Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) Requirements
Part 107 is fundamentally a visual line of sight rule ? the flight crew must be able to actually see the aircraft with their own eyes throughout the flight, not fly it purely by camera feed or instruments. 14 CFR 107.31 defines exactly what "seeing" the aircraft legally requires, who can provide that capability, and how it applies across the entire flight. This lesson works through the rule in full, including how FPV (first-person-view) flying legally fits within it.
What "unaided vision" means
The regulation requires the remote pilot in command, the visual observer (if used), and the person manipulating the controls to be able to see the unmanned aircraft with unaided vision ? meaning their own natural eyesight, not through a device like binoculars, a telescope, or FPV goggles. Corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses) are explicitly permitted, since they simply correct vision to a normal baseline rather than extending or replacing it the way an optical or video aid would.
The four things VLOS must let you determine
Simply being able to see a speck in the sky isn't enough on its own ? the regulation specifies what that visual capability must actually let the flight crew determine about the aircraft and surrounding airspace:
- The aircraft's location: where it currently is in the sky.
- Attitude, altitude, and direction of flight: its orientation and roughly how high and which way it's heading.
- Observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards: actively scanning for other aircraft or obstacles, not just tracking the drone itself.
- Determine that the aircraft does not endanger the life or property of another: the ultimate safety judgment VLOS exists to support.
Who provides this capability, and for how long
107.31(b) requires this visual capability throughout the entire flight, and allows it to be provided in either of two ways: by the remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls together, or by a designated visual observer (Lesson F covers the visual observer role in full). Either arrangement satisfies the rule, but the capability must exist continuously ? there is no provision allowing the aircraft to leave VLOS for any portion of a standard Part 107 flight.
How FPV (first-person-view) flying legally fits in
FPV flying ? piloting through video goggles showing the aircraft's onboard camera feed ? does not itself satisfy 107.31's unaided-vision requirement, since goggles are a video aid, not natural eyesight. FPV flying is legal under Part 107, but only when a separate visual observer maintains genuine unaided-vision VLOS of the aircraft throughout the flight, coordinating with the FPV pilot per the visual observer duties covered in Lesson F. The FPV pilot alone, wearing goggles with no visual observer present, is not compliant with 107.31.
Real-world scenario: an FPV freestyle video shoot
A production company hires an FPV pilot to capture fast, close-in aerial footage for a commercial. The FPV pilot wears video goggles throughout the flight and cannot see the aircraft directly while flying. To remain compliant with 107.31, a second crew member acts as a dedicated visual observer, watching the actual aircraft with unaided vision (glasses permitted) for the entire flight, maintaining constant communication with the FPV pilot per 107.33's coordination requirements, and ready to warn of any hazard the FPV pilot's camera view might miss. Without that visual observer, the same flight would violate 107.31.
Compliant FPV flying requires a separate visual observer maintaining genuine unaided-vision VLOS.
View Larger| Element | Requirement | Permitted / not permitted | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision aid | Unaided vision | Corrective lenses permitted; binoculars, telescopes, FPV goggles not permitted as the sole means | 14 CFR 107.31(a) |
| Duration | Throughout the entire flight | No portion of a standard flight may occur outside VLOS | 14 CFR 107.31(b) |
| Who provides it | RPIC + controls operator together, OR a visual observer | Either arrangement satisfies the rule | 14 CFR 107.31(b) |
| FPV goggles | Permitted for the pilot only if paired with a visual observer providing VLOS | Not permitted for the pilot alone with no visual observer | 14 CFR 107.31; 107.33 |
| Mistake | Why it happens | Correct understanding | Regulation / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Binoculars are fine as long as I can technically still see the drone." | Assuming any form of "seeing" satisfies the rule | Only unaided vision (corrective lenses permitted) satisfies 107.31 ? optical aids like binoculars do not. | 14 CFR 107.31(a) |
| "FPV flying is illegal under Part 107." | Overgeneralizing the unaided-vision requirement to ban goggles entirely | FPV flying is legal when a visual observer independently maintains VLOS ? the goggles just can't be the pilot's only means of compliance. | 14 CFR 107.31; 107.33 |
| "VLOS only needs to be maintained during takeoff and landing." | Underestimating the "entire flight" requirement | VLOS must be maintained continuously throughout the entire flight, not just at critical phases. | 14 CFR 107.31(b) |
Can I use binoculars to help maintain visual line of sight?
No, not as your means of satisfying 107.31 ? the requirement is for unaided vision, and binoculars are an optical aid beyond corrective lenses. A pilot relying on binoculars to see the aircraft is not compliant.
Is FPV (goggle) flying legal under Part 107?
Yes, but only when paired with a separate visual observer who independently maintains unaided-vision VLOS of the aircraft throughout the flight. The FPV pilot's goggle view does not itself satisfy 107.31.
Does VLOS need to be maintained the entire flight, or just during critical moments like takeoff and landing?
The entire flight. 107.31(b) specifies the required visual capability must be exercised throughout the entire flight, with no exception for cruise or other phases.
Test Your Knowledge
Answer the questions below to check your understanding. Every answer can be found in the lesson above.