FAA Part 107 + AESA A1/A3 + Panama: operating drones legally in three countries

When someone sees me operating a drone, the question is always the same: “do you need a license for that?”. The short answer: yes, and it depends where you are. The long answer is why I got certified in three different regulatory frameworks (FAA in the US, AESA in Spain, AAC in Panama) and why every minute invested was worth it.

Why three certifications#

My operational life crosses three jurisdictions:

• Panama is the base. AeroVision Studio and local commercial projects operate under the Civil Aeronautical Authority (AAC).
• United States (Chicago metro) is the headquarters of PROOQ LLC and an occasional operating area. Requires FAA Part 107 for any commercial flight.
• Spain is where I spend several weeks a year for family and EU operations. EU regulation unified under EASA (with local AESA authority in Spain) requires A1/A3 certification even for recreational operation.

Operating without the corresponding certification is not an “optional rule of thumb” — it is illegal, they can confiscate your equipment, fine you, and leave whoever hires you without insurance protection.

FAA Part 107: the most demanding#

The most complex of the three. 60-question exam at an authorized center costing ~$175 USD covering:

• FAA regulation (airspace classes, temporary restrictions — NOTAMs)
• Meteorology (reading METARs, fronts, winds)
• Performance and loads
• Emergency procedures
• Aeronautical communications
• Night operations (annex added in 2021)

Passing it requires serious study (~40–60 hours depending on background). Recurrent training every 24 months online and free since 2021.

In exchange it enables real commercial operation in the US: real estate, film, inspections, agriculture, mapping. Without Part 107 you cannot bill an American client for aerial imagery.

AESA A1/A3: the most accessible#

European open category for drones under 25 kg. Two sub-categories:

• A1: flying over people with drones under 250 g (typically Mini 2).
• A3: flying over unpopulated areas with larger drones (maintain >150 m distance from residential areas).

The exam is online, 40 questions, ~3 hours of study. Zero cost (self-study + free exam on AESA platform).

It does not enable commercial flights over populated areas — for that you need the “specific” category (more complex). But for landscape aerial photography, controlled events, rural inspections, A1/A3 is enough.

Panama AAC: the most bureaucratic#

Here the regulation is more recent and operates differently:

• Registration of the operator (person or company) before the AAC
• Registration of the equipment (brand, model, serial, photos)
• Commercial permit application per project, not annual
• Coordination with CEMACO (control body) according to zone

The process is not difficult but requires Panamanian patience: in-person procedures, physical paperwork, non-guaranteed timing. Once established, renewals are quick.

In exchange it enables legitimate commercial operation within Panama with corresponding insurance coverage.

What I learned keeping all three active#

1. Each regulation reflects its aerial culture#

FAA Part 107 is dense and technical because the US has the most complex airspace in the world. AESA is pragmatic because the EU needed to harmonize 27 different countries. Panama is closer to prescriptive Latin American models.

The three make sense in their context. Complaining about “regulatory excess” usually comes from not understanding the operational context.

2. The difference between pilot and operator#

Certs apply to the remote pilot. But as a commercial operator you must also comply with:

• Liability insurance (mandatory in EU since 2021, strongly recommended in US and PA)
• Aircraft registration according to weight/use
• Documented procedures (logbook, pre-flight checks, checklist)

Flying legally is 30% cert, 70% operation.

3. The logbook is your defense#

I keep a digital logbook with every flight: date, time, GPS location, equipment, duration, purpose, weather conditions, observations. If one day there is an incident, that is the difference between “professional operator” and “guy with a drone”.

4. Training pays off#

The three certs cost me less than $300 USD total (online courses, FAA exam). Compared to a single real commercial project that already paid that 5x, the investment is trivial.

What is next#

EASA is moving toward the specific category (standard scenario operations STS-01, STS-02). FAA is evaluating BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) authorization for commercial operation. Both will be the next certifications I consider adding.

If you are thinking about operating drones commercially, get certified from day one. It is not optional, it is not nice-to-have — it is the difference between building a business on rock or on sand.