Enabling Flight Over People: Introducing Skydio’s Parachute System for X10
Jenn Player 
Supporting critical operations in complex, real world environments has always been core to Skydio’s mission. Many of these critical operations require flying over people and vehicles, yet meeting the Part 107 safety requirements for operations over people has long been a challenge for both operators and drone manufacturers.
Today, we’re announcing a major milestone for customers operating under FAA Part 107. Skydio’s new parachute system attachment for Skydio X10 has successfully demonstrated compliance with Part 107 Subpart D for both Category 2 and Category 3 operations over people.
This milestone unlocks new opportunities by enabling operations in populated and dynamic environments that were previously off limits. With Skydio Parachute for X10, you can now fly over people and moving vehicles under Part 107 without waiting for an ‘operations over people’ waiver. The system also satisfies the requirements of current waivers that mandate a third-party tested parachute.
What the Skydio Parachute System Is and How It Works
Skydio Parachute is a purpose-built safety attachment engineered to support safe, compliant operations over people and moving vehicles. It adds an additional, independent layer of protection that complements our autonomous flight, obstacle avoidance, and system health monitoring.
The Skydio Parachute is an attachment that is:
- Purpose-built for X10 platforms, integrating cleanly onto the attachment points and system connections so it doesn’t interfere with autonomous flight or mission sensors.
- Activated automatically or manually, self-monitoring for defined failure conditions that trigger automatic deployment, while also giving pilots the ability to manually initiate flight termination.
- Driven by a compressed gas deployment mechanism, rapidly opening the canopy to slow the aircraft’s descent and reduce impact energy, supporting a low minimum deployment altitude of 100 ft (30.5 m) AGL for shielded operations.
- Equipped with smart status indicators and system checks, allowing pilots to confirm that it is armed and ready before flight, whether the drone is operated remotely or using the handheld controller.
- Compatible with Skydio Dock, adding extra safety for dock-based Drone as First Responder and other remote operations, as well as for hand-flown flights.
While the parachute is not a replacement for responsible flying practices, it is designed as an added layer of protection for people on the ground, especially in environments where restricted or controlled access zones aren’t practical or possible.
Designed for Safety, Validated Through Testing
Operations over people demand a higher level of safety by design. To demonstrate compliance with FAA regulations, Skydio worked with trusted third-party partners to validate function and performance.
Northern Plains UAS Test Site, an FAA-designated test site, provided oversight for parachute deployment testing, evaluating deployment performance and descent characteristics under a variety of conditions in accordance with the accepted industry technical standard, ASTM F3322-22.
The Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), also an FAA-designated test site, used its FAA-accepted test methodology to conduct ATD impact testing at the facilities of Virginia Tech's Center for Injury Biomechanics. This testing verified compliance with the kinetic energy limits and injury severity metrics necessary for Part 107 Category 2 and Category 3 eligibility.
Together, the parachute deployment and impact testing confirm that the Skydio Parachute for X10 performs as intended and supports operations in the environments where our drones deliver incredible value.
What Part 107 Category 2 and Category 3 Compliance Unlocks
Restricting flights to closed or restricted-access sites, or guaranteeing that all bystanders are sheltered, is often impractical. With this declaration of compliance, Skydio X10 equipped with the Skydio Parachute for X10 is eligible for the following Part 107 operations:
- Category 2 operations generally allow sustained flight over people, including open-air assemblies, and transient flight over moving vehicles.
- Category 3 operations allow transient flight over people and moving vehicles, but do not allow hovering or sustained flight, and do not allow operations over open-air assemblies.
When the operation can be conducted within or over a closed- or restricted-access site, sustained flight over people participating in the operation and any moving vehicles is permitted by both Categories. Non-participants must be on notice that a drone could overfly them.
Operations in these categories are subject to specific operating limits, while still providing operational flexibility. At sea level, Skydio Parachute for X10 supports sustained flight over people in winds up to 8.9 mph (4 m/s) and transient flight in winds up to 13.4 mph (6 m/s). The system is rated for operation up to 15,000 feet, with reduced wind limits at higher altitudes, enabling flight in a range of environments and conditions.
For more complete information about Categories of operations, see FAA AC 107-2A
Real-World Use Cases Where Added Safety Matters
The parachute system is especially impactful in missions where people or vehicles cannot be fully excluded from the operational area, including:
- Urban infrastructure inspections over sidewalks and roadways
- Construction monitoring with active crews below
- Transportation and traffic analysis over moving vehicles
- Emergency response operations in populated neighborhoods
In the unlikely event of an in-flight failure, the parachute system is designed to reduce descent energy and help protect people on the ground, supporting safer outcomes even in worst-case scenarios.
What This Means for Public Safety Operators
Public safety teams often operate where people are present and time matters. If you operate under Part 107, the Skydio Parachute for X10 enables your agency to operate over human beings and moving vehicles safely under standard Part 107 and under Part 107 waivers such as Part 107 Public Safety Organization Shielded Waiver.
If you operate under Part 91, the Skydio Parachute for X10 also meets the requirements to operate over people outlined in the FAA’s Public Aircraft Operator - Public Safety Organization waivers.
Enabling safe operations over human beings and moving vehicles is especially valuable for missions such as:
- Response to calls for service from Dock-based X10s
- Disaster response and damage assessment in populated areas
- Traffic collision and roadway incident management
- Planned events and gatherings where aerial awareness supports public safety and coordination
Whether operating under Part 107 or Part 91, the parachute system provides a clear, standards-based safety mitigation that supports mission planning, risk management, and public trust.
How to Confirm Eligibility on the FAA DOC Website
The FAA maintains a public Declaration of Compliance (DOC) database listing aircraft and safety accessories accepted for operations.
To check your system:
- Visit the FAA’s UAS DOC website at https://uasdoc.faa.gov/
- Ensure your aircraft make and model matches the DOC listing
- Enter the serial number of your parachute unit to verify the listed Category 2 and Category 3 eligibility
Where to Find the Parachute System Manual
Safe and compliant operation depends on proper use of the system. Our online parachute system manual covers:
- Installation and configuration
- Preflight inspection requirements
- Settings and operation
- Operational limitations and maintenance guidance
Review the manual before conducting flight-over-people operations. Follow stated instructions and be familiar with operating limits and safety information.
Enabling Real-World Operations—Safely
From urban infrastructure inspection to emergency response, many of the most impactful missions take place near people and vehicles. The Skydio Parachute for X10 is designed for exactly these environments.
