ok so my buddy keeps telling me to get my part 107 but i mostly just fly at local fields and do some light photography on weekend trips, nothing commercial. i looked into it a bit and the test seems pretty involved, like theres actual aviation weather and airspace stuff you have to know which feels like a lot for someone who just wants to fly a mavic around. i guess im just not sure what the actual benefit is if youre not trying to make money with it. does it open up airspace or something? or is it mostly just for people doing paid work. genuinely not sure what the difference is between recreational and commercial rules and whether any of that matters for someone in my situation.

honestly it depends on where you want to fly. recreational flyers have to use the FRIA locations or go through LAANC just like 107 pilots do, so that part isnt really different. where 107 actually helps is if you ever want to fly somewhere that doesnt have recreational authorization available, you have more options to request waivers and stuff. also if you ever change your mind and someone offers you money to shoot something, youre already covered. the test isnt that bad once you sit down and actually study, most people pass first try. i did it just to know the rules properly honestly, felt weird flying around without really understanding the airspace system.

i mean the cynical answer is that if youre purely recreational and flying within the rules you technically dont need it. but i got mine anyway and the main thing i got out of it was just actually understanding wtf all those symbols on the sectional charts mean, which made me a way more aware pilot. i had no idea how close some of my old flying spots were to class D airspace until i really learned to read those things. so kind of worth it just for that even if the certificate itself never comes up