ParaZero Accepted Means of Compliance for Category 2 & 3 Operations Over People
Read the official document (2026-04077)
Who should care: Drone makers and modifiers seeking Category 2 or 3 eligibility, and pilots who later fly those aircraft.
This notice changes no regulation. It accepts one method of showing that a drone meets the Category 2 or 3 injury limits; it does not by itself make any aircraft eligible to fly over people.
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Who this affectsWhat the document saysWhat changes in practiceWhat it does not doDoes this affect the Part 107 exam?Who this affects
People who design, produce or modify drones and want to use ParaZero's accepted means of compliance when declaring that an aircraft meets the Category 2 or Category 3 requirements, and pilots who later fly aircraft covered by an accepted declaration.
What the document says
The FAA announces that it has accepted ParaZero's 'ParaZero Part 107 Operations Over People Means of Compliance' (version 1.5, dated February 4, 2026) as an acceptable means of showing compliance with FAA regulations for sUA Category 2 and Category 3 operations over human beings. The Administrator explicitly notes this is an acceptable means but not the only means.
What changes in practice
The FAA accepted ParaZero's specified means of compliance, effective March 2, 2026, without changing the regulations. It is an acceptable means, not the only means, and later revisions of the document need separate FAA acceptance. For pilots, nothing changes until an aircraft has an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance that relies on it.
What it does not do
It does not amend any regulation. It does not create new operational requirements for any operator. It does not accept any particular aircraft, and it does not authorize flights over people. It does not establish a new category, privilege or restriction.
Does this affect the Part 107 exam?
Not this specific acceptance, but the process behind it is on the test. A person designing, producing or modifying the aircraft demonstrates compliance using an FAA-accepted means of compliance and submits a declaration of compliance for FAA acceptance. Before operating over people, the pilot must verify the applicable accepted declaration, the category label, the required configuration and the operating instructions. This notice alone does not authorize flights over people or qualify an aftermarket parachute product.
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
Drone parachute recovery systems
Parachute systems are one way designers keep impacts within the over-people limits. A parachute bought separately does not make a drone eligible for Category 2 or 3: eligibility requires an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance for that specific aircraft and configuration.See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed and updated September 2026.
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