ok so my buddy keeps telling me i should just get the 107 even though i dont plan on doing any paid work. he says it opens up more airspace or something? im not totally sure i understand the difference between what i can do with just the recreational rules vs having the actual certificate. i fly a mini 3 pro mostly at parks and open fields, never really tried to fly anywhere that seemed restricted.

the studying looks like a lot of work for something i might not need. but then again ive heard people say the airspace knowledge alone makes you a better and safer pilot which i get. just not sure if i want to spend the $175 test fee and a bunch of time studying for something i wont use

your buddy isnt wrong but its a bit more nuanced than just "opens up airspace." under recreational rules you're supposed to fly only in uncontrolled airspace or get authorization through LAANC just like 107 pilots do, so that part is basically the same now. the real difference is 107 lets you fly for compensation, fly from a moving vehicle in certain situations, get waivers for things like night flight that recreationals cant do, stuff like that.

that said i do think the studying is worth it just from a knowledge standpoint. i knew way more about airspace and weather after studying for 107 than i did after two years of just flying around. whether its worth $175 to you is a personal call though.

i got mine last year mostly just to have it and honestly i dont regret it even though i havent made a single dollar with the drone lol. the studying was annoying but not terrible, took me maybe 4 weeks of casual studying. and yeah the airspace stuff you learn does make you look at every flight differently, in a good way. you start actually checking things before you go out instead of just launching and hoping for the best.

the $175 stings a little but its not that bad spread out over years of flying. and if you ever do want to shoot something for a friend who wants to pay you even like $50 you're covered.