One of the more straightforward — yet frequently misunderstood — provisions in the FAA's Part 107 rules governs what happens when a remote pilot wants to intentionally release or drop something from their drone. Whether you are delivering a package, dropping seed over agricultural fields, or releasing a banner at a sporting event, the FAA has a specific rule that applies. Understanding exactly what that rule requires (and what it does not require) is essential both for your Remote Pilot Certificate knowledge test and for safe, legal operations in the field.
The key principle is simple: dropping objects is permitted under Part 107, but only when done in a manner that does not create an undue hazard to people on the ground, to property, or to other aircraft in the vicinity. The rule is intentionally flexible — it does not create a blanket ban — but it places clear responsibility on the remote pilot to assess and mitigate risk before releasing anything from the aircraft.
The Regulatory Foundation
The governing regulation is 14 CFR Part 107.23, titled "Hazardous Operations." Subsection (b) specifically states that no person may allow an object to be dropped from a small unmanned aircraft in a manner that creates an undue hazard to other people, other aircraft, or other property. Note the precision of the language: the standard is "undue hazard," not zero risk. Aviation regulations generally acknowledge that some level of residual risk exists in almost any operation, so the FAA chose a standard that requires the remote pilot to eliminate unnecessary or unreasonable risk, rather than achieve an impossible guarantee of perfect safety.
It is equally important to note what Part 107.23(b) does not say: it does not require a waiver simply because you are dropping an object. If the drop can be conducted safely within the existing rules — without endangering people, property, or other aircraft — you may proceed. However, many real-world dropping operations involve scenarios that do require waivers of other Part 107 provisions, such as dropping over people (Part 107.39) or operating beyond visual line of sight (Part 107.31). Always think about which rules are implicated in the full scope of the operation, not just the dropping provision itself.
How the Rule Works in Practice
When a remote pilot plans a drop operation, the central question to answer before flight is: does this drop create an undue hazard? The FAA expects you to think through several dimensions of that question systematically.
The Nature of the Object Being Dropped
Weight, size, aerodynamic properties, and fragility all matter. A single seed dropped from a drone poses a negligible risk. A ten-pound package dropped from 400 feet AGL over an urban area creates an entirely different risk profile. Consider whether the object could injure a person on impact, whether it could damage a vehicle or structure, and whether it might bounce, roll, or spread upon landing in a way that creates secondary hazards.
Drop Zone and Ground Environment
Where the object lands is as important as what the object is. A drop over a remote, unpopulated agricultural field is very different from a drop in a suburban neighborhood. The remote pilot must survey the area directly below the flight path and within the potential drift zone — accounting for wind — to confirm that no unsuspecting people or critical property could be in the path of the falling object. This is part of the broader Part 107 requirement to know and continuously assess the operating environment.
Wind and Atmospheric Conditions
Wind can carry a dropped object significantly off target, particularly if the item is lightweight or has a large surface area. Before any drop operation, the remote pilot should carefully assess current and forecasted winds at altitude and at the surface. A strong crosswind can push even a modest payload tens of feet or more from the intended landing spot, potentially into an area you believed was safe. Understanding weather — a core knowledge area for the Remote Pilot Certificate — is directly relevant to executing a safe drop.
Other Aircraft in the Vicinity
The rule explicitly protects other aircraft, not just people on the ground. A falling object creates a collision hazard for any manned or unmanned aircraft operating in the same airspace. Before dropping, the remote pilot must scan for nearby aircraft, be aware of any low-altitude flight activity in the area (crop dusters, helicopters, other UAS), and ensure the drop will not endanger any aircraft in the vicinity. Conducting a pre-operation airspace check using tools like B4UFLY or checking local NOTAMs is a professional best practice that directly supports compliance with this provision.
Why This Rule Matters
The dropping-objects provision reflects the FAA's broader philosophy in Part 107: enable commercial UAS operations while protecting the public and the airspace system. Delivery of goods by drone — one of the fastest-growing UAS applications — depends entirely on this provision being workable. Agricultural spray and seeding operations also rely on it. If the FAA had prohibited all dropping categorically, enormous economic and operational opportunities would have been foreclosed unnecessarily.
At the same time, the "undue hazard" standard ensures that remote pilots cannot simply drop objects recklessly and claim permission under Part 107. The rule creates accountability. If an object is dropped and injures someone or damages property, the FAA will examine whether the remote pilot took reasonable steps to prevent that outcome. A remote pilot who conducted a thorough pre-operation risk assessment and documented their mitigation measures is in a far better position than one who did not.
From a safety culture standpoint, this rule also teaches an important lesson applicable throughout your aviation career: the question is never just "is it technically allowed?" but also "is it safe?" Part 107.23(b) is written in a way that forces you to ask and answer both of those questions before every drop operation.
Key Numbers and Rules
- 14 CFR Part 107.23(b) — the specific dropping-objects provision; no person may drop an object in a manner that creates an undue hazard to people, property, or other aircraft.
- No automatic waiver required — dropping objects does not, by itself, require a Part 107 waiver; other rules implicated by the specific operation (such as operations over people under Part 107.39) may require waivers separately.
- "Undue hazard" standard — the legal threshold; the FAA requires elimination of unreasonable risk, not the guarantee of zero risk.
- Wind assessment is critical — always account for wind drift at both altitude and surface when calculating where a dropped object will actually land.
- Other aircraft protection — the rule explicitly covers hazards to other aircraft, not just ground-level hazards; airspace awareness before dropping is mandatory.
- Part 107.39 interaction — if the drop zone includes people on the ground who are not directly participating in the operation, Part 107 rules on operations over people must be considered separately.
Common Test Traps
- "Dropping objects is always prohibited under Part 107" — False. It is permitted when it does not create an undue hazard. This is one of the most common misconceptions the knowledge test will probe.
- Confusing the drop provision with the operations-over-people rule — Part 107.23(b) covers dropping objects; Part 107.39 covers flying over people. They are different rules, and both may apply simultaneously to a single operation. Failing to recognize this leads to incomplete compliance.
- Assuming a dropping waiver covers everything — Even if you determine no waiver is needed for the drop itself, other aspects of your operation (BVLOS, nighttime, altitude) may each require their own waiver. The dropping provision does not override other Part 107 requirements.
- Ignoring wind drift — A test question may describe a scenario where a remote pilot drops an object and it lands outside the planned area due to wind. This is a planning failure, and the pilot may be in violation of Part 107.23(b) even if the original target zone was safe.
- Forgetting the "other aircraft" hazard — Students often focus exclusively on the ground hazard when studying this rule. The regulation explicitly mentions hazards to other aircraft; make sure you recognize that airspace, not just the ground environment, must be assessed.