FAA Part 107 Rule Changes re: Showing RPIC to LEO etc. . .

BigAl07

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 8, 2019
Messages
29
Reaction score
14
Age
53
Location
Western North Carolina
This is for Part 107 Operations ONLY right now . . . (Recreational your day is coming in just a couple of months)

Specifically in regards to WHO you must legally show your ID and Part 107 Credentials to:
Up until 4/21/21 a RPIC is only required to show their RPIC Certificate to FAA Officials requesting it. This changes with the New Rules for Part 107 that were created December 28th 2020, added to the Federal Register on March 16th 2021, and will go into Full Force/Effect on April 21st, 2021. As of 4/21/21 you will be required to provide a Hard Copy (electronic version is NOT accepted, PHYSICAL COPY REQUIRED) of ID, RPIC, Proof of Currency, Registration, and any other "required FAA Documents" upon any request from someone with the following agencies:

  • FAA
  • NTSB
  • TSA
  • and any Federal, state, or local Law Enforcement Officer

This includes your ID, RPIC, Proof of Recurrency, Aircraft Registration, and any other "Document, Record, or Report Required to be kept under FAA regulations"!! This means a physical copy (plastic/paper) and not merely an electronic version on your phone/tablet etc. A Physical Copy must be shown if requested by those agencies! If you do not comply you are not in compliance with Part 107.

Here is the actual wording from the Executive Summary about this topic (notice it's all of the items below not pick & choose):

Inspection, testing, and demonstration of compliance
A remote pilot in command, owner, or person manipulating the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system must:
  • • Have in that person’s physical possession and readily accessible the remote pilot certificate with a small UAS rating and identification when exercising the privileges of that remote pilot certificate.
  • • Present his or her remote pilot certificate and identification upon a request from the FAA, NTSB, TSA, or any Federal, state, or local law enforcement officer.
  • • Make available, upon request, to the FAA any document, record, or report required to be kept under FAA regulations.
  • • Upon request, must allow the FAA to test or inspect the small unmanned aircraft system, the remote pilot in command, the person manipulating the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system, and, if applicable, the visual observer to determine compliance with the rule.

If you are flying under a Recurrency (anyone who isn't in their first 24 months of UAS operation are the only ones who would be) you have to have a printed copy of your most recent Proof of Currency with you. That's a print out of your FAA Document showing satisfactory completion of the Recurrency Test/Training. You should also have your plastic RPIC on hand as well IMHO.

Here is a link to the Executive Summary which includes OOP, Night Flight w/o Waiver and the other new aspects of Part 107 going into effect later this month:
 
Has the requirement for a PHYSICAL copy of said documents been specifically referenced in law, OTHER than the UAS license card and ID?

In general the FAA has said that Electronic documents have the same force as physical copies, specifically for manned aviation . The rule above only says 'present' and 'make available' which from the clarifications I have read from the FAA can mean in 'electronic flight bag' [which PDF copies have been accepted as meeting.]

I'm asking for clarification because the FAA has made a big deal out of 'harmonizing the rules' for manned and unmanned and this would seem to fly directly in the face of such.
 
Has the requirement for a PHYSICAL copy of said documents been specifically referenced in law, OTHER than the UAS license card and ID?

In general the FAA has said that Electronic documents have the same force as physical copies, specifically for manned aviation . The rule above only says 'present' and 'make available' which from the clarifications I have read from the FAA can mean in 'electronic flight bag' [which PDF copies have been accepted as meeting.]

I'm asking for clarification because the FAA has made a big deal out of 'harmonizing the rules' for manned and unmanned and this would seem to fly directly in the face of such.

I'm just going by my training sessions and the Executive Summary. You may want to reach out to LEGAL for that information.
 
I guess that really answers my question - this is something that someone else TOLD you, not anything specifically referenced in law.
--EDIT--
Allow me to rephrase - I am seeking clarification on the details of this matter because they make a difference - I very much seek to be in compliance, but [as many folks] I'm also trying to make compliance as small a burden as possible. The details on what I must have physically printed versus carried on an electronic device make a difference in that burden of compliance.

My assumption was that as an Administrator on this site and a member of the DSPA you had much better resources than myself and might thus be able to clarify. However, the above response led me to believe that the OG post information was more in the realm of interpretation, but was presented more as fact. It remains unclear to me whether it is the former or the latter.

I can be a bit direct in phrasing. I am intending no affront.

I mean it when I say thank you. I really do appreciate all the time and effort you volunteer for this site and all the others.
--EDIT--

Thanks for bringing it up.
 
Last edited:
I guess that really answers my question - this is something that someone else TOLD you, not anything specifically referenced in law.


Thanks for bringing it up.


Listen, I volunteer my time here to try and share the information given from my uppers at the FAA. Take it and do with it whatever you want (ignoring it is fine with me) but I can assure you this will be the last time I address you on this topic.

Allen
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
13,093
Messages
147,741
Members
16,048
Latest member
ihatethatihavetomakeanacc