Earn the Drone Honor the right way
A hands-on class for Pathfinder clubs and youth groups, taught by an FAA-licensed commercial pilot who served as a Pathfinder director for 13 years.
Students: do steps 1 and 2 before class. Club leaders: sign up your club.
Study, certify, train, fly
Do the first two steps on your own before class. Class time is for flying, not testing.
Get your recreational certificate
Take the free TRUST test online with the Boy Scouts of America (30 to 45 min). Save or print your certificate. Other providers
Take the class
Bring your TRUST certificate. We spend the class on safety, skills and supervised flying.
Earn the honor
The Drone Honor is awarded at the class, after the instructor signs off each requirement.
Ready to fly
You leave certified, trained and legal to fly for fun. Want to fly for money? Become a commercial pilot.
Took TRUST early? Great, you're legal to fly for fun now. The honor itself is earned at the class.
What students do
The class is built around the official Drone honor requirements. Students arrive with their TRUST certificate already done, so the whole class is teaching and flying.
Before class: TRUST
Each student takes the free FAA recreational safety test at home and brings the certificate. We don't take class time for it.
Safety & stewardship
Why safe, respectful flying matters: people, wildlife, privacy and the people who share the sky.
Rules of the sky
Recreational vs. commercial flying, registration, Remote ID, altitude limits and why the DC area is special.
How drones fly
Rotors, batteries, GPS, sensors and the controls, with a hands-on parts walkthrough.
Flight session
Supervised flying with training drones inside a marked flight area: pre-flight check, takeoff, hover, a simple course and landing. Nobody is flown over.
Honor sign-off
Instructor review of each requirement and paperwork for the club director.
Official honor requirements: check the current version from your division or conference. Pathfinders Online honors
How do you Fly SMART?
The FAA's checklist for everyone who flies for fun. Every student in our classes leaves having done S and M.
S — Sign up (register)
Register if your drone weighs 250 g (0.55 lb) or more. It's $5, covers all your recreational drones, and lasts 3 years. Mark the registration number on the outside of the drone. Owners under 13 need a parent or other person 13+ to register.
M — Make it legal (take TRUST)
The law requires every recreational flyer to pass the free, online TRUST test and carry proof when flying.
A — Always follow the rules
Fly only for fun, stay at or below 400 ft in uncontrolled airspace, get authorization (LAANC or DroneZone) in controlled airspace, and give way to other aircraft.
R — Respect the airspace
Drones are aircraft. Congratulations, you are an aviator. Other aircraft can and do fly low, not just near airports, so keep your drone in sight. Registered drones must broadcast Remote ID.
T — Team up with your community
Follow the safety guidelines of an FAA-recognized Community-Based Organization (CBO) and learn from experienced flyers.
Source: FAA, Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations, and How to Register Your Drone (faa.gov). Heads-up: the FAA counts volunteer "goodwill" flying for an organization as non-recreational. That falls under Part 107.
No flying over people. Everyone signs the waiver.
Drones near crowds are the biggest risk at any class or event, so the flight session runs as a controlled operation under the instructor's FAA Part 107 certificate:
- A marked flight area with a spectator line. No drone flies over anyone.
- One drone at a time. Students fly under the instructor's direct supervision, and the instructor can take control instantly.
- Small training drones only during class. No personal drones during the class.
- Personal drones after class only with instructor approval, inside the flight area, under the same rules.
- Flying is cancelled for wind, weather, airspace restrictions or any safety concern.
What the FAA says
- Flying for fun: the FAA's safety guidance says avoid flying over people or public events. FAA recreational card
- Part 107: no flying over people who are not part of the operation unless they are under a covered structure or in a stationary vehicle, or the drone meets an operations-over-people category. FAA: operations over people
- Classes: educational flying that is not at a college, JROTC or a program chartered by an FAA-recognized community organization falls under Part 107, which is why a licensed instructor runs the flight session. FAA: educational users
A signed waiver covers liability and agreement to the rules. It does not make flying over people legal.
What to bring
- Required: your TRUST certificate, printed or on a phone. Take the Free Drone Test before class (30 to 45 min)
- Required: the signed waiver. Everyone in the flight area signs; parents or guardians sign for under-18s
- Pathfinder field uniform (or as your club directs)
- Optional: your own drone. Need one? We'll match a starter drone to the student
- Water, hat and sunscreen for the outdoor session
- Your own drone (optional; training drones provided)
For club directors
- Send your club name, number of students and age range
- We confirm the date, site and airspace in advance
- We provide training drones and safety gear for the flight session
- We send completion records for each student
- Ask about combining clubs for a district or camporee session
Bring the Drone Honor to your club
Club directors and counselors: send the details and we'll hold a spot for your group.
Everyone in the flight area signs the waiver; a parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18.
Shop drones and arcade games at Professional Drones & Gaming
Starter drones, class kits, parts, and classic arcade cabinets. Every drone comes with a first-flight safety briefing.