Choosing Your First Serious Drone
Start with mission, operating environment and total ownership cost—not megapixels.
Unstrucked learning trackLearn the whole system.
Foundational buying, flight, maintenance, regulatory and professional knowledge—with direct paths to official training and compliance resources.
The Part 107 Roadmap
A structured path from study plan to lawful commercial operations.
Unstrucked learning trackDrone Battery Discipline
Storage, charging, temperature and retirement practices that protect the aircraft.
Unstrucked learning trackBuilding a Mapping Workflow
Aircraft, control points, capture planning, processing and client-ready outputs.
Unstrucked learning trackU.S. PILOT PATH
Training & certification.
Use these official FAA resources for certification, testing, registration and operational permissions.
Commercial certificate
Become an FAA Remote Pilot
The official Part 107 eligibility, testing and certification path for commercial drone pilots.
Start the Part 107 path ↗Recreational requirementTake the TRUST Safety Test
The FAA's official page for the Recreational UAS Safety Test and approved test administrators.
Open TRUST resources ↗Study materialsPrepare for Part 107
Official FAA study materials and references for the aeronautical knowledge test.
View study resources ↗Recurrent trainingKeep Your Certificate Current
Official online recurrent training information for certificated remote pilots.
Review recurrent training ↗RegistrationRegister Your Drone
Determine whether registration is required and complete the process through the FAA.
Check registration rules ↗Equipment complianceUnderstand Remote ID
Official Remote ID requirements, compliance options and operating guidance.
Review Remote ID ↗Controlled airspaceRequest Airspace Authorization
FAA guidance for Part 107 airspace authorizations, including LAANC and DroneZone pathways.
Explore airspace access ↗Special operationsPart 107 Waivers
Find waiver guidance and application resources for operations outside a standard Part 107 rule.
Review waiver guidance ↗CALIFORNIA
State requirements.
Federal aviation rules still apply. These state resources cover public lands and filming permits; always check city, county and site-specific restrictions too.
State land
California State Parks
Official guidance for drone use in California State Parks, including location-specific closures and superintendent orders.
Check park restrictions ↗Production permitsFilming with Drones
California Film Commission requirements for drone filming under a state film permit.
Review filming requirements ↗Parks and beachesState Location Permits
Permit guidance for commercial filming on state parks, beaches, trails and related property.
Check location permits ↗Roadway operationsCaltrans Filming Permits
Official requirements for filming on or near California state highways and freeways.
Review Caltrans permits ↗