Sept. 4, 2025
YDQA: Ep 120- "When Do You Actually Need a Remote Pilot Certificate in the U.S.?"
In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, Chris breaks down one of the most common sources of confusion for new drone operators: When do you really need a Remote Pilot Certificate under FAA rules?
Chris walks through:
- FAA registration requirements and how they compare to Transport Canada
- The role of intent in determining whether an operation is recreational or non-recreational
- Remote ID requirements for both micro drones and larger drones
- Practical scenarios, including flying under supervision, training before certification, and nonprofit use cases
If you’re trying to figure out where the line is drawn—or what applies if you’re using a sub-250g drone like the DJI Mini series—this episode clears up the gray areas.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone
https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers
https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/2019-2020-AA-33_INFOGRAPHIC_EN_V8.pdf
