Falsification, Reproduction or Alteration of Certificates
14 CFR 107.5 protects the integrity of every record, report, and certificate Part 107 relies on ? from the Form 8710-13 application covered in Module 1 to the maintenance records covered in Module 10. This lesson covers exactly what conduct is prohibited and the three distinct consequences the FAA can pursue when it is.
Prohibited act 1: fraudulent or intentionally false records/reports
107.5(a)(1) prohibits making, or causing to be made, any fraudulent or intentionally false record or report that is required to be made, kept, or used to show compliance with any Part 107 requirement. This covers a wide range of documentation ? maintenance records (Module 10), the required documents referenced in the previous lesson's 107.7(a)(3), and any other record used to demonstrate compliance.
Prohibited act 2: fraudulent reproduction or alteration
107.5(a)(2) separately prohibits any reproduction or alteration, for a fraudulent purpose, of any certificate, rating, authorization, record, or report issued or used under Part 107. This directly targets things like creating a fake Remote Pilot Certificate, digitally altering an existing certificate, or falsifying an authorization document to misrepresent one's actual qualifications or permissions.
What triggers the rule: fraud or intentional falsity, not honest error
Both prohibited acts require a fraudulent purpose or intentional falsity ? the rule targets deliberate deception, not an honest paperwork mistake made in good faith. That said, this is not a license to be careless with records; the burden is on demonstrating the error genuinely wasn't intentional or fraudulent, which is a very different position to be in than simply correcting an honest mistake promptly when discovered.
The three possible consequences
Committing a prohibited act under 107.5(a) is a basis for any of three distinct consequences: denial of an application for a remote pilot certificate or a certificate of waiver, suspension or revocation of any certificate, waiver, or declaration of compliance issued or accepted by the FAA and held by that person, and a civil penalty. These are not mutually exclusive ? a serious violation could result in more than one of these consequences.
Real-world scenario: falsifying an application versus falsifying a maintenance record
Recall from Module 1, Lesson G that submitting false information on FAA Form 8710-13 is exactly the kind of conduct 107.5(a)(1) targets ? an intentionally false record used to show compliance with the certification requirements. Separately, an operator who discovers a crack in a propeller during a preflight inspection but deliberately records the inspection as "no defects found" to avoid delaying a paid job has also created a fraudulent record under 107.5(a)(1), even though the falsified document is a maintenance log rather than a certificate application. Both scenarios expose the person to the same three possible consequences under 107.5(b).
| Element | Description | Example | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prohibited act 1 | Fraudulent or intentionally false record/report | Falsifying a maintenance log entry | 107.5(a)(1) |
| Prohibited act 2 | Fraudulent reproduction or alteration of a certificate/record | Creating or altering a fake Remote Pilot Certificate | 107.5(a)(2) |
| Consequence 1 | Denial of a certificate or waiver application | Application rejected outright | 107.5(b)(1) |
| Consequence 2 | Suspension or revocation of a held certificate/waiver/declaration | Existing Remote Pilot Certificate revoked | 107.5(b)(2) |
| Consequence 3 | Civil penalty | Monetary fine | 107.5(b)(3) |
| Mistake | Why it happens | Correct understanding | Regulation / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| "107.5 only applies to the Remote Pilot Certificate itself." | Focusing narrowly on the word "certificate" in the rule's title | The rule also covers ratings, authorizations, records, and reports, not just the certificate document. | 14 CFR 107.5(a) |
| "Any incorrect entry on a form violates 107.5." | Overlooking the fraud/intentional-falsity requirement | The rule targets fraudulent or intentionally false conduct, not honest, good-faith mistakes. | 14 CFR 107.5(a) |
| "The only consequence for violating 107.5 is a fine." | Assuming civil penalties are the sole enforcement tool | Denial of an application and suspension/revocation of an existing certificate are also possible consequences, independent of any civil penalty. | 14 CFR 107.5(b) |
Does an honest mistake on a form violate 107.5?
No, not by itself. The rule targets fraudulent or intentionally false conduct ? a good-faith error, especially one corrected promptly, is a different situation from deliberate falsification.
What kinds of documents does 107.5 protect beyond the certificate itself?
Ratings, authorizations, records, and reports required to be made, kept, or used to show compliance with Part 107 ? a much broader category than just the physical certificate.
Can a single violation of 107.5 lead to more than one consequence?
Yes. Application denial, certificate suspension or revocation, and civil penalty are not mutually exclusive ? a serious violation could involve more than one.
Test Your Knowledge
Answer the questions below to check your understanding. Every answer can be found in the lesson above.