Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran pilot who owns one of the best drones (Opens in a new tab) It would be nice to have a good list of places around where you can fly your favorite gadgets.
To help you, we have listed below the 6 best places for drone pilots, and 3 places you absolutely must avoid.Don’t forget to check all drone regulations (Opens in a new tab) However, these may vary from state to state, so in your area before takeoff. Must take the TRUST exam (Opens in a new tab) Before you start the flight, you need to register with the FAA if your drone is over a certain weight.
Fly: Your backyard
One of the first places to try a drone is in your backyard. With comfortable steering, you can fly anywhere from 50 feet to less than 400 feet from the ground. This is known by the FAA as Class G airspace, and if you stay within these limits, you do not need a permit for your property.
You can even take a party in the backyard, take a picture of your family, or even see your place with a bird’s eye. It’s part of the fun of flying a drone with an HD camera — it allows you to take pictures from a different perspective. Remember that the same privacy laws apply as if you were standing on the ground. If it’s illegal to take a picture while looking inside a neighbor’s window in your state, the rule doesn’t change just because your camera is currently 250 feet in the air.
Do not fly: Emergency response area
Emergency response or disaster areas are automatically subject to Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) without notice. This means that all drones are prohibited from entering the airspace. Getting a bird’s-eye view of a wildfire may sound exciting, but violating this airspace can cause you to stranded and endanger your life.
Do Fly: Beyond the river
If you like to ride in the water, bring a drone. Whether you’re kayaking, water skiing, or wanting to photograph the coastline at sunset, you can go. Please note that due to its proximity to the airport and harbor, parts of the river may intersect the restricted airspace of Class B.
In such cases, you should request Low Advanced Authentication and Notification Facility (LAANC) authentication. LAANC is a real-time data exchange between the FAA and a private company that can grant or deny permission to bring a drone into certain restricted airspace. You can issue LAANC requests from the B4UFLY app (Opens in a new tab) If necessary.
Don’t fly: National Park
Drones are prohibited from operating on land managed by the National Park Service. This means that you will not take off, land, or fly from the national park. The intent behind the ban is to minimize its impact on nature, culture and historical resources. Although it is possible to obtain special permits for commercial photography purposes under appropriate circumstances, the National Park for Recreational Drone Pilots remains a drone-prohibited area.
Fly: Wilderness area of national forest
You may not be able to fly in national parks, but you can drone through national forests. confusing? A little, but it comes down to the fact that they are different types of land managed by different parts of the government. Beware of branches and obstacles that can knock your drone out of the sky.
The Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, shown above, is a great place to fly a drone and is well worth a trip. Check B4UFY and all local ordinances as there may be special exceptions in individual locations of national forests.
Don’t fly: large sports and entertainment events
You can use the drone to watch your favorite baseball games, stadium concerts, or NASCAR races. Unfortunately, it is illegal to fly drones in and around these locations from 1 hour before the event starts to 1 hour after the event ends. This doesn’t mean you couldn’t peek at your favorite stadium when the match wasn’t playing, but it’s illegal to do so during the event.
Fly: Promenade promenade
While some cities have restricted use of drones in and around the promenade, in most beach towns, as long as the drone operator respects the 50-400 rule, in and around the promenade. You can use a recreational drone.These promenades usually provide a great background for taking pictures, especially if you can fly the drone at night. (Opens in a new tab) Captures bright light in the area.
And it’s a brief summary of where you can take out your new drone for a spin. Please note that in addition to federal regulations, there may also be state and local ordinances governing drone flight. Your best resource is to always contact a community-based organization (CBO) that tracks recreational drone limits in your area.
Fly: Historical lighthouse
Consider taking your drone to a historic lighthouse while we talk about water. If you live inland, this may not seem obvious, but the lighthouse is a great way to test both piloting and photography skills. Two good examples are the Point Judith Lighthouse in Point Judith, Rhode Island and the abandoned Thiramukklock Lighthouse in Oregon.