DiscoverYour Drone Questions. Answered.YDQA: Ep 120- "When Do You Actually Need a Remote Pilot Certificate in the U.S.?"
YDQA: Ep 120- "When Do You Actually Need a Remote Pilot Certificate in the U.S.?"

YDQA: Ep 120- "When Do You Actually Need a Remote Pilot Certificate in the U.S.?"

Update: 2025-09-04
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Description

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

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YDQA: Ep 120- "When Do You Actually Need a Remote Pilot Certificate in the U.S.?"

YDQA: Ep 120- "When Do You Actually Need a Remote Pilot Certificate in the U.S.?"

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