Unboxing a new shiny drone is an exciting moment. Of course, the first thing you want to do is raise it into the air. However, you must ensure that you comply with the rules and regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before you begin your flight and capture stunning aerial footage. Below are answers to the most common questions asked when flying a drone safely and legally.
Do I need a qualification to fly a drone?
If you’re just using the drone for entertainment purposes, you can’t.Those who want to make money with stunning aerial footage need to fly under Part 107 (Opens in a new tab) Guidelines-Includes taking a test to become a Certified Drone Pilot.
If you just want to fly around or take a photo or video to show to your friends, you can do it without rigorous testing, but there are a few steps you need to take before you go out into the sky.
Do I need to register a drone?
Everyone needs to register their drone, whether you’re flying for recreation or for commercial purposes. The only exception is when the drone weighs less than 250 grams. Most drones on the market weigh more than 250 grams, but there are also lightweight aircraft such as the Sanrock U52. (Opens in a new tab) And 4DRCF10 (Opens in a new tab) Drone.
To register your drone, you will need to have your personal information (home address, email address, phone number), drone make and model, and credit or debit card details. The registration fee is $ 5, but it will cover it for the next three years. The only requirement for registration is that you must be at least 13 years old and be a US citizen or legal resident.
Once your drone is registered, you will receive a FAA registration certificate. You will need this certificate every time you fly. You must also present it to federal, state, or local law enforcement officers when requested. You will also receive a registration number that must be clearly marked on the outside of the drone. Engraving and oil-based pens can be used, but it is best to use a printable sticker or label maker.Drones can be registered in the Drone Zone (Opens in a new tab)..
What rules do I have to follow when flying a drone?
It’s best to take the TRUST test to get used to the rules (Opens in a new tab).. One of the rules is to complete this free test and have a certificate of completion handy at the time of flight, but the test itself serves as a great way to learn the general rules of flying drones. Many of them are common sense. Do not fly under the influence, keep your drone in sight, fly over crowds, or stay out of the way of manned aircraft, or planes. Thankfully, the test takes only 30 minutes and you can relearn and take it as many times as you need, so you won’t fail.
However, you need to understand the difference between controlled and uncontrolled airspace, and the rules that apply to flight in each area. Recreational leaflets usually cannot fly in controlled airspace near military bases, stadiums, airports, and populated areas. You are free to fly in uncontrolled airspace, but of course you must follow general guidelines. B4UFLY can be used to identify what is considered controlled or uncontrolled airspace. (Opens in a new tab) App. It is FAA approved and features an interactive map showing whether your area can safely fly the drone. Other restricted areas in the country to note are national parks and Washington, DC.
There are no official rules for recreational flyers for night flights. Commercial drone pilots are allowed to fly at night, but only after undergoing additional testing and installing anti-collision lights on the drone.Like this strobe anti-collision drone light, recreational flyers are also advised to attach the light to the drone when flying at night. (Opens in a new tab) for example. If anything, it’s as beneficial to you as any other aircraft in the night sky as much as you can better monitor your drone when you’re far away.
Another rule to note is that drones weighing more than 55 pounds (including packages or additional items attached to the drone) cannot fly and must fly below 400 feet even in uncontrolled airspace. The pilot needs a side visual observer to keep the drone itself in line of sight, as the drone goes through a first-person view (using a VR headset).
Do drone regulations vary from state to state?
The general rules described above apply to drone flight in any state. Drones are completely new in grand planning of things, so over time, different states are enacting new laws and legislation. None of these will affect you unless you plan to deliver medical majurana in New Jersey or you want to equip your drone with a deadly payload in Kentucky.Here you can find the latest state laws and bills for drones (Opens in a new tab)..
Is there anything else worth knowing?
FAA (Opens in a new tab) Introduced a new rule that will come into effect on September 23, 2023. All drones require a remote ID that informs authorities and other stakeholders of the drone’s ID and location details during the flight. The deadline for 2023 is to give manufacturers such as DJI time to implement this new feature in their drones. FAA is proposing a plan to make the remote ID broadcast module available, so it can be easily attached to the current drone without having to buy a new drone that has a native remote ID. ..
If you stick to the rules and guidelines, it should be a lot of fun to fly the drone without any trouble. Use common sense to fly near the airport or over the yard in your neighborhood. Think about the time of day you fly. During sunrise and sunset, there are few people and you can shoot images of a golden environment. It will make things safer for you and your drone, and you will have some incredible images to show off to your friends.