🇬🇧 Guide

Night Operations Waiver: What You Need to Fly After Sunset

Quick Takeaways

Table of Contents

1. The 2021 Night Operations Rule Change
2. Defining "Night" Under Part 107
3. Standard Night Operations Requirements
4. Anti-Collision Lighting: Specifications and Options
5. Recurrent Training for Night Operations
6. When Is a Night Waiver Still Required?
7. Pre-Flight Checklist for Night Operations
8. Safety Best Practices for Night Drone Flights
9. How MmowW Supports Night Operations
10. FAQ
11. Summary

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The 2021 Night Operations Rule Change {#2021-rule-change}

Before March 16, 2021, night drone operations required a § 107.29 waiver — a slow, case-by-case FAA approval process.

On March 16, 2021, the FAA's "Operations Over People" final rule took effect, which simultaneously:

1. Established the Category 1–4 framework for operations over people
2. Permitted night operations under standard Part 107 without a waiver, subject to lighting and training requirements

This was a significant liberalization of drone operations. Overnight, thousands of commercial operations that previously required waivers became standard.

Regulatory basis: 14 CFR § 107.29 (amended effective 2021-03-16)

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Defining "Night" Under Part 107 {#defining-night}

Under Part 107, "night" is defined as:

> "The time between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight, as published in the Air Almanac, converted to local time."

Civil Twilight

Civil twilight is not the same as sunrise/sunset. It's approximately 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.

| Time | Status |

|---|---|

| Before civil twilight in the morning | Night |

| During and after civil twilight (morning) | Day |

| Before and during civil twilight (evening) | Day |

| After civil twilight in the evening | Night |

Practical Implication

You can fly in civil twilight without night rules applying. But once civil twilight ends in the evening, night rules are in effect — your anti-collision lighting must be active and your training must be current.

Civil twilight calculator: aa.usno.navy.mil/data/RS_OneDay — exact civil twilight times by date and location.

Source: 14 CFR § 107.29(a)

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Standard Night Operations Requirements {#requirements}

To fly at night under standard Part 107 (without a waiver), you must satisfy TWO requirements:

| Requirement | Specification | Regulation |

|---|---|---|

| Anti-collision lighting | Visible for at least 3 statute miles during the entire night operation | § 107.29(b)(1) |

| Updated recurrent training | Complete the current Part 107 recurrent training course (ALC-677) — which covers night operations | § 107.65 |

Both requirements must be met. If either is missing, you either need a § 107.29 waiver or you cannot fly at night.

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Anti-Collision Lighting: Specifications and Options {#anti-collision-lighting}

The Requirement

Anti-collision lights must be:

• Visible for at least 3 statute miles (approximately 5 kilometers)
• Active during the entire night operation
• Mounted on the aircraft in a way that provides visibility in all directions

Types of Anti-Collision Lighting

| Type | Visibility | Notes |

|---|---|---|

| Strobe lights | Most visible at distance | Flashing pattern provides best visibility |

| LED navigation lights (red, green, white) | Shorter range | May not be sufficient alone for 3 SM requirement |

| Integrated drone lights | Varies by manufacturer | Verify 3 SM specification before relying on them |

Verifying Your Lights Meet the Requirement

The regulation says "visible for 3 statute miles" — manufacturers must specify the visibility range of their lighting products. Look for:

• Product specifications stating "visible at 3 miles" or greater
• Lumen output (higher = more visible at distance)
• Lens design (directional vs. omnidirectional)

Popular Anti-Collision Light Options

Multiple manufacturers produce FAA-compliant anti-collision lights for drones. Look for products specifically marketed as "3-statute-mile visible" or meeting FAR 23/25 anti-collision light standards adapted for UAS. Verify specifications before purchase.

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Recurrent Training for Night Operations {#recurrent-training}

The ALC-677 recurrent training course now covers night operations content. Completing ALC-677 maintains your Part 107 currency AND satisfies the night operations training requirement.

If your training was completed before the 2021 rule change and you haven't completed ALC-677 since then, you technically need to verify your training reflects the current night rules. Most pilots who have completed ALC-677 after March 2021 are current.

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When Is a Night Waiver Still Required? {#when-waiver-needed}

A § 107.29 waiver is only required if:

• You want to conduct night operations WITHOUT anti-collision lighting visible for 3 statute miles
• You need to operate in a way that deviates from the standard night rules in some other way

In practice, the primary use case for a § 107.29 waiver today is operations where anti-collision lighting would compromise the operational purpose (e.g., certain surveillance or wildlife observation operations where lighting would interfere with the mission).

For the vast majority of commercial night flights — construction monitoring, events, infrastructure inspection, media — standard Part 107 with proper lighting and training is sufficient.

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Pre-Flight Checklist for Night Operations {#checklist}

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Safety Best Practices for Night Drone Flights {#safety}

Night operations present unique challenges not present in daylight:

| Challenge | Best Practice |

|---|---|

| Reduced visual awareness | Pre-flight walk of entire flight area at twilight, before dark |

| Disorientation | Use multiple visual reference points; maintain awareness of altitude |

| Battery performance | Cold temperatures reduce LiPo performance; carry extra batteries; pre-warm batteries |

| Power lines and obstacles | Mark hazards with strobes before flight; fly more conservatively near obstacles |

| Loss of visual contrast | Use aircraft lights to track position; consider FPV for orientation backup |

| Public interaction | Night operations may attract attention; be prepared to explain FAA authorization |

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How MmowW Supports Night Operations {#mmoww-section}

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FAQ {#faq}

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Summary {#summary}

Night drone operations under Part 107:

• Since March 16, 2021: Night operations permitted WITHOUT a waiver under standard Part 107
• Two requirements: Anti-collision lighting (3 SM visibility) + updated recurrent training (ALC-677)
• "Night" means: After civil twilight — approximately 30 min after sunset
• When waiver still needed: If you can't or don't want to use compliant anti-collision lighting
• Key safety: Pre-flight area walk at twilight; cold battery management; marked landing zone

Related Articles

• Part 107 Waivers: Which Rules You Can Waive and How to Apply
• Part 107 Recurrent Training: Your 24-Month Renewal Checklist
• Part 107 Explained: The Complete Guide to Commercial Drone Operations in the US (2026)
• Drone Flight Logs: Why Part 107 Operators Should Keep Them

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CTA

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Disclaimer

References

• FAA Part 107 (14 CFR Part 107): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107
• FAA FAAST ALC-677: https://www.faasafety.gov/
• FAA UAS Night Operations guidance: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/operations_over_people/
• Civil twilight calculator: https://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/RS_OneDay