A remote pilot is filming a real estate listing solo using FPV goggles to capture a cinematic walkthrough shot. They have no visual observer. Is this operation compliant with Part 107?
Why →14 CFR § 107.31 requires the remote PIC to maintain visual line of sight: the ability to see the aircraft with unaided vision, not through a device. When wearing FPV goggles, the pilot's natural vision is blocked and they cannot directly observe the aircraft's orientation or position. A visual observer who maintains VLOS and communicates with the PIC is required for any FPV-goggle operation. Without a VO, the operation violates § 107.31.
The trap →Seeing through the drone's camera is not the same as visual line of sight. VLOS requires the pilot to see the aircraft itself, not what the aircraft's camera sees. FPV feeds are narrow-angle and can introduce spatial disorientation that degrades situational awareness.
Field note →To fly FPV solo legally, apply for a § 107.200 waiver with documented mitigations. Alternatively, recruit a trusted VO for cinematic FPV shoots. A good VO also improves shot quality by freeing the pilot to focus on the camera rather than obstacle avoidance.