When the sun dips below the horizon, the sky becomes a shared, darker workspace where manned aircraft and small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) must coexist safely. To protect everyone in that airspace, the FAA's 14 CFR Part 107 establishes specific anti-collision lighting requirements for drone operations conducted during periods of reduced natural light. Understanding these rules is not just about passing the Remote Pilot Certificate knowledge test — it is about operating responsibly alongside pilots who may be traveling at high speed and relying on visual cues to avoid you.
This article breaks down exactly what the regulation requires, why it exists, how to apply it in practice, and what common mistakes appear on the FAA knowledge exam.
The Regulatory Foundation
The core rule lives in 14 CFR § 107.29. As amended by the 2021 NPRM that became final rule, Part 107 permits sUAS operations at night and during civil twilight, but only when the aircraft is equipped with anti-collision lighting that is visible for at least 3 statute miles. Before this amendment, night operations required a waiver; now they are permitted by default for remote pilots who hold a current Remote Pilot Certificate and comply with the lighting standard.
The regulation also requires the remote pilot to be able to maintain situational awareness of the sUAS's position. Anti-collision lighting directly supports that requirement by making the drone conspicuous both to the operator on the ground and to crewed aircraft operating nearby.
How the Requirement Works
Defining the Time Periods
Civil twilight is the period that begins 30 minutes before official sunrise and ends at official sunrise in the morning, and begins at official sunset and ends 30 minutes after official sunset in the evening. During civil twilight, there is still some natural light in the sky, but visibility conditions are degrading or just improving. Night begins at the end of evening civil twilight and ends at the beginning of morning civil twilight.
Both of these time periods — civil twilight and nighttime — trigger the anti-collision lighting requirement under § 107.29. If you launch even one minute into civil twilight without the required lighting, you are in violation of the regulation. Daytime operations (between morning civil twilight end and evening civil twilight start) do not require anti-collision lighting under Part 107, though it is always a sound safety practice.
The 3-Statute-Mile Visibility Standard
The lighting must be visible for at least 3 statute miles. This figure mirrors the anti-collision light visibility requirement for manned aircraft found elsewhere in the FARs, creating a consistent conspicuity standard across the national airspace. The logic is straightforward: a manned aircraft cruising at even a modest speed can close distance quickly, and a pilot needs enough warning time to visually detect and avoid a small drone. Three statute miles of visibility provides that reaction margin.
It is important to note that the regulation specifies visible for 3 statute miles, not merely that the light is switched on. This means the remote pilot in command (RPIC) bears responsibility for ensuring the lighting system on the specific drone being flown actually meets this standard. Many consumer drones come with built-in navigation lights or strobes, but the RPIC must verify that those lights satisfy the 3-statute-mile requirement — ideally by consulting the manufacturer's specifications or the drone's listing on the FAA's Accepted Means of Compliance database.
Anti-Collision vs. Positional Lighting
Part 107 uses the term anti-collision lighting. This is distinct from simple positional lights (like red and green navigation lights that indicate left and right sides of an aircraft). Anti-collision lights are typically flashing or strobing lights specifically designed to draw attention. The rapid flash pattern is what makes them detectable at distance, especially against a complex background like city lights. While some sUAS also carry positional lights that help the RPIC determine drone orientation, it is the anti-collision strobe that satisfies the § 107.29 requirement.
Some remote pilots add aftermarket strobe lights to drones that lack adequate built-in lighting. This is permitted, but the added weight, power draw, and mounting security must all be accounted for in the pre-flight risk assessment.
Why This Requirement Matters
The see-and-avoid principle is a cornerstone of collision avoidance in uncontrolled airspace. Manned aircraft flying at night rely heavily on the anti-collision and position lights of other aircraft to maintain separation. A small sUAS without lighting is essentially invisible to a manned aircraft pilot at night — a drone the size of a large bird blends completely into a dark sky at any meaningful distance.
Beyond protecting manned aircraft, the lighting helps the RPIC maintain visual line of sight (VLOS), which is itself a separate and continuing requirement under § 107.31. In nighttime conditions, even a white or brightly colored drone becomes impossible to track without a strobe. The anti-collision light essentially extends the RPIC's ability to know where the drone is, its approximate altitude, and its general movement — all critical inputs for safe command decisions.
From a systemic safety perspective, consistent lighting standards reduce the cognitive burden on air traffic controllers and manned aircraft pilots. When every aircraft — crewed or uncrewed — follows a predictable conspicuity standard, the airspace becomes easier to manage for everyone.
Key Numbers and Rules
- Minimum visibility distance: 3 statute miles — the anti-collision light must be visible at this range.
- Triggered by: Any operation during civil twilight (30 minutes before sunrise or after sunset) or during nighttime hours.
- Regulatory citation: 14 CFR § 107.29.
- Type of light required: Anti-collision lighting (typically a strobe or flashing light); positional/navigation lights alone do not satisfy the requirement.
- Waiver: Night operations no longer require a waiver since the 2021 rule change — but the lighting standard must be met without exception.
- VLOS still required: Anti-collision lighting supports but does not replace the visual line of sight requirement in § 107.31.
- Daytime operations: No anti-collision lighting requirement under Part 107, though it remains a best practice.
Memory Aid
Use the phrase "Three Miles, Twilight Time" to remember the two key triggers:
Three Miles — the light must reach 3 statute miles.
Twilight Time — the rule kicks in at civil twilight (30 minutes before/after sunrise/sunset), not just at full darkness.
This reminder helps you avoid the common error of thinking the rule only applies after full dark. Civil twilight is the threshold, and forgetting that is one of the most frequently tested nuances on the exam.
Common Test Traps
- Civil twilight vs. night only: Many students assume the lighting rule applies only during full nighttime. In fact, it applies starting at civil twilight — 30 minutes after sunset or before sunrise — even when the sky still has some residual light.
- Statute miles vs. nautical miles: The requirement is 3 statute miles, not nautical miles. These are not the same distance (1 nautical mile ≈ 1.15 statute miles). Use the correct unit on the exam.
- Waivers are no longer needed for night ops: Prior to the 2021 rule change, night operations required a § 107.200 waiver. Test questions from older study materials may still reference this. Under current rules, no waiver is needed as long as lighting and all other requirements are met.
- Anti-collision lighting does not waive VLOS: Having a strobe does not grant you permission to fly beyond visual line of sight. VLOS remains a separate, mandatory requirement. The light helps you maintain VLOS; it does not replace it.
- The RPIC is responsible for verifying light adequacy: Simply having a light turned on is not enough. The remote pilot in command must ensure the specific light on their specific drone actually meets the 3-statute-mile standard. A dim indicator light does not satisfy § 107.29.
Understanding these distinctions demonstrates not just test readiness but genuine operational competence — the kind the FAA expects of every certificated Remote Pilot. Flying at night and during civil twilight introduces meaningful risks, and anti-collision lighting is one of the most direct, effective tools available to manage them. Choose compliant equipment, verify it before flight, and fly with the awareness that in low-light conditions, that strobe may be the only thing standing between your drone and a dangerous encounter with a manned aircraft.