This morning, United Flight 1980 struck a drone at approximately 3,000 feet on approach to San Diego International Airport. The Boeing 737 had 54 people on board. Maintenance crews found no damage after landing, but the FAA is investigating.

Three thousand feet. A commercial aircraft. Fifty-four people.

The pilot’s radio transmission was almost casual: “It was red. It was shiny. I couldn’t tell with it.” That is not reassuring. That is luck.

This Is Happening More Than You Think

The FAA receives thousands of drone incident reports every year. Most do not make the news because nothing catastrophic happened. Not yet. The regulations are straightforward: drones cannot fly above 400 feet without FAA authorization, and they cannot operate in restricted airspace near airports under any circumstances. Someone flying near SAN this morning apparently did not care, did not know, or both.

That is increasingly a law enforcement problem.

Patrol officers are responding to drone complaints. Departments are deploying their own UAS assets for search and rescue, crime scene documentation, and surveillance. Agencies are standing up drone programs and writing the policies for them without always having the training infrastructure to back it up.

The gap between buying a drone and knowing how to legally operate it is where liability lives.

The FAA Part 107 Requirement Is Not Optional

Any officer operating a drone for governmental or law enforcement purposes needs to understand where Part 107 applies and what exemptions exist. Getting that wrong does not just risk a fine. It puts evidence at risk, exposes the agency to civil liability, and can compromise an entire investigation.

Part 107 governs commercial and governmental UAS operations. It sets the rules on altitude, airspace authorization, visual line of sight, night operations, and waivers. The exam that certifies pilots covers all of it.

Most agencies buying drones are doing it right on the hardware side. The certification side is where shortcuts get taken.

What RTI’s Drone Courses Cover

RTI offers three levels of FAA Part 107 training built specifically for law enforcement.

Tier 1: Part 107 Practice Exam ($55). If your officers are already studying for the knowledge test, this is where you find the gaps before you sit. Realistic question bank, exam format, no filler.

Tier 2: Part 107 Exam Question Bank ($99). A full assessment suite with broader coverage and more depth. Good for officers who need structured prep before scheduling the actual exam.

Tier 3: FAA Part 107 Drone Certification for Law Enforcement ($220). The full course. Covers the knowledge requirements for the Part 107 exam, airspace classification, operational regulations, emergency procedures, and law enforcement-specific application. Idaho POST-certified. IADLEST-aligned. Sixteen hours online, self-paced.

If your department is standing up a UAS program, or if you have officers already flying without a cert, Tier 3 is where to start.

The Incident This Morning Is a Good Reminder

Nobody on that United flight got hurt. The FAA will investigate. The operator will probably never be identified. That is the most likely outcome: no accountability, no consequences, and the next drone incident starts from zero.

That is the environment your officers are working in. They need to understand the law, the airspace system, and what legal UAS operations look like, whether they are investigating an incident or flying their own department’s equipment.

Start with the Part 107 Practice Exam for $55 or go straight to the full certification course if your agency is building out a drone program now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do law enforcement officers need a Part 107 certification to fly drones?
It depends on how the drone is being used and whether the agency operates under a COA (Certificate of Authorization) or requires individual Part 107 certification. Most departments require officers to hold a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate before operating department UAS. RTI’s Tier 3 course prepares officers for the FAA knowledge exam.

What happens if an officer flies a drone without proper certification?
Unauthorized UAS operations can result in FAA civil penalties, and any evidence collected during an improper flight may be challenged in court. Departments with uncertified pilots also face liability exposure if something goes wrong.

How long does it take to get Part 107 certified?
The FAA knowledge test takes about two hours. Study time varies by background. Most candidates with no aviation experience need 10 to 20 hours of prep. RTI’s Tier 3 course is 16 hours and covers the full exam content.

Is RTI’s drone certification course approved for POST credit?
The Tier 3 course is Idaho POST-certified and IADLEST-aligned for broader recognition.

What airspace restrictions apply near airports?
FAA regulations prohibit drone operations above 400 feet without authorization and in Class B, C, D, and E airspace without prior approval through systems like LAANCIE or DroneZone. The airspace around major airports like SAN is among the most restricted in the country. This morning’s incident occurred at 3,000 feet, more than seven times the legal ceiling for unauthorized operations.