FAA rules strictly ban flying drones over open-air crowds and assemblies of people unless you operate under specific Part 107 regulations, use an ultra-light drone under 0.55 lbs with no exposed rotating parts, or hold an approved FAA waiver. Waivers take 90-120 days to get approved so please plan accordingly. We can file the waiver request but the FAA controls the process and we are subject to their processes, rules and regulations

General Prohibitions and Exceptions

No Crowds: Sustained flight, hovering, or looping over open-air assemblies (like concerts, sports matches, or festivals) is illegal for recreational flyers and standard commercial operations.

Participant Rule: You can only fly over people directly involved in the safe operation of the drone, such as the pilot or visual observer. Bystanders, actors, or crowds do not count as participants.

Covered Protection: Flight over uninvolved people is permitted only if those people remain inside a stationary vehicle or under a protective covered structure that shields them from a falling drone.

Part 107 Operations Over People Categories

We hold a remote pilot certificate via FAA Part 107, and can fly over people using a tiered risk system:

Category 1: Drones weighing 0.55 lbs (250g) or less with no exposed rotating parts that can cause lacerations.

Category 2 & 3: Drones that do not exceed specific kinetic energy impact thresholds (measured in foot-pounds of energy upon transfer) and meet distinct FAA design requirements.

Category 4: Drones with an active airworthiness certificate issued under specific FAA standards.

Note: Most consumer drones (such as popular sub-250g models) still lack official Category compliance for unprotected crowd flights unless equipped with specialized certified accessories or separate operational waivers.