Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems • ACS Area I, Task E

The Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan determine that the applicant is knowledgeable of the operating rules of 14 CFR parts 89 and 107, and the associated operating requirements when operating over people.

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
    0:05
    Part 2, Operations Over People:
    0:10
    Part 3, Operations Over People Risk Management:
    0:10
    Part 4, Operations Over People Guided Scenario(s):
    0:15
    Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    0:10
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • Research and present a mishap case study:
      • Ask the learner to describe prior knowledge or experience related to operations over people.
    • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap.
    • Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap.
    • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario.

  • Motivator:

    • Explain how proficiency in operations over people supports safe and effective flight operations.

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Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Materials

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Introduce the lesson:
  • Part 2, Operations Over People:
    • The remote pilot in command remains responsible for the safety and legality of an operation over people. Before flight, identify the applicable category, verify that the aircraft is eligible and properly labeled, confirm any required FAA-accepted declaration of compliance, use the declared configuration, and determine that the aircraft is in a condition for safe operation. (UA.I.E.K1)
    • Night does not change the applicable operations-over-people category or its restrictions. A night operation must also meet the training and anti-collision-light requirements of 14 CFR § 107.29. (UA.I.E.K2)
    • Review the four operating categories. (UA.I.E.K3)
      • Category 1: The aircraft weighs 0.55 pound or less throughout the operation, including everything aboard or attached, and has no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin. Sustained flight over an open-air assembly also requires the applicable Remote ID compliance.
      • Category 2: The aircraft meets the 11-foot-pound injury-severity criterion, has no exposed rotating parts that would lacerate skin, has no safety defects, is properly labeled, and is listed on an FAA-accepted declaration of compliance. Sustained flight over an open-air assembly also requires the applicable Remote ID compliance.
      • Category 3: The aircraft meets the corresponding 25-foot-pound criterion, exposed-rotor and safety-defect criteria, labeling requirement, and declaration requirement. Category 3 may not operate over an open-air assembly. Operations above people must meet the closed/restricted-site notice rule or the rule limiting sustained flight over nonparticipants.
      • Category 4: The aircraft has a part 21 airworthiness certificate, its FAA-approved operating limitations permit operations over people, and the aircraft is maintained, inspected, and documented as required by § 107.140.
    • Select an operational area by considering normal and possible failure flightpaths, people and moving vehicles, open-air assemblies, weather, terrain and structures, access controls, and contingency or emergency-landing areas. (UA.I.E.K4)
    • Part 107 does not prescribe one numeric standoff distance from people. Select and continually reevaluate a safe distance based on aircraft performance, course, speed, maneuverability, environmental conditions, people and vehicles, terrain, possible failures, emergency options, and pilot capability. (UA.I.E.K5)
    • For Categories 1 through 3, operation over occupants of moving vehicles is permitted only when the aircraft remains within or over a closed or restricted-access site and the occupants are on notice, or when the aircraft does not maintain sustained flight over the moving vehicles. Category 4 follows its approved operating limitations. (UA.I.E.K6)
    • A Category 3 closed or restricted-access site is a ground-access-control concept, not charted restricted airspace. Prevent inadvertent or unauthorized entry through barriers, monitoring personnel, geographic boundaries, or similar controls; notify everyone inside that an sUAS may fly over them; and do not operate over an open-air assembly. (UA.I.E.K8)
    • For Category 2 and 3 aircraft, remote pilot operating instructions describe the system, required components, limitations, eligible categories, allowable modifications, and how to verify or change any variable mode or configuration. Use only required and optional components or payloads permitted for the intended category. (UA.I.E.K9) (UA.I.E.K10)
    • A modification not permitted by the instructions may make a Category 2 or 3 aircraft ineligible. A person seeking to operate the modified aircraft over people must assume applicant responsibilities, demonstrate compliance using an FAA-accepted means of compliance, submit a new declaration of compliance, and relabel the aircraft as necessary.
    • A means of compliance is an FAA-accepted test, analysis, or inspection method for showing that a Category 2 or 3 design meets the applicable injury-severity, exposed-rotor, and safety-defect criteria. A declaration of compliance applies that accepted method to identified aircraft and must be accepted by the FAA; a rescinded declaration may not support an operation over people.
    • Maintain the aircraft in its eligible configuration and safe condition, follow current instructions and defect notices, and use permitted parts and modifications. Category 4 has additional maintenance, inspection, parts-quality, and recordkeeping requirements.
    • Under the FAA-provided method, impact kinetic energy equals 0.0155 multiplied by weight in pounds and the square of impact speed in feet per second. Because speed is squared, a percentage increase in speed raises energy more than the same percentage increase in weight. (UA.I.E.K16)
    • Category 1, 2, and 3 aircraft may not contain exposed rotating parts that would lacerate human skin on impact. Category 2 and 3 applicants demonstrate this requirement through an FAA-accepted means of compliance. (UA.I.E.K17)
    • Primary references: 14 CFR part 107, subpart D, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)'s Operations Over People overview, and AC 107-2A.
  • Part 3, Operations Over People Risk Management:
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of collision hazards.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of low altitude maneuvering, including stall, spin and controlled flight into terrain risks.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of distractions, task prioritization, situational awareness, and disorientation.
    • Elicit prior knowledge, then establish the operational relevance of runway incursion risks.
    • Approved syllabus objective coverage:
      • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain how optional components affect category eligibility, configuration control, labeling, injury limitations, and the approved operating configuration. (UA.I.E.K11)
      • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the compliance responsibilities for applicant-produced, designed, or modified sUAS intended for operations over people. (UA.I.E.K12)
      • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain the purpose, required content, acceptance, availability, and continuing significance of a Declaration of Compliance. (UA.I.E.K13)
      • Apply manufacturer instructions, configuration control, inspection, recordkeeping, and discrepancy resolution to maintain eligibility for operations over people. (UA.I.E.K14)
      • Use an aircraft- or scenario-specific example, then have the learner explain how an accepted Means of Compliance demonstrates that an aircraft satisfies the applicable injury and exposed-rotating-part requirements. (UA.I.E.K15)
      • Select an operational area that controls access, exposure, flight path, contingencies, moving vehicles, and the consequences of loss of control. (UA.I.E.K4)
      • Apply the applicable category and operational rules to determine permissible proximity and exposure to people rather than relying on a universal distance. (UA.I.E.K5)
      • Explain how modifications can invalidate category eligibility, labeling, declarations, or an accepted configuration and require renewed compliance action. (UA.I.E.K7)
  • Part 4, Operations Over People Guided Scenario(s):
    • Present a filming mission over a changing crowd and moving vehicles; require the learner to determine the aircraft category, declarations, labeling, maintenance, operational-area controls, exposure limits, and whether the operation must be modified or stopped.
  • Part 5, Conclude Lesson:
    • Relate lesson to power-on stalls.
    • Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Interactive Guided Scenario

Interactive Guided Scenario

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Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Student Actions

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Airman Certification Standards

Knowledge 17 ACS Elements
  • UA.I.E.K1:
    Remote pilot responsibilities when operating over people
  • UA.I.E.K2:
    Operations over people at night
  • UA.I.E.K3:
    Category of operations, including:
    • UA.I.E.K3a:
      Category 1
    • UA.I.E.K3b:
      Category 2
    • UA.I.E.K3c:
      Category 3
    • UA.I.E.K3d:
      Category 4
  • UA.I.E.K4:
    Selecting an operational area
  • UA.I.E.K5:
    Minimum distances from a person
  • UA.I.E.K6:
    Operations over moving vehicles
  • UA.I.E.K7:
    Modifications to an sUAS
  • UA.I.E.K8:
    Closed and restricted access sites
  • UA.I.E.K9:
    Remote Pilot operating instructions
  • UA.I.E.K10:
    Required components and Category declaration
  • UA.I.E.K11:
    Optional components
  • UA.I.E.K12:
    Applicant produced, designed, or modified sUAS for operations over people
  • UA.I.E.K13:
    Declaration of Compliance (DoC)
  • UA.I.E.K14:
    Maintenance of an sUAS that is eligible for operations over people
  • UA.I.E.K15:
    Means of Compliance (MoC)
  • UA.I.E.K16:
    Impact kinetic energy
  • UA.I.E.K17:
    Exposed rotating parts
Risk Management 1 ACS Element
  • :

    NA:

    Reserved.
Skills 1 ACS Element
  • :

    NA:

    Not Applicable.
Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Over People Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Operations Over People builds the knowledge and disciplined operating habits remote pilots need to conduct safe, compliant small UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) missions.
    • Understanding how aircraft limitations, weather, airspace, people, and mission objectives interact helps remote pilots recognize hazards before launch and respond as conditions change.
    • Consistent inspections, crew coordination, communication, situational awareness, and aeronautical decision-making turn regulatory knowledge into dependable operational performance.
    • Continued scenario-based practice with Operations Over People prepares remote pilots for more complex missions and reinforces the judgment expected in later training and real-world operations.

  • Closure:

    • The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about preparing for the practical test, visit the checkride page.
    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.