Definition
A person holding an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with a small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) rating, who is authorized to operate a small unmanned aircraft (drone) under Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and is responsible for the safe conduct of the flight.
Plain English
A drone pilot who has passed the FAA test and holds the certificate that lets them legally fly small drones for work or other non-recreational purposes.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA material about drone operations, small unmanned aircraft rules, airspace authorization, and pilot responsibility.
Derivation
The word 'remote' comes from the Latin 'remotus,' meaning 'far off' or 'distant.' A remote pilot flies the aircraft from a distance — standing on the ground while the aircraft flies overhead — rather than sitting inside it.
Why Pilots Care
Only a certified remote pilot may operate a drone for commercial purposes or beyond basic recreational limits.
Intuition Check
Remote does not mean the aircraft is flying with no pilot. It means the pilot is not onboard the aircraft but is still controlling or responsible for the flight.
Example Sentence 1
Before the drone survey could begin, the company confirmed that the remote pilot held a current FAA Remote Pilot Certificate.
Example Sentence 2
After passing the knowledge test, she received her remote pilot certificate and could begin commercial operations.