RJ_Make and others,
I have not yet received an official reply back from the FAA about if commercial part 107 drone pilots can fly strictly as a hobbyist and use a commercially registered drone as a hobbyist also, but have received an answer from the wonderful people of www.remotepilot101.com who helped me pass my test.
Here is there answer:
Hey Tom,
I will be happy to answer both of your questions.
Once you become commercially certified, you can absolutely still fly as a hobbyist.
And you can own one drone and register it as commercial, pay the $5.
Commercial blankets it all.
You can fly it as a commercial or a hobbyist. You just must obey all of the hobbyist laws while you are flying it.
Don't get caught doing commercial things when you're flying as a hobbyist, or visa versa.
On a crazy, yet very serious note, If you are flying commercially, and then want to fly as a hobbyist. You must land as a "commercial" and then take off again as a "hobbyist" You can not be flying it and in mid flight, say you are a hobbyist.
I hope this answers your questions.
If you still have any questions, please let us know. We will be more than happy to help you.
I have not yet received an official reply back from the FAA about if commercial part 107 drone pilots can fly strictly as a hobbyist and use a commercially registered drone as a hobbyist also, but have received an answer from the wonderful people of www.remotepilot101.com who helped me pass my test.
Here is there answer:
Hey Tom,
I will be happy to answer both of your questions.
Once you become commercially certified, you can absolutely still fly as a hobbyist.
And you can own one drone and register it as commercial, pay the $5.
Commercial blankets it all.
You can fly it as a commercial or a hobbyist. You just must obey all of the hobbyist laws while you are flying it.
Don't get caught doing commercial things when you're flying as a hobbyist, or visa versa.
On a crazy, yet very serious note, If you are flying commercially, and then want to fly as a hobbyist. You must land as a "commercial" and then take off again as a "hobbyist" You can not be flying it and in mid flight, say you are a hobbyist.
I hope this answers your questions.
If you still have any questions, please let us know. We will be more than happy to help you.