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The Pilots Desk
US-FAA14 CFR 107.31

Visual line of sight aircraft operation

Read the official rule

In plain English

The remote pilot, the person flying, and any visual observer must be able to see the drone with their own eyes (corrective lenses allowed) throughout the flight — to know its location, attitude, and that it stays clear of people and other aircraft. This is "visual line of sight" (VLOS).

Key points

  • Maintain unaided visual line of sight at all times.
  • A visual observer can help, but someone must keep the drone in sight continuously.
  • Devices like binoculars or FPV goggles cannot substitute for VLOS (FPV requires a VO who maintains VLOS).

Common pitfalls

  • Flying behind buildings, trees or over a hill out of sight.
  • Relying only on the FPV video feed.

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

This is an original plain-English explanation for training and reference, not legal advice and not for navigation. Always rely on the current official rule linked above. Last reviewed June 7, 2026.