the FAA says an unanswered request for information may lead to cancellation. Do not conduct the operation under the requested deviation while an application is pending. Wait for the approved waiver and read every condition.
Operate within the approved conditions
A waiver applies to the operation and conditions it describes. Before flight, confirm its effective dates, location, aircraft, crew, limitations, and required procedures. Keep the waiver accessible as required by its conditions. If the operation changes materially, check whether the existing approval still covers it or whether you need to ask the FAA.
Other rules still apply unless the waiver specifically grants relief from them. A waiver for one operational limit does not automatically provide airspace authorization, registration, Remote ID compliance, or permission to disregard other safety requirements.
Avoid common application errors
The FAA’s published guidance identifies insufficient detail and risk mitigation as recurring weaknesses. Describe the actual operation instead of submitting a two-sentence request. Ask only for a deviation you need: for example, request 500 feet AGL rather than 800 feet if the justified operation is 500 feet and the structure exception does not apply. Confirm first that the requested flight is not already allowed under the ordinary rule.
For night operations, standard rules allow the pilot to reduce anti-collision-light intensity when safety requires, but the light may not be extinguished. Other deviations from the lighting rule require an approved waiver and appropriate mitigations. A compliant anti-collision light must be visible for at least three statute miles and flash at a rate sufficient to avoid a collision. A marketplace search link does not establish that any listed light meets those requirements.
Common questions
Where do I apply for a new Part 107 operational waiver?
The FAA has moved new operational waiver applications to Aviation Safety Hub. Applications submitted earlier continue to be processed in DroneZone. Airspace authorization requests remain in LAANC or DroneZone.
How long does an FAA waiver take?
The FAA aims to approve or disapprove an application within 90 days. It is not a guaranteed deadline; complexity and application completeness affect timing. Apply early and monitor the portal for requests.
Can I fly while my waiver application is pending?
No. A pending application is not an approval to deviate from the operating rule. Wait for the waiver and follow its exact conditions.
Is an airspace authorization the same as an operational waiver?
No. An authorization grants access to specified controlled airspace for its stated area and altitude. A waiver grants relief from a specified operating rule. Depending on the flight, both may be needed; one does not automatically replace the other.
Do I need a waiver for every night flight or operation over people?
Not necessarily. Night flights and some operations over people are allowed under standard rules when the applicable training, equipment, aircraft-category, and operating conditions are met. Apply for a waiver only when the planned operation actually needs relief from a waivable requirement.
Can I dim anti-collision lights without a waiver?
The remote pilot may reduce the light’s intensity when safety requires, but may not turn it off. A light used under the standard rule must still meet the visibility and flash-rate requirements. Other deviations require an approved waiver.
Gear mentioned on this page
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This never affects which products we recommend or what the practice questions say. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
- Amazon · search results
Anti-collision strobe lights for drones
Night and civil-twilight flight require anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles with a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision. Check that a light states both before you rely on it; not every search result does.See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed and updated September 2026.
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