Operations
Night operations: train your eyes and your plan
Review recurrent-training, lighting and visual-perception considerations for operations at night.
Meet the current prerequisites
FAA guidance ties routine Part 107 night operations to updated initial testing or recurrent training and anti-collision lighting visible for at least three statute miles with a sufficient flash rate. Controlled-airspace authorization may still be required.
Protect night vision
Bright screens and direct lights can impair dark adaptation. Set displays and task lighting before launch, then use deliberate scanning rather than staring at one point.
Depth and distance become harder
At night, terrain, wires and unlit obstacles are easier to misjudge. Complete a daylight site survey when practical and set a conservative operating area.
A light is not a waiver
Lighting supports visibility; it does not remove visual-line-of-sight, airspace, weather, people or right-of-way obligations.
Official sources
- FAA: Become a Certificated Remote Pilot
- FAA Remote Pilot sUAS ACS
- FAA Airman Testing
- FAA testing supplements
Current regulations, FAA guidance, authorizations and testing-provider instructions control over this summary.