5.8 Special Operations and Considerations

5.8 Special Operations and Considerations

This section covers special operational scenarios and considerations that may appear on the Part 107 exam, including operations from moving vehicles, multiple aircraft operations, and operations near people.

Operations from Moving Vehicles (§107.25)

Part 107 permits operations from a moving land or water vehicle under specific conditions:

Allowed without a waiver if:

• The operation takes place in a sparsely populated area
• The operation is not over people who are not directly participating
• All other Part 107 rules are met (VLOS, altitude, etc.)

Requires a waiver if:

• The operation is in a populated area from a moving vehicle
• Operating from a moving aircraft (always requires a waiver)

Key Distinction: The rule applies to flying the drone FROM a moving vehicle — not the drone flying OVER a moving vehicle. Operations over moving vehicles are covered by the operations-over-people rules.

Multiple Aircraft Operations (§107.35)

Under standard Part 107 rules:

• One person can only operate ONE small UAS at a time
• You cannot control multiple drones simultaneously without a waiver

With a §107.35 waiver:

• The FAA may authorize one pilot to control multiple aircraft
• Must demonstrate safe operation procedures
• Typically requires automated flight planning software
• Each aircraft must still comply with all other Part 107 rules

Operations in the Vicinity of Airports

Even when outside controlled airspace, operating near airports requires extra caution:

• 5 miles from an airport: Best practice to check LAANC even in Class G
• Monitor CTAF/Unicom if you have radio capability
• Watch for traffic pattern activity — aircraft in the pattern may be at 1,000 ft AGL
• Be alert for helicopters — they may operate at low altitudes with non-standard patterns
• Consider notifying the airport — not required in Class G, but good practice

Privacy Considerations

While not a regulatory requirement under Part 107, privacy is an important operational consideration:

• Be aware of state and local privacy laws that may restrict drone photography
• Avoid flying over private property at low altitudes when not necessary for the mission
• Do not capture images/video of areas where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy
• Some states have specific drone privacy laws — know your state's requirements
• FAA has published voluntary best practices for drone privacy

Right-of-Way Rules (§107.37)

In addition to yielding to all manned aircraft:

• A small UAS must not pass over, under, or ahead of another aircraft unless well clear
• When two drones are converging, the drone on the right has the right of way
• A drone overtaking another drone must give way to the drone being overtaken
• In any potential conflict with manned aircraft, the drone always yields

Operating Near Sensitive Areas

Extra caution (and often additional restrictions) applies near:

The "If You Fly, We Can't" Campaign

This FAA campaign highlights a critical safety issue:

• When drones are reported in wildfire areas, firefighting aircraft are grounded
• This delays fire suppression and puts lives at risk
• Violating a wildfire TFR can result in fines up to $20,000 and criminal prosecution
• Always check for wildfire TFRs before flying, especially in the western US during fire season

For the Exam: Know that operations from moving vehicles are only permitted in sparsely populated areas without a waiver, one pilot can only operate one drone at a time without a waiver, and drones near wildfires is a serious safety and legal issue.