SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/drone-over-people-at-night

Do the operations-over-people categories change at night?

No. The same categories apply, plus the night rules.

Start playing free

  1. Yes, only Category 4 may fly at night
  2. No, the same categories apply at night ✔
  3. Yes, all limits are cut in half

Why: The FAA says the categories and their limits do not change at night. A drone eligible for a category may fly over people at night if the pilot also meets the night rules, like anti-collision lights.

Huh, didn't know that: Makers may need to count the weight of the anti-collision light when declaring a drone eligible.

The dad joke
Why don't drones get scared flying over people at night? They always bring a light.
Like this card?
Play the game

References

Answer: No, the same categories apply at night. The FAA says the categories and their limits do not change at night. A drone eligible for a category may fly over people at night if the pilot also meets the night rules, like anti-collision lights.

  1. AC 107-2A, 8.14 Operations Over People at Night www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_107-2A.pdf
    The categories and their respective restrictions for operations over people do not change due to conditions of night.
    Checked 2026-10-09.

Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.

Test yourself in the game

Flying & DronesWhat is the weight limit for a Category 1 drone flying over people?Flying & DronesA Category 2 drone must not cause injury worse than a rigid-object impact of how much energy?Flying & DronesWhat injury threshold, as rigid-object impact energy, applies to Category 3 drones?

That's stuff everyone should know.