Certificate Privileges, Limitations and Renewals
Holding a Remote Pilot Certificate is not the end of your regulatory obligations ? it comes with specific privileges, specific limitations, and a few ongoing housekeeping duties. This lesson covers exactly what the certificate lets you do (including supervising another person at the controls), what it does not cover, the requirement to carry and present it, and what happens if you move.
What the certificate authorizes
A Remote Pilot Certificate with an sUAS rating authorizes the holder to act as remote pilot in command of a small unmanned aircraft system under 14 CFR Part 107 ? including for compensation or business purposes, subject to the operating rules covered throughout Module 2 and the recency requirement covered in Lesson H.
It also authorizes something many new pilots don't realize: a certificated remote pilot in command can allow a non-certificated person to manipulate the flight controls, as long as the certificated pilot is directly supervising that person and retains the ability to immediately take direct control of the flight. The certificated remote pilot in command remains fully responsible for the operation either way.
What the certificate does NOT authorize
- It does not cover aircraft 55 lb or heavier: Those require a separate exemption or certification pathway outside standard Part 107, as covered in Lesson A.
- It does not substitute for aircraft registration: Registration under Part 48 is a separate requirement covered in Module 2, tied to the aircraft, not the pilot.
- It does not by itself authorize flight in controlled airspace: Separate airspace authorization (LAANC or FAA DroneZone, covered in Module 3) is still required where applicable.
- It is not a manned-aircraft pilot certificate: It carries no authority to act as pilot in command of any manned aircraft.
- It does not remain exercisable without current recency: As covered in Lesson H, privileges depend on satisfying the 24-month recency requirement under 14 CFR 107.65.
Carrying and presenting your certificate
14 CFR 107.7(a)(1) requires a remote pilot in command to have the certificate, along with identification, in their physical possession and readily accessible whenever exercising the certificate's privileges. 107.7(a)(2) further requires presenting that certificate and identification for inspection upon request from the FAA Administrator, the National Transportation Safety Board, federal, state, or local law enforcement, or the Transportation Security Administration.
This is a real, enforceable operating requirement, not a formality ? a remote pilot who cannot produce their certificate and ID when lawfully asked during an operation is not in compliance with 107.7, independent of whether the flight itself was otherwise conducted safely.
Keeping your FAA record current: the 30-day address rule
If you move, 14 CFR 107.77 requires you to notify the FAA of your new permanent mailing address. If you do not notify the FAA within 30 days of the change, you may not exercise the certificate's privileges until you do ? this is a real limitation with real teeth, not a suggestion. Notification can be made by letter to the FAA Airman Certification Branch or through the FAA's website, and either method requires your new permanent mailing address (or current residential address, if using a P.O. box).
A name change (for example, due to marriage) follows a different, document-based process: the certificate holder submits the current certificate along with supporting documentation, such as a marriage license or court order, verifying the name change.
Real-world scenario: a two-person inspection crew
Nadia holds a current Remote Pilot Certificate and is training a new hire, Owen, who has not yet passed the Knowledge Test. During a bridge-inspection job, Nadia lets Owen manipulate the controls while she stands close enough to take over instantly if needed, and she remains legally responsible for the entire flight as remote pilot in command ? this is fully compliant with 107.12. Three months later, Nadia moves to a new apartment and, in the busy weeks after the move, forgets to update her address with the FAA. On day 35 after the move, she is technically no longer authorized to exercise her certificate's privileges under 107.77, even though nothing about her flying skill or the aircraft has changed ? a purely administrative lapse with real operational consequences until she updates her address.
| Obligation | Requirement | Consequence if not met | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carry certificate/ID | Physical possession and readily accessible while exercising privileges | Non-compliance if unable to present upon lawful request | 14 CFR 107.7(a)(1) |
| Present upon request | Show certificate/ID to FAA, NTSB, law enforcement, or TSA when asked | Non-compliance | 14 CFR 107.7(a)(2) |
| Report address change | Notify FAA within 30 days of a permanent address change | Cannot exercise certificate privileges until notified | 14 CFR 107.77 |
| Maintain recency | Satisfy a recency pathway every 24 calendar months | Cannot exercise certificate privileges until recency restored | 14 CFR 107.65 |
| Supervise non-certificated operators properly | Direct supervision with ability to immediately take control | Operation is non-compliant; remote PIC remains responsible regardless | 14 CFR 107.12 |
Updating your address with the FAA
Do this within 30 days of any permanent address change to avoid a privileges lapse.
Confirm your new permanent mailing address
If it's a P.O. box, have your current residential address ready as well, since both may be required.
Choose a notification method
Notify the FAA either by letter to the FAA Airman Certification Branch, or through the FAA's website portal.
Keep confirmation of the update
Retain any confirmation of the change for your own records, the same way you'd keep your recurrent training completion records from Lesson H.
| Mistake | Why it happens | Correct understanding | Regulation / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| "I can let anyone fly under my certificate as long as I'm nearby." | Overgeneralizing the supervision provision | Supervision requires the ability to immediately take direct control ? casual nearby presence isn't sufficient, and the certificated pilot remains fully responsible. | 14 CFR 107.12(a)(2) |
| "The certificate itself needs to be renewed periodically, like a driver's license." | Confusing recency requirements with certificate renewal | The certificate document does not expire or need renewal; only ongoing recency (Lesson H) governs whether privileges can be exercised. | 14 CFR 107.65 |
| "Moving doesn't affect my certificate as long as I still have it." | Underestimating the administrative address-change requirement | Failing to notify the FAA of an address change within 30 days suspends the ability to exercise certificate privileges. | 14 CFR 107.77 |
Can I let a friend or employee fly if I'm not certificated myself?
No ? the person acting as remote pilot in command must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate. A non-certificated person may only manipulate the controls under the direct, immediate-takeover-capable supervision of someone who does hold the certificate.
Do I need to carry the physical plastic certificate at all times?
You must have your certificate and ID in physical possession and readily accessible whenever you're exercising the certificate's privileges (i.e., flying under Part 107), and be able to present them upon lawful request from the FAA, NTSB, law enforcement, or TSA.
What happens if I forget to update my address with the FAA after moving?
After 30 days from the move, you may not legally exercise your certificate's privileges until you notify the FAA of the new address ? regardless of your flying skill or aircraft condition.
Test Your Knowledge
Answer the questions below to check your understanding. Every answer can be found in the lesson above.