Category 1 operations

Category 1 operations allow you to fly a small unmanned aircraft over people under the most permissive conditions. To qualify, your drone must weigh 0.55 pounds or less at takeoff and throughout the entire flight, including everything attached to it. The aircraft also cannot have any exposed rotating parts (like propellers) that could cut human skin on impact.

These weight and safety requirements let you operate over people without additional restrictions in most situations. However, there's an important exception: you cannot fly in sustained flight directly over open-air assemblies of human beings (like crowds at outdoor events) unless you comply with remote identification requirements specified in Part 89.

This category is designed for the smallest, safest drones where the risk of injury from an impact is minimal. If your aircraft exceeds 0.55 pounds or has exposed propellers, you'll need to operate under Category 2, 3, or 4 instead.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*