Part 107 Night Operations: Rules You Need to Know in 2026

Part 107 Night Operations: Rules You Need to Know in 2026

One of the most transformative changes in FAA drone regulations came in April 2021: night operations no longer require a waiver. Today in 2026, commercial drone pilots can legally conduct operations during twilight and night hours under specific conditions. Yet many pilots still believe the old rules apply. This guide explains current 2026 night operation regulations and how to comply legally.

The History: How Rules Changed

Pre-April 2021: Night Operations Required a Waiver

Before 2021, Part 107 explicitly prohibited night operations. Pilots had to apply for a waiver from the FAA, which was time-consuming, expensive, and rarely granted. This kept beneficial applications (power line inspections, emergency response, search and rescue) grounded after sunset.

April 2, 2021: The Game-Changing Rule

The FAA issued a final rule allowing night operations under Part 107 without a waiver, provided certain conditions are met. This change was based on technological advances (better lighting, improved cameras) and operational data showing night flights could be safe.

March 16, 2024: Remote ID Mandate

Remote ID requirements were added, further enhancing accountability and safety during night operations.

Current Status (2026)

Night operations are now standard, though they remain subject to specific rules. Many online study guides are still outdated and claim you need a waiver. You don't.

What Is "Night" Under Part 107?

Part 107 defines night operations based on civil twilight, not absolute darkness.

Civil Twilight Definition

Civil twilight is the period between sunrise/sunset and when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon. During civil twilight, there's still enough natural light to see without artificial lighting—roughly 20-40 minutes before sunrise and after sunset, depending on season and latitude.

• Before Civil Twilight Begins (Before Sunrise): Still dark. If you fly before civil twilight begins, you're operating in darkness and need special authorization.
• During Civil Twilight: Twilight period. Operations permitted under Part 107 with appropriate lighting.
• After Civil Twilight Ends (After Sunset): This is when most "night" operations occur—after sunset but when there's still some sky light. Operations permitted under Part 107 with appropriate lighting.
• After Civil Twilight Ends into Complete Darkness: Operations permitted under Part 107 with appropriate lighting, provided you have anti-collision lighting.

Practical Example: On March 20, 2026 in New York City:

• Sunset: 7:07 PM
• End of Civil Twilight: 7:37 PM
• A Part 107 pilot can legally fly after sunset (7:07 PM) with anti-collision lighting and meet all other requirements
• You can fly continuously from 7:07 PM through 7:37 PM and beyond into darkness, as long as you maintain VLOS and have functioning anti-collision lighting

The Four Requirements for Legal Night Operations

To fly at night under Part 107, you must meet all four of these requirements. Missing even one makes your flight illegal.

Requirement 1: Anti-Collision Lighting

Your drone must be equipped with anti-collision lighting that:

• Is visible from a distance of at least 3 statute miles
• Is visible through the full 360° around the drone (all directions)
• Flashes or shines continuously during flight
• Uses either red or white light (or both)

What This Means Practically: Your drone needs bright LED lights that can be seen from 3 miles away in darkness. Small indicator lights on a consumer drone typically aren't bright enough. You may need:

• An external lighting module (sold by drone manufacturers or third-party suppliers)
• Or a newer drone model with built-in anti-collision lighting rated for 3 statute miles visibility

Visual Observer and Lighting: Even with bright anti-collision lighting, you still must maintain visual line of sight. The lighting helps from the air (manned aircraft pilots can see your drone) and on the ground (you can track your drone's position), but you personally must be able to see it with your eyes.

Requirement 2: Training on Night Operations

You must have received training on night operations. This doesn't require formal certification, but you must have trained knowledge of:

• How to determine civil twilight times and recognize when civil twilight begins/ends
• The limitations of flying at night (reduced visibility, difficulty tracking the drone visually, increased disorientation risk)
• How to properly use anti-collision lighting
• Emergency procedures if you lose visual line of sight at night
• How darkness affects depth perception and distance judgment

Training Options: The FAA doesn't mandate a specific training program. You can:

• Take an online course on night operations
• Read the FAA's Remote Pilot Study Guide section on night operations
• Work with an experienced pilot who trains you
• Use quality study apps that include night operations modules

Burden of Proof: If questioned by authorities, you must be able to demonstrate you have this knowledge. Documentation (course completion certificate, training notes) helps.

Requirement 3: Understanding Civil Twilight

You must know when civil twilight begins and ends for your specific location and date.

How to Find Civil Twilight Times:

• timeanddate.com: Enter your location, see sunrise/sunset and civil twilight times
• FAA.gov: Links to resources showing twilight times by location
• Aviation Weather Center: Provides civil twilight data for pilots
• Smartphone Apps: Search "civil twilight calculator" or download pilot apps

Example: You want to fly at 8:00 PM on March 20, 2026 near Denver, Colorado.

• Check civil twilight times for Denver: Sunset 7:14 PM, end of civil twilight 7:44 PM
• At 8:00 PM, you're 16 minutes past the end of civil twilight—operating in true night
• Legal? YES, if you have anti-collision lighting and meet all other requirements

Another Example: You want to fly at 5:45 AM to film sunrise. Sunrise is 6:00 AM, civil twilight begins at 5:30 AM.

• At 5:45 AM, you're within civil twilight (after it begins, before sunrise)
• Legal? YES, this is morning twilight, same rules apply

Requirement 4: Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) Maintained

This is the same VLOS requirement that applies to all Part 107 operations, but it's especially challenging at night.

VLOS Requirement: You must be able to see your drone at all times with your own eyes (or with visual aids like glasses, but not binoculars or cameras on the drone).

Night VLOS Challenge: At night, even with anti-collision lighting, seeing a small drone can be difficult, especially at distance. Solutions include:

• Keep flights close (within 100-200 feet of your position)
• Use anti-collision lighting with high brightness
• Have a visual observer dedicated to watching the drone (required by Part 107 anyway)
• Use high-altitude positioning to track the drone against sky background

Important: You cannot use your drone's camera feed alone to maintain VLOS. If your visual observer loses sight of the drone, you must land immediately, regardless of what the camera shows.

Requirements You Still Must Meet (Night Doesn't Change These)

Night operations are permitted, but they don't exempt you from other Part 107 rules:

• Altitude Limit: 400 feet AGL still applies
• Airspeed: 100 mph maximum still applies
• Visual Observer: Required (same as day operations)
• Cloud Clearance: 500 feet below clouds, 2,000 feet horizontal (though at night, clouds are harder to see)
• Visibility: 3 statute miles minimum (though night visibility is harder to assess)
• Remote ID: Required if drone is over 0.55 pounds
• Weather: No rain, snow, or thunderstorms (same as day)
• Safety: No flying over people (generally, unless specific authorization)

Night Assessment Challenges: Some Part 107 rules are harder to verify at night:

• Cloud clearance: You can't see clouds in darkness. What do you do? Either operate low (where you know there are no clouds), or check current weather (METARs report cloud heights).
• Visibility: 3 statute miles visibility is hard to judge at night. Rely on current METAR data and visible landmarks.
• Weather: Rain is harder to detect at night. Check METARs carefully before flying.

What About Waivers? Do You Ever Need One?

While night operations no longer require waivers, certain night activities still might:

No Waiver Needed For:

• Standard night operations with anti-collision lighting and training
• Night flights that comply with all Part 107 rules
• Operations after sunset with adequate visibility and lighting

Waiver May Still Be Needed For:

• Flying over people or populated areas at night (very restricted)
• Flying before civil twilight begins (before sunrise; very early morning operations)
• Flying beyond visual line of sight at night (BVLOS)
• Flying in restricted airspace without ATC approval

Example: You want to conduct a power line inspection 30 minutes before sunrise (before civil twilight begins). You'd need a waiver because this is "night" by definition, but it's before the civil twilight allowance. Waivers for this purpose are sometimes granted because the operational benefit (utility infrastructure) is significant.

Night Flight Operations: Practical Guidance

Planning a Night Flight

Step 1: Determine Civil Twilight Times

• Use timeanddate.com or an aviation tool
• Note your location's specific civil twilight begin/end times
• Plan your flight within the civil twilight window or after (into full darkness), provided you have anti-collision lighting

Step 2: Check Weather

• Get current METAR and TAF (forecast)
• Check for clouds (height is harder to assess at night, so conservative interpretation is wise)
• Check for rain/snow in forecast
• Check wind and visibility

Step 3: Verify Lighting

• Ensure anti-collision lighting is fully charged and functional
• Test lights before flight to confirm they're bright enough
• Test visibility from 100+ feet away in darkness

Step 4: Brief Your Visual Observer

• Discuss the darkness and reduced visibility
• Define their role (watch drone, alert if you lose VLOS, maintain safety awareness)
• Brief the flight plan and expected drone movement
• Agree on abort/landing signals if something feels unsafe

Step 5: Conduct Pre-Flight

• Test all systems (motors, controls, lights, compass, gimbal if applicable)
• Confirm Remote ID is functioning (if required)
• Ensure battery is fully charged

Step 6: Fly Conservatively

• Keep flight area small and close to your position
• Maintain VLOS at all times
• Perform frequent position checks
• Land if visibility becomes problematic
• Have an abort plan if weather deteriorates

Common Night Operations Use Cases

• Sunset/Sunrise Photography: Golden hour extended. Film the first minutes after sunset or last minutes before sunrise.
• Infrastructure Inspection: Power lines, cell towers, industrial facilities. Night operations can be scheduled during off-hours, reducing ground hazards.
• Emergency Response: Search and rescue, fire assessment, disaster response. Night operations extend operational capabilities.
• Event Coverage: Sporting events, concerts. Night lighting enables aerial videography during evening events.
• Facility Surveillance: Security and monitoring of large properties during night hours.

The Most Common Mistake: Misunderstanding Civil Twilight

Many pilots incorrectly believe that once the sun sets, night begins immediately. Not so. Civil twilight continues for 20-40 minutes after sunset, depending on season and latitude.

Correct Understanding: Civil twilight is a period of natural light. Once civil twilight ends, full darkness begins. Part 107 allows operations throughout this entire period (civil twilight + full darkness) if you meet the requirements.

Wrong Interpretation: "I can only fly between sunset and civil twilight end."
Correct Interpretation: "I can fly after sunset, through civil twilight, and into complete darkness—as long as I have anti-collision lighting, training, and other requirements are met."

Safety Considerations Specific to Night Operations

Even though night operations are legal, they carry unique risks:

Reduced Visual Tracking

Even with anti-collision lighting, tracking a drone at distance is harder at night. Disorientation is possible. Solution: Fly close, use high-brightness lighting, keep flights short.

Depth Perception Challenges

Judging distance and altitude is harder in darkness. You might misjudge height and accidentally hit obstacles. Solution: Keep altitude low if terrain is uncertain, use landmarks you can see clearly.

Weather Deterioration

Wind and weather can develop rapidly. Night weather is harder to spot. Solution: Check forecasts frequently, have a conservative abort threshold, land at first sign of weather change.

Fatigue

Night operations are mentally taxing. Pilot fatigue increases errors. Solution: Limit flight duration, take breaks, don't fly when tired, have a backup operator.

Regulatory Compliance Risk

Night operations are more visible to authorities (lights are noticeable). Ensure full compliance with all Part 107 rules. Solution: Document training, maintain records, conduct pre-flight checklists.

Training and Preparation for Night Flying

If you're new to night operations, proper preparation is essential:

• Classroom Training: Take a night operations course that covers regulations, safety, and decision-making
• Hands-On Practice: Start with flights during twilight (easier to see the drone), then gradually expand into full darkness
• Mentorship: Fly with experienced night operators to learn best practices
• Equipment Familiarity: Test your anti-collision lighting in various darkness levels. Understand brightness and visibility range.
• Emergency Procedures: Practice landing when you lose sight of the drone. Know your abort procedures.

Your Path to Safe Night Operations

Night operations are one of the most exciting and valuable capabilities that Part 107 enables. With proper anti-collision lighting, training, understanding of civil twilight, and maintenance of VLOS, you can legally and safely conduct operations after sunset.

The key is understanding that "no waiver required" doesn't mean "no rules apply." Night operations have specific requirements that must be meticulously followed. When you do, you unlock operational capabilities that daylight-only pilots don't have.

Flycensed includes comprehensive night operations training and decision-making scenarios to ensure you truly understand these regulations and can apply them safely in the field. Start studying the right way, pass your Part 107 exam, and then expand your skill set into night operations.