Part 107 Airspace and Sectional Charts Explained
Updated October 27, 2026
Airspace and sectional chart questions are the part of the Part 107 test most new drone pilots find hardest. You need to know which airspace needs permission from air traffic control (ATC), and how to read airspace and altitudes off a sectional chart. Here’s what to know, followed by free practice questions.
Airspace classes and drones
| Class | Where it usually is | Need ATC authorization to fly? |
|---|---|---|
| B | Around the busiest airports | Yes |
| C | Around busy airports with a control tower | Yes |
| D | Around smaller airports with a control tower | Yes |
| E (surface area at an airport) | Starts at the ground around some airports | Yes |
| E (elsewhere) | Usually starts at 700 or 1,200 feet above ground | Generally no, at small-drone altitudes |
| G | Uncontrolled airspace near the ground | No |
You can request authorization through LAANC (near-instant approval in many areas, through approved apps) or through FAA DroneZone.
Key Part 107 operating limits
- Maximum altitude of 400 feet above ground level (higher only within 400 feet of a structure, up to 400 feet above its top).
- Maximum speed of 100 mph (87 knots).
- Keep the drone within visual line of sight.
- Minimum flight visibility of 3 statute miles.
- Stay at least 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds.
Reading a sectional chart
| On the chart | Means |
|---|---|
| Solid blue lines | Class B airspace |
| Solid magenta lines | Class C airspace |
| Dashed blue lines | Class D airspace |
| Dashed magenta lines | Class E airspace starting at the surface |
| Shaded magenta band (vignette) | Class E starts at 700 feet above ground |
| Shaded blue band (vignette) | Class E starts at 1,200 feet above ground |
| Numbers like 70 over SFC | The airspace runs from the surface up to 7,000 feet MSL (numbers are in hundreds of feet) |
Altitudes on charts are usually in feet above mean sea level (MSL), while your 400-foot limit is above ground level (AGL). To compare them, subtract the ground elevation.
Free Part 107 airspace practice questions
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Which airspace can you fly a small drone in under Part 107 without ATC authorization?Answer: DClass G is uncontrolled airspace, so no ATC authorization is needed. Class B, C and D, and Class E that starts at the surface, require authorization, for example through LAANC.
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On a sectional chart, a dashed blue line around an airport shows:Answer: CDashed blue lines mark Class D airspace. Solid blue is Class B, solid magenta is Class C, and dashed magenta is Class E starting at the surface.
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What is the maximum altitude for a small drone under Part 107, when not near a structure?Answer: BThe limit is 400 feet above ground level. You may go higher only within 400 feet of a structure, up to 400 feet above the structure's top.
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A Class D area on the chart shows "[32]" in a dashed box. What does that mean?Answer: AThe number in a dashed box shows the ceiling of Class D airspace in hundreds of feet MSL, so [32] means 3,200 feet MSL.
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A shaded magenta band (vignette) on a sectional chart means Class E airspace begins at:Answer: BThe fuzzy magenta vignette marks where Class E begins at 700 feet above ground. Outside it, Class E usually begins at 1,200 feet above ground, shown with a blue vignette where it changes.
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What is the minimum flight visibility for a small drone under Part 107?Answer: CFlight visibility must be at least 3 statute miles from your control station. You must also stay at least 500 feet below and 2,000 feet horizontally from clouds.
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How can a remote pilot get authorization to fly in Class C airspace?Answer: BAuthorization for controlled airspace comes through LAANC, with near-instant approval in many areas through approved apps, or through FAA DroneZone for other requests.
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On a sectional, what does a number like "1500" next to an obstacle in bold show?Answer: AThe bold number next to an obstacle symbol is its height in feet above mean sea level (MSL). The number in parentheses is its height above ground level (AGL).
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What is a Maximum Elevation Figure (MEF) on a sectional chart?Answer: BThe MEF in each latitude-longitude quadrant shows the height of the highest known terrain or obstacle in that area, rounded up with a margin, in feet MSL.
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What type of airspace is a Restricted Area?Answer: CRestricted areas contain hazards such as artillery firing. Entering them while active without permission is prohibited.
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A Military Operations Area (MOA) is:Answer: DMOAs separate military training from IFR traffic. VFR pilots, including remote pilots, may fly there but should use caution and check whether it's active.
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Which publication alerts pilots to temporary changes such as a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)?Answer: ANotices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) announce temporary changes, including TFRs. Check them before every flight.
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The lateral limits of Class C airspace typically consist of:Answer: BClass C airspace usually has a 5 NM surface area and a 10 NM shelf area around the airport. Class B is shaped like an upside-down wedding cake with several layers.
Pass the FAA Part 107 drone test on your first try
- All 308 questions across regulations, airspace, weather, loading and operations
- An explanation for every answer, with the rule or FAA source behind it
- Questions on the real test's figures: the FAA's sectional charts, METARs, TAFs and load factor chart, zoomable on any screen