FAA 107 Privacy & Public Safety Considerations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A remote pilot is hired to film a neighbor dispute by hovering outside a second-floor window of a private residence. What is the most appropriate action?
- Fly the mission if the client provides written authorization
- Decline the mission because it likely violates reasonable expectation of privacy (Correct answer)
- Proceed if the flight remains above 400 ft AGL
- Accept only if conducted during daylight hours
Correct answer: Decline the mission because it likely violates reasonable expectation of privacy
Individuals inside a private residence have a reasonable expectation of privacy, and capturing footage through windows can constitute a violation regardless of airspace legality.
Question 2: Under FAA Part 107, who is responsible for ensuring a drone operation does not pose a hazard to people on the ground?
- The client who hired the remote pilot
- The FAA Flight Standards District Office
- The remote pilot in command (Correct answer)
- The local law enforcement agency
Correct answer: The remote pilot in command
The remote pilot in command bears ultimate responsibility for the safe conduct of every sUAS operation under 14 CFR Part 107.
Question 3: A remote pilot notices a bystander directly beneath the planned flight path in an open park. What is the best course of action?
- Continue the flight because parks are public spaces
- Hover at maximum altitude to maintain separation
- Delay the operation until the bystander moves or reroute the flight path (Correct answer)
- Notify the FAA and wait for clearance
Correct answer: Delay the operation until the bystander moves or reroute the flight path
Part 107 requires the remote PIC to avoid operating in a manner that creates undue hazard to people, so waiting or rerouting is required.
Question 4: Which federal agency enforces privacy laws most directly related to government drone surveillance of citizens?
- FAA
- FCC
- Department of Homeland Security
- Congress through legislation; enforcement varies by agency (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Congress through legislation; enforcement varies by agency
No single federal agency exclusively enforces drone privacy laws; Congress sets law and enforcement is distributed across multiple agencies and state courts.
Question 5: A sUAS operator films a public beach and inadvertently captures identifiable faces. Which statement best describes the legal landscape?
- No legal issue exists because beaches are public spaces
- State laws may impose liability even though the beach is public (Correct answer)
- FAA regulations prohibit all video capture of people without consent
- Only images sold commercially require consent
Correct answer: State laws may impose liability even though the beach is public
Several states have enacted drone-specific privacy statutes that can create liability for recording individuals in public if done for surveillance purposes.
Question 6: When operating near a wildfire to assist emergency responders, a remote pilot must primarily ensure:
- The drone is painted bright orange for visibility
- A COA is filed with the state fire marshal
- Operations do not interfere with manned firefighting aircraft (Correct answer)
- The battery temperature stays below 140°F
Correct answer: Operations do not interfere with manned firefighting aircraft
TFRs are issued around active wildfires specifically to prevent drone interference with manned aircraft conducting aerial firefighting operations.
Question 7: A remote pilot is operating in an area with spectators when the drone experiences a sudden loss of orientation. The safest immediate action is:
- Climb to a safe altitude and restart orientation
- Activate return-to-home immediately regardless of spectator positions
- Land immediately in the safest available area away from people (Correct answer)
- Continue flight at reduced speed until orientation returns
Correct answer: Land immediately in the safest available area away from people
When control is compromised near people, landing immediately in the least hazardous available area minimizes risk of injury.
FAA 107 Privacy & Public Safety Considerations 2
A remote pilot is hired to film a neighbor dispute by hovering outside a second-floor window of a private residence.
What is the most appropriate action?