Good news for drone enthusiasts and professionals! If you’ve ever wondered, Can You Fly A Drone At Night?, the answer is now a resounding yes. Both drone pilots operating under Part 107 certification and recreational drone pilots have been granted the freedom to fly their drones during nighttime hours without the previously required waivers. This significant change, however, comes with a crucial stipulation: drones must be equipped with effective anti-collision lights visible from a distance of at least three statute miles. For Part 107 certified pilots, there might also be a quick online course on the FAA Safety website to complete to unlock this nighttime flying privilege.
Prior to mid-2021, professional drone pilots seeking to conduct nighttime operations faced a cumbersome waiver application process. These updated regulations streamline the process, offering greater flexibility to drone pilots and reducing administrative burden on the FAA. Let’s delve into the essential details you need to know about legally and safely flying drones at night.
Decoding the New Part 107 Night Flying Regulations
As of April 21, 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has permitted Part 107 licensed drone pilots to fly at night, provided they meet two key conditions. Firstly, pilots must complete either an online recurrent training course or an updated initial knowledge test. Secondly, their drones must be fitted with anti-collision lighting. These lights need to be visible for a minimum of three statute miles and emit flashes at a frequency sufficient to prevent potential collisions.
We will explore the specifics of anti-collision lighting shortly. For now, let’s clarify how these new regulations apply to different categories of Part 107 pilots based on their certification status.
For Currently Certified Part 107 Pilots
If you obtained your Part 107 certificate or completed your recurrent training on or after April 21, 2021, you are already authorized to conduct legal drone flights at night without needing to apply for a waiver.
For Aspiring Part 107 Pilots
If you are in the process of obtaining your Part 107 license, the application process itself remains largely unchanged. The primary difference lies in the content of the knowledge test. With night operations now permissible, expect to encounter questions that assess your understanding of safe nighttime drone flying practices and associated risks.
To effectively prepare you for the knowledge test, resources like the Part 107 Made Easy course from Pilot Institute have been updated to incorporate comprehensive modules on night operations. Existing students with lifetime access can also access these updated learning materials.
Beyond certification, the second critical aspect of nighttime drone operations is equipping your drone with appropriate anti-collision lights. It’s important to note that standard stock lights on most drones typically do not meet the FAA’s visibility requirements. Therefore, investing in third-party anti-collision lights is generally necessary to ensure compliance and safety.
Night Flying Rules for Recreational Drone Pilots
Interestingly, even before these Part 107 regulation updates, recreational drone flights at night were not explicitly prohibited. However, with the introduction of Community-Based Organization (CBO) guidelines for recreational flyers, a new requirement has emerged. Drones operated recreationally at night must now also be equipped with anti-collision lights. It’s worth noting that at the time of writing, the FPV Freedom Coalition CBO guidelines offer a conditional exception: strobe lights are not mandatory if ambient lighting conditions are sufficient to maintain visual line of sight with the drone. Despite this, using a strobe light is highly recommended to maximize visibility, particularly to manned aircraft, further enhancing safety during recreational night flights.
Selecting the Right Anti-Collision Lights
With the relaxed regulations on night operations, many drone pilots are now actively seeking suitable anti-collision lights. To assist in this selection process, Pilot Institute has conducted tests on a range of popular anti-collision lights, evaluating their features and nighttime visibility.
Detailed findings of these tests are available in this comprehensive article. For a quick overview, here are three top-recommended anti-collision lights based on their performance:
- FireHouse Arc V
- LumeCube Strobe
- FireHouse Arc 2
While all tested lights technically meet FAA requirements, these three models stood out for their superior visibility when mounted on drones during nighttime flights.
Utilizing LAANC for Night Flights in Controlled Airspace
The Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system, used for requesting airspace authorizations, has been updated to accommodate nighttime drone operations within controlled airspace. This advancement benefits both Part 107 certified and recreational drone pilots.
To fly at night in controlled airspace, simply submit an airspace authorization request through LAANC. As part of the request, you will specify the intended hours of operation for your drone flight. It’s important to remember that all other regulations pertaining to nighttime operations remain applicable when flying in controlled airspace.
Remote ID and Nighttime Drone Operations: Clarifying the Connection
Remote ID is a separate regulatory requirement and is not directly tied to the ability to fly drones at night. You can legally fly your drone at night, provided you adhere to the nighttime operation rules, regardless of whether your drone is equipped with Remote ID technology.
However, Remote ID is an impending requirement for drone operations in the US. The FAA’s timeline mandates that all drones manufactured for sale in the US must incorporate Remote ID capabilities before the end of 2022. Furthermore, by late 2023, virtually all drones operating within the national airspace (with limited exceptions in designated areas) will need to be equipped with Remote ID modules. At that point, the question of whether you can you fly a drone at night? will be independent of Remote ID – your drone will need Remote ID regardless of the time of day or whether you are flying recreationally or commercially.
Final Thoughts on Night Drone Flying
The ability to fly drones at night without the additional step of obtaining waivers represents a significant enhancement for drone pilots. This flexibility has been further extended to controlled airspace through the streamlined LAANC system. This regulatory evolution not only provides operational advantages for pilots but also reduces the workload associated with waiver processing for the FAA.
This example illustrates the dynamic nature of drone legislation. The FAA’s progressive approach demonstrates support for the growing drone pilot community. In return, it is crucial for drone pilots to prioritize compliance with all regulations, ensuring that nighttime drone operations remain safe and responsible for everyone.
