Night Flying Rules

Understanding Part 107 Night Operations Requirements

For years after Part 107 regulations took effect in 2016, commercial drone operations at night required a waiver from the FAA—a time-consuming process that limited the flexibility of professional pilots. That changed in April 2021 when the FAA updated Part 107 to allow night operations under specific conditions, opening new possibilities for drone work including inspection, security, search and rescue, and creative aerial photography.

However, flying drones at night comes with additional requirements and safety considerations that go beyond daytime operations. Understanding these rules and implementing proper safety protocols is essential for any pilot planning to operate after sunset.

What Qualifies as “Night” Under Part 107?

The FAA doesn’t define night operations using arbitrary clock times like “after 8 PM” or “before 6 AM.” Instead, they use a precise astronomical definition based on civil twilight.

Civil Twilight Definition

Under Part 107.29, night operations occur during the period from 30 minutes after official sunset to 30 minutes before official sunrise. This period is based on civil twilight, when there’s insufficient natural light for visual operations without additional lighting.

The specific times for sunset and sunrise vary by:

• Geographic location – Latitude significantly affects twilight timing, with extreme northern and southern locations experiencing much longer twilight periods
• Time of year – Seasonal changes affect sunrise and sunset times dramatically
• Local topography – Mountains and other terrain features can affect when the sun disappears below the horizon

Pilots are responsible for determining the exact sunset and sunrise times for their specific operation location and date. Resources like timeanddate.com, the UAV Forecast app, or the Photographer’s Ephemeris provide accurate sunset/sunrise calculations for any location.

Example Scenario

If official sunset in your location is 7:42 PM on a given day:

• You can operate under daytime rules until 8:12 PM (30 minutes after sunset)
• Night operations rules apply from 8:12 PM until 30 minutes before sunrise the next morning
• If sunrise is 6:18 AM, night rules apply until 5:48 AM

Anti-Collision Lighting Requirements

The most critical equipment requirement for night operations is proper anti-collision lighting that allows the remote pilot to maintain visual line of sight and makes the drone visible to other aircraft.

Regulatory Requirements (14 CFR 107.29)

Your drone must have lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a sufficient flash rate to avoid a collision. Specifically:

• Minimum visibility: 3 statute miles – The lighting must be visible from this distance in clear conditions
• Sufficient flash rate – The lighting must flash or strobe to make the aircraft conspicuous (solid lights typically don’t meet this requirement)
• Visible to the remote pilot – You must be able to see the lights to maintain VLOS
• Conspicuous to other aircraft – The purpose is collision avoidance with manned aircraft

Practical Lighting Solutions

Different approaches work for different drone platforms:

• Built-in lights – Many modern drones (DJI Mavic 3, Autel EVO series, etc.) have anti-collision strobes that meet regulatory requirements when set to maximum brightness
• Aftermarket strobes – Companies like Lume Cube, Firehouse Technology, and Flytron make FAA-compliant strobes that attach to drones via adhesive or mounting brackets
• Multiple light placement – Mounting strobes on multiple arms or surfaces increases omnidirectional visibility
• Color considerations – While not required by regulation, white or red strobes are most visible; green can be confused with right-of-way lighting on manned aircraft

It’s important to verify that your lighting solution actually meets the 3-statute-mile requirement. A small LED that’s bright up close may not be visible from the required distance. Test your setup by having a visual observer walk to a known distance while you observe the lighting visibility.

Recurrent Training Requirement for Night Operations

Before you can legally conduct night operations, you must complete updated recurrent training that specifically covers night flying. This applies whether you’re a newly certificated pilot or have held your Part 107 certificate for years.

Training Requirements

The FAA requires either:

• Updated initial knowledge test – Take the full Part 107 knowledge test again (includes night operations questions), OR
• Online recurrent training – Complete the Part 107 recurrent training course (available every 24 months) that includes night operations content

The recurrent training is available through the FAA’s FAAST portal and takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete. It covers:

• Regulations specific to night operations
• Lighting requirements and equipment
• Night vision physiology and limitations
• Risk management for reduced visibility operations
• Emergency procedures in low-light conditions

When Training is Required

If you passed your Part 107 knowledge test or completed recurrent training before April 2021 (when night operations rules took effect), you must complete updated training that covers night operations before conducting flights during civil twilight.

If you passed your test or completed recurrent training after April 2021, night operations content was already included, and you’re authorized for night flying as long as you meet the lighting and other requirements.

Night Vision and Human Factors Considerations

Beyond regulatory compliance, pilots must understand how darkness affects human vision and decision-making. Night operations introduce physiological challenges that don’t exist during daytime flights.

Dark Adaptation

Your eyes need time to adjust to darkness:

• Initial adaptation: 5-10 minutes – Basic adjustment to low light
• Full rod adaptation: 30-45 minutes – Maximum night vision sensitivity
• Disruption from bright lights – White light exposure can destroy dark adaptation in seconds
• Red light preservation – Using red lighting for preflight and screen viewing preserves night vision

Visual Limitations at Night

Even with proper lighting, night operations involve inherent visual challenges:

• Reduced depth perception – Judging distance and altitude becomes more difficult
• Limited peripheral vision – Your cone of effective vision narrows significantly
• Reduced color perception – Only rod cells function in low light, eliminating color vision
• Optical illusions – Lights can appear to move (autokinesis) when stared at in darkness
• Ground reference loss – Harder to judge aircraft position relative to terrain and obstacles

Scanning Techniques for Night VLOS

Maintaining visual line of sight at night requires different techniques than daytime operations:

• Off-center viewing – Look slightly to the side of your drone rather than directly at it to use more sensitive peripheral rod cells
• Systematic scanning – Use deliberate scan patterns rather than randomly searching for your aircraft
• Avoid fixation – Keep your eyes moving to prevent autokinesis and maintain awareness
• Known reference points – Use ground lights, buildings, or other references to maintain orientation

Safety Best Practices for Night Operations

Regulatory compliance is the minimum standard. Professional pilots implement additional safety measures for night flying:

Pre-Flight Planning

• Daylight reconnaissance – Survey the operation area during daytime to identify obstacles, terrain features, and hazards
• Artificial illumination – Consider using ground-based lighting to illuminate the operation area when possible
• Conservative weather minimums – Apply stricter visibility and cloud clearance margins than required by regulation
• Backup lighting – Carry spare batteries for anti-collision lights and flashlights
• Emergency landing zones – Pre-identify safe landing areas visible in low light

Equipment Considerations

• High-brightness displays – Ensure your controller screen is easily visible in darkness without destroying dark adaptation
• Obstacle detection systems – Utilize forward and downward obstacle avoidance if available
• GPS reliability – Verify strong GPS signal before launching in darkness
• Return-to-home settings – Configure RTH altitude well above known obstacles

Operational Protocols

• Visual observers – Consider using VOs even when not required to enhance VLOS maintenance
• Reduced flight envelope – Operate at lower speeds and closer distances than daytime operations
• Conservative battery management – Land with higher battery reserves to account for reduced visibility
• Communication plans – Establish clear protocols for crew coordination in darkness
• Contingency procedures – Briefing emergency responses for lighting failure or VLOS loss

Common Night Operation Use Cases

Understanding why night operations are valuable helps inform proper safety planning:

• Thermal inspections – Building envelopes, solar panels, and electrical infrastructure show thermal signatures more clearly at night
• Search and rescue – Thermal cameras detect human heat signatures in darkness
• Security and surveillance – Property monitoring and incident documentation during nighttime hours
• Creative cinematography – City lights, light trails, and nighttime landscapes create unique visual content
• Agricultural monitoring – Wildlife activity and crop stress indicators visible with specialized sensors
• Construction documentation – Progress monitoring without disrupting daytime work schedules

Enforcement and Penalties

The FAA takes night operations violations seriously. Operating at night without proper anti-collision lighting or required training can result in:

• Civil penalties up to $1,100 per violation
• Certificate suspension or revocation for serious violations
• Criminal prosecution in cases involving reckless operation
• Increased scrutiny of future Part 107 operations

Night flying opens tremendous opportunities for professional drone pilots, but it demands higher standards of equipment, training, and operational discipline than daytime operations. Pilots who approach night operations with proper respect for the additional risks and requirements can safely expand their service offerings and business capabilities.