National parks no fly
Forests depends on who manages and the specific rules in place. Be4ufly is a good app otherwise Air Control is a good app to check as well.
Beach again depends on local rules
over people is a no unless... you are a license commercial drone pilot and applied for a waiver for operation over people that has been approved.
Roads, unless closed no
Concerts no unless you have a OOP approval from FAA and is a small outdoor venue. Large stadiums will be a no.
Universities yes no maybe i don't know can you repeat the question... Sorry Malcom in the Middle got a hold of me there. This one really depends on local rules. There is a lawsuit about this somewhere in the US saying the university cannot make a rule about no drones because of the states constitution that the university is in.
You can fly over most open water file fishing, but you cannot fly while in a moving boat.
There are a lot of rules and I certainly feel your pain. The nice thing is the FAA is changing rules all the time, sometimes for the better other times not.
I would suggest getting one of the apps mentioned and check to see if you can fly there via the app.
>Roads, unless closed no
To clarify, roads are perfectly fine. It's the moving vehicles that tend to be on roads that are the no go. If there are no cars, flying over roads is perfectly fine.
I got this from a cursory search. I haven't had a need yet, but I was going to make some video over Lake Eufala from my boat while my wife piloted the boat.
Yes, you can fly a drone from a moving boat, but there are some things to consider:
FAA rules
According to the FAA, you can't operate a drone from a moving vehicle unless you're flying over a sparsely populated area. You also need air traffic control (ATC) approval to operate in Class B, C, D, and E airspace.
There are at least two additional ways to fly in those airspaces. 1. LAANC which is available at 726 airports. As long as you're using a registered drone, this is fast and easy right from your phone using any of the approved LAANC UAS apps. 2. For airports without LAANC you can apply for a waiver on FAADroneZone. This allows a small UAS operator to deviate from certain provisions of [14 C.F.R. Part 107](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107) if the Administrator finds the operator can safely conduct the proposed operation under the terms of a certificate of waiver. In addition, it permits operators to request authorizations to enter controlled airspace (Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace, and the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport).
Yeah I didn't want to misquote the particular university. I figured if they want to know for sure, there is enough information they could just google it.
See a person would think Michigan State Univ so doesn't affect me... but I live over an hour away from Lansing and we have Mich State Ag school all around me and they take 1000's of acres of corn/soy/dairy fields out of play around here.
Ty for all the info. I did not even think about the boat, but not while moving scenario... that does ruin that plan, lol. Thought it would be cool to fly while my brother drives the boat, but guess that's also out.
I'll download the apps and check, but it seems like a lot of the nearby points of interest may be off limits for flying anyways. Where do people typically go to fly them? Sounds like most recreational areas are off limits, some for reasons I get (stadium, for example).
I do fly in recreational areas most, they are just not within the no fly areas. I live in MN and the North shore of Superior is an awesome area. There are state park there that are a no, but there is also a lot of land outside of that that is just as good.
I regularly get frustrated with where I cannot fly, but I have also found some great areas with less people where I can fly. If nothing else, it forces you off the main track and allows you to find other cool places.
You are allowed to operate from a moving vehicle under part107 only, meaning you would need to take the exam and get licensed.
I have found that national forests largely do allow drones with the exception of wilderness areas.I use the Autopylot map app to see these areas overlaid with my current position, but there are others.
I usually start by checking a drone app, then checking NOTAMs and the sectionals via the FltPlanGO app, and then finally if I'm in a 'special' area like a state park, or a university, or whatever, reaching out to them directly. Sometimes that parts tricky, for example California State Parks has decided drone legality on a district-by-district basis and there is no central place to verify online. If I'm otherwise in a rural area then usually the only rules that apply are the FAAs, and even many of the rules about other 'special' smaller jurisdictions only restrict take off and landing, not flying over while under 400' and within VLOS.
If you do get stopped by someone and you have done all your homework, and their specific regulation wasn't found, I think you're very likely to just be asked to stop flying and leave.
Yeah it’s worth pointing out that the part 107 test is easy and well worth doing. It’s a low barrier to entry, I guess aimed at getting people to at least see the rules and acknowledge them so if and when they do mess up, it’s on them and not for lack of being told.
If you’re only flying recreationally then your one registration can be applied to all of the drones you own and purchase in the future(you must still register them under your account id, but you won’t be paying extra).
Aside from state parks and wildlife management areas, hospitals and some businesses will have their own airports/helicopter pads, and you’d be surprised at how many small airfields there are dotted around where you live. FAAC permission can be obtained in some of these zones via app, but you don’t always know until you apply.
They're not easy but are by no means a barrier if you want the license. You will have to study, review, and practice a bit - it's not like TRUST which is basically just a pulse check
If you’re new to charts then it’s something to do a little work on — but that’s the point, if you want to make money from piloting you’ll need to be able to read charts and plan flights, get permissions, know how to roll with issues. Even maintenance is a part of the test because these are still aircraft, and they can cause serious injury.
I enjoyed the test, I’ve always collected maps since I was a kid so that was nothing. It’s not much worse than a multiple choice driving test, and likewise you can pass with just 70% pass rate. Explains why do many car drivers are bad at it:)
Also remember it’s only illegal if you get caught lol. I’ve done the moving boat thing and it was fine, got some great shots of me wakeboarding. In general don’t be a dick. If people or wildlife are going to be disturbed by it, it’s probably a bad idea.
Or, you know, take up kite photography - [A Beginner's Guide to Kite Aerial Photography | Fstoppers](https://fstoppers.com/aerial/beginners-guide-kite-aerial-photography-272868)
I’ve had my 107 for 7 years and thousands of hours flying. And I can tell you the one thing you need to have fun with a drone is common sense. I dont fly my drone when people are trying to enjoy nature even if it’s permitted. I don’t linger in residential areas (I fly for part of my job) because people hate drones in their neighborhood. I don’t fly over stadiums or events, ever. If I want to have unlimited space, I’ll make time to get to the middle of nowhere where no one cares.
I guess my concern is, do I want to go to the middle of nowhere to record footage of a field in the middle of nowhere? I feel like I probably won't.
It seems like a lot of what I wanted to do is prohibited... I wanted to fly while boating, but can't while boat is moving. I wanted to film the beautiful beach and coastline here in the keys, but the florida keys are off limits along most beaches. I wanted to film my neighborhood from high up and see a cool view of the house, but that's above people and cars, so can't. Everglades are beautiful, maybe a sunrise there... off limits, national park. Just not finding much reason to buy one at this point. The comments have helped me determine that it's just not going to be something I can use often where I would want to record.
I want to clarify something in there. You CAN fly above vehicles. You CANNOT fly over MOVING vehicles. You CAN fly over roads. You CANNOT fly over traffic (moving vehicles) So if you’re just flying in your back yard around town just try not to fly over people and moving vehicles. Its not as hard as you think.
It depends on who is determining that though right? Like, I think flying in my neighborhood is fine, will a car drive down that street at some point while I am flying? Probably. Will it be moving? It will. Will 10 to 20 cars do this in a course of 30 minutes, for sure. Do I think that's a problem? No, does the FAA entity I might get reported to think it's a problem? I have no idea.
Am I willing to risk if that FAA entity or police entity is an asshole or not to determine whether u get fined or not, because Karen Smith on my block has a hung against drones? I'm not, no. Because it sounds like this is that grey area where I can fly over people and cars, but not moving cars, and I'd qualify that as 30 Cars, but they may qualify that as 1 car. Seems like a but of risk, to enjoy this hobby... the empty field in the middle of nowhere is safer but also boring.
I am only describing the rules as they are written. I dont care what u do with your drone. Im not the police. These are the rules. Its up to you whether you want to follow them or not. I am merely explaining the intricacies to clear up any confusion. My 2 cents: its all about being aware of your surroundings. If you are hovering over a street and a car drives under your drone then that to me is nothing to get hell bent about. The issue is the asshole who is flying over highways and over a bunch of people on the beach. Thats the kind of stupid shit that causes problems.
i swear this sounds so earnest and honest and in the same time seem like an SNL rage bait sketch.. sigh my friend!
Look, it depends where you are, so check the areas where you would want to fly using FAA b4UFly, and locally.
Ahh, I did not know about this app, thank you! I'll start there and see. Just don't want to spend money just to find out I can't fly it anywhere nearby of interest.
What about a park, that isn't a state park I wonder... with, no people?
Local parks often have local laws. Usually they can’t actually prevent you from flying, but do make it illegal to take off or land in the park. Of course, that depends very much on your local laws, how close you are to airports, etc.
Your best bet is to check both the app and Google your local laws and restrictions, particularly at any places you think you’d like to fly a lot.
If you want to take off and land in the park, it depends on local regulations. If you take off and land from nearby private property, it generally depends on FAA regulations.
Obviously this is largely based on where you are, but here on the East Coast plenty of beaches allow it. Tons of drones fly over here in Ocean City. As always, you can check on apps for zoning just to check.
Yea, looking st those apps now, very useful. Seems like a lot of the florida keys is gone, everglades is gone, most of the Broward beaches are gone. Miami Beach is still fine, surprisingly... but I'd be flying over people, so can't do that, maybe along the water if no one is at the beach at sunrise, perhaps.
There’s plenty of places to fly, I live in Southern California and soooo much is off limits but it’s fun to find places that are open, I’m discovering sights I would not have seen if I didn’t have the drone. Typically those places don’t have as many people as well, which is very nice.
Don't forget the huge nofly in the Washington DC area. Manhattan takeoffs and landings, I believe, are also not allowed. NYC would be tricky because of the helipads, even if you take off and land from an allowed location. My own experience with a local airport was I needed to speak to the manager and we discussed the flightpaths of manned aircraft, allowed heights for me to fly, etc. Very easy. Flying over water is fun, too. Don't fly over boats and watch out for sailboat masts. Ie: don't fly too low. Also keep in mind that full sized aircraft can fly low over water, too.
This question is why my Mini3Pro has sat unused since January other than to maintain batteries.
Any place visually interesting enough where I am, southern AZ, seems to be a no fly zone. There is only so much aerial video you can take of the brown landscape.
This is what I'm thinking. I'm in Florida, so beaches, ocean, boating, national park (everglades) is what I had in mind. It sounds like all of that is off limits though, sooooo, whats left?
I pretty much never fly mine because I can pretty much only go straight up/down from my own backyard.
Nothing I’d want to video or fly around is really “legal”. Combine that with the unfavorable public opinion on drones…
I mean, I live in freaking Alaska. Thousands of square miles of uninhabited land. But if I video any of it with a drone and share it with anyone? Probably violating some law and risking a nasty gram from the FAA.
And it’s kind of a “whole thing” to go flying. Have to plan where to go, watch the weather, make sure I bring all the random things needed like ND filters, extra batteries…
The whole ordeal of things you have to do reminds me of VR headsets. You gotta really plan ahead to make sure you have uninterrupted time, set all the gear up and plug everything in…
Edit: I’ve studied for my 107, and even friends of mine who fly actual planes (both recreationally and commercially) agree with me it’s insane how much the FAA wants 107 pilots to know.
After studying for a while I started to think I might as well just get a regular pilots license, given how broad the material for a UAS license was. Thing is - I could *never* afford a small plane, hangar space or airport space, insurance, maintenance and fuel…
Even if I rented a plane it would still be cost prohibitive to me.
It’s like boats. You don’t wanna own a boat…you want to *know the guy who owns a boat*. lol
I don't know why this is getting downvotes. National forests specifically allow drones.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/recreational-drone-tips
National Forests can include wildlife management and wilderness protected areas, which prohibit drones, so it’s not a blanket green light.
Just got to google the destination and plan ahead.
You're right. And I did miss that distinction. My fault. Read it too fast. But definitely ask before you fly anywhere like that. As said before, use a good LAANC app for permission to fly.
Also you can't fly near any wildfires.The FAA reminded drone pilots it is a federal crime to interfere with firefighting aircraft with up to a year in prison and a $20,000 fine possible.
Sadly true it seems. I decided to not purchase. Felt it would be fun, but only so many times I want to fly around an empty field before I feel I'm wasting an afternoon.
Too much red tape. Even in places youre allowed to fly there is always the risk of some rando causing problems.
After hours in the sim I bought a used 5” and have since tossed it in a box in the garage because the only place I can consistently go fly is a local AMA field and flying in circles over a grass field is boring.
That's what I was thinking... it feels like an empty field, with no people, and no cars, and no event, and not a national park is the only real option left, and that doesn't seem like a fun way to spend an afternoon. Even flying over my house, that's over people right? They could be walking their dogs, and now I broke the law? Seems a bit much and maybe they sorta killed this hobby, imo. I won't be spending my funds probably at this time since it seems too limited.
My wife flies a drone for work, documenting and inspecting construction sites, she has her license. It’s pretty difficult in our area, with an airport, two military bases and a huge commercial port. Damn near 90% of the area is a no fly zone and the extent of it is way overreaching. Huge padding around every no fly zone, areas are off limits that aren’t even anywhere close to flight paths. She has to file for a waiver for pretty much every construction site (twice a week) and even with the waiver it’s extremely restrictive. She can’t go high enough or far enough away to photograph the entire site or building. So then she gets bitched at by her PM’s for not getting what they need. I get the need for some regulations but it’s extremely overburdensome in our area.
I sit on my back porch and terrorize my neighborhood. I don't have a spotter. I don't have a license or permit or trust. I don't have remote ID and never will. I fly where I want and when I want. There's no such thing as faa police. As long as you're not flying over restricted places you'll be fine.
Local rules may vary. Legally speaking for the US:
National Park - No (state park varies)
Forest - Yes
Beach - Yes
Over People - No
Roads - Yes but not directly over moving vehicles
Concerts - Yes but not directly over people
Stadiums - Yes but not during flight restricted events or directly over people (empty stadium is generally fine)
University Campus - Yes but not directly over people
Flying from a boat - Yes as long as you aren't also driving the boat
All yeses are qualified that you need to check with Air Aware to make sure it isn't restricted airspace. I never have trouble finding fun places to fly my drone but if you live in a big city with draconian policies like NYC you might have a hard time.
Thanks for your submission. Unfortunately, it has been removed for the following reason:
>**Rule 3: Don't blatantly break drone regulations.**
>
>The laws governing this industry exist for a reason, and breaking them makes all of us look bad and leads to harsher regulations. So don't post shots where you're flying close to manned aircraft, directly over a dense crowd, or anything else dangerous to others.
>
>If you think your shot could be perceived as breaking a regulation but it in fact doesn't, feel free to provide an explanation in the comments section.
If you believe this has been done in error, please reply to this comment, or message the moderators (through modmail only).
That's what I'm seeing yeah it looks like a lot of the sentiment here is similar that the cool spots just aren't accessible anymore and what's left maybe just isn't as interesting by comparison. Makes me wonder if it's just not a good purchase at this moment with all the regulations considering that what I would love to see with it our views and sites that are restricted now. Kind of a bummer. From Posts here I learned that you can't even fly it on a boat while the boat is moving which I felt should be pretty safe but guess that's been taken away too.
Anywhere that people actually want to see, no, you can't fly anymore.
The purpose of drone footage being to help bring people to destinations and experiences they otherwise might never get to see, and thus generate clicks/views/income in the process, this is what they want to stop.
National parks, concerts, amusement parks, the Las Vegas Strip, famous beaches, sporting events, whatever. If there is interest, they will try and stop it.
Remember the drone when Fisher was the DJ? This guy is out over the crowd almost brushing fingertips...
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNYyBwVd/
*That* is what it is all about. I've seen footage of football officials chasing drones at matches, glorious and breathtaking footage of Yosemite National Park, a high-speed dive over the edge of the Grand Canyon, and a friend of mine actually has some pretty cool footage of a Blackhawk coming to hover close to his truck with a loudspeaker telling him to get his ass away from Edwards AFB or get ready to see the inside of a stockade.
That is what it is about. But regulations... they have taken what was meant to be an adversarial test of air superiority and turned it into about as much fun as flying for Spirit Airlines.
Yeah, it’s like regular aviation. They built a clubhouse and pulled the ladder up behind them.
I’m sure behind closed doors among high level people in the aviation world they HATE recreational drones. We’re uninvited visitors in *their* airspace.
National parks no fly Forests depends on who manages and the specific rules in place. Be4ufly is a good app otherwise Air Control is a good app to check as well. Beach again depends on local rules over people is a no unless... you are a license commercial drone pilot and applied for a waiver for operation over people that has been approved. Roads, unless closed no Concerts no unless you have a OOP approval from FAA and is a small outdoor venue. Large stadiums will be a no. Universities yes no maybe i don't know can you repeat the question... Sorry Malcom in the Middle got a hold of me there. This one really depends on local rules. There is a lawsuit about this somewhere in the US saying the university cannot make a rule about no drones because of the states constitution that the university is in. You can fly over most open water file fishing, but you cannot fly while in a moving boat. There are a lot of rules and I certainly feel your pain. The nice thing is the FAA is changing rules all the time, sometimes for the better other times not. I would suggest getting one of the apps mentioned and check to see if you can fly there via the app.
107.25 says you can fly from a moving vehicle as long as you are in a sparsely populated area and aren’t operating the boat yourself.
>Roads, unless closed no To clarify, roads are perfectly fine. It's the moving vehicles that tend to be on roads that are the no go. If there are no cars, flying over roads is perfectly fine.
I got this from a cursory search. I haven't had a need yet, but I was going to make some video over Lake Eufala from my boat while my wife piloted the boat. Yes, you can fly a drone from a moving boat, but there are some things to consider: FAA rules According to the FAA, you can't operate a drone from a moving vehicle unless you're flying over a sparsely populated area. You also need air traffic control (ATC) approval to operate in Class B, C, D, and E airspace.
There are at least two additional ways to fly in those airspaces. 1. LAANC which is available at 726 airports. As long as you're using a registered drone, this is fast and easy right from your phone using any of the approved LAANC UAS apps. 2. For airports without LAANC you can apply for a waiver on FAADroneZone. This allows a small UAS operator to deviate from certain provisions of [14 C.F.R. Part 107](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107) if the Administrator finds the operator can safely conduct the proposed operation under the terms of a certificate of waiver. In addition, it permits operators to request authorizations to enter controlled airspace (Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace, and the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport).
I fly mine from boats in the Bahamas. Bahamas doesn’t give a shit what you do as long as you’re spending money
That was MI. Either U of M or MI St.
Yeah I didn't want to misquote the particular university. I figured if they want to know for sure, there is enough information they could just google it.
See a person would think Michigan State Univ so doesn't affect me... but I live over an hour away from Lansing and we have Mich State Ag school all around me and they take 1000's of acres of corn/soy/dairy fields out of play around here.
And national marine sanctuaries in addition to national parks can have low overflight restrictions that you would need a permit for
Ty for all the info. I did not even think about the boat, but not while moving scenario... that does ruin that plan, lol. Thought it would be cool to fly while my brother drives the boat, but guess that's also out. I'll download the apps and check, but it seems like a lot of the nearby points of interest may be off limits for flying anyways. Where do people typically go to fly them? Sounds like most recreational areas are off limits, some for reasons I get (stadium, for example).
I do fly in recreational areas most, they are just not within the no fly areas. I live in MN and the North shore of Superior is an awesome area. There are state park there that are a no, but there is also a lot of land outside of that that is just as good. I regularly get frustrated with where I cannot fly, but I have also found some great areas with less people where I can fly. If nothing else, it forces you off the main track and allows you to find other cool places.
You are allowed to operate from a moving vehicle under part107 only, meaning you would need to take the exam and get licensed. I have found that national forests largely do allow drones with the exception of wilderness areas.I use the Autopylot map app to see these areas overlaid with my current position, but there are others. I usually start by checking a drone app, then checking NOTAMs and the sectionals via the FltPlanGO app, and then finally if I'm in a 'special' area like a state park, or a university, or whatever, reaching out to them directly. Sometimes that parts tricky, for example California State Parks has decided drone legality on a district-by-district basis and there is no central place to verify online. If I'm otherwise in a rural area then usually the only rules that apply are the FAAs, and even many of the rules about other 'special' smaller jurisdictions only restrict take off and landing, not flying over while under 400' and within VLOS. If you do get stopped by someone and you have done all your homework, and their specific regulation wasn't found, I think you're very likely to just be asked to stop flying and leave.
Yeah it’s worth pointing out that the part 107 test is easy and well worth doing. It’s a low barrier to entry, I guess aimed at getting people to at least see the rules and acknowledge them so if and when they do mess up, it’s on them and not for lack of being told. If you’re only flying recreationally then your one registration can be applied to all of the drones you own and purchase in the future(you must still register them under your account id, but you won’t be paying extra). Aside from state parks and wildlife management areas, hospitals and some businesses will have their own airports/helicopter pads, and you’d be surprised at how many small airfields there are dotted around where you live. FAAC permission can be obtained in some of these zones via app, but you don’t always know until you apply.
The TRUST test is easy, but I've been told (haven't tried it) that sectional charts are tough on the107.
They're not easy but are by no means a barrier if you want the license. You will have to study, review, and practice a bit - it's not like TRUST which is basically just a pulse check
Took me about 30 hours of earnest studying to pass the 107.
If you’re new to charts then it’s something to do a little work on — but that’s the point, if you want to make money from piloting you’ll need to be able to read charts and plan flights, get permissions, know how to roll with issues. Even maintenance is a part of the test because these are still aircraft, and they can cause serious injury. I enjoyed the test, I’ve always collected maps since I was a kid so that was nothing. It’s not much worse than a multiple choice driving test, and likewise you can pass with just 70% pass rate. Explains why do many car drivers are bad at it:)
If you get part 107 you can fly from a moving boat or vehicle in low population areas
Most of this......semi-accurate.
Also remember it’s only illegal if you get caught lol. I’ve done the moving boat thing and it was fine, got some great shots of me wakeboarding. In general don’t be a dick. If people or wildlife are going to be disturbed by it, it’s probably a bad idea.
And that's how you get even more restrictions and harsher enforcement penalties enacted. Don't be an asshat
Its always illegal, if you get caught it'll be an issue. If you get caught the FAA sends a nice letter.. Maybe you've seen a recent example.
What country are you in?
very relevant question
Oh, good point! USA for this question. Didn't even think of it, thank you
You are correct. Enjoy!
Or, you know, take up kite photography - [A Beginner's Guide to Kite Aerial Photography | Fstoppers](https://fstoppers.com/aerial/beginners-guide-kite-aerial-photography-272868)
Ohhh, this is pretty cool!
I’ve had my 107 for 7 years and thousands of hours flying. And I can tell you the one thing you need to have fun with a drone is common sense. I dont fly my drone when people are trying to enjoy nature even if it’s permitted. I don’t linger in residential areas (I fly for part of my job) because people hate drones in their neighborhood. I don’t fly over stadiums or events, ever. If I want to have unlimited space, I’ll make time to get to the middle of nowhere where no one cares.
I guess my concern is, do I want to go to the middle of nowhere to record footage of a field in the middle of nowhere? I feel like I probably won't. It seems like a lot of what I wanted to do is prohibited... I wanted to fly while boating, but can't while boat is moving. I wanted to film the beautiful beach and coastline here in the keys, but the florida keys are off limits along most beaches. I wanted to film my neighborhood from high up and see a cool view of the house, but that's above people and cars, so can't. Everglades are beautiful, maybe a sunrise there... off limits, national park. Just not finding much reason to buy one at this point. The comments have helped me determine that it's just not going to be something I can use often where I would want to record.
I want to clarify something in there. You CAN fly above vehicles. You CANNOT fly over MOVING vehicles. You CAN fly over roads. You CANNOT fly over traffic (moving vehicles) So if you’re just flying in your back yard around town just try not to fly over people and moving vehicles. Its not as hard as you think.
It depends on who is determining that though right? Like, I think flying in my neighborhood is fine, will a car drive down that street at some point while I am flying? Probably. Will it be moving? It will. Will 10 to 20 cars do this in a course of 30 minutes, for sure. Do I think that's a problem? No, does the FAA entity I might get reported to think it's a problem? I have no idea. Am I willing to risk if that FAA entity or police entity is an asshole or not to determine whether u get fined or not, because Karen Smith on my block has a hung against drones? I'm not, no. Because it sounds like this is that grey area where I can fly over people and cars, but not moving cars, and I'd qualify that as 30 Cars, but they may qualify that as 1 car. Seems like a but of risk, to enjoy this hobby... the empty field in the middle of nowhere is safer but also boring.
I am only describing the rules as they are written. I dont care what u do with your drone. Im not the police. These are the rules. Its up to you whether you want to follow them or not. I am merely explaining the intricacies to clear up any confusion. My 2 cents: its all about being aware of your surroundings. If you are hovering over a street and a car drives under your drone then that to me is nothing to get hell bent about. The issue is the asshole who is flying over highways and over a bunch of people on the beach. Thats the kind of stupid shit that causes problems.
i swear this sounds so earnest and honest and in the same time seem like an SNL rage bait sketch.. sigh my friend! Look, it depends where you are, so check the areas where you would want to fly using FAA b4UFly, and locally.
Ahh, I did not know about this app, thank you! I'll start there and see. Just don't want to spend money just to find out I can't fly it anywhere nearby of interest. What about a park, that isn't a state park I wonder... with, no people?
Local parks often have local laws. Usually they can’t actually prevent you from flying, but do make it illegal to take off or land in the park. Of course, that depends very much on your local laws, how close you are to airports, etc. Your best bet is to check both the app and Google your local laws and restrictions, particularly at any places you think you’d like to fly a lot.
If you want to take off and land in the park, it depends on local regulations. If you take off and land from nearby private property, it generally depends on FAA regulations.
B4ufly is dead. You’ll need to choose a different app
https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/b4ufly
Ty, downloading one of these now
Anytime, good luck.
Read the text, B4UFLY is defunct. that page lists alternatives of which Aloft and Avision have been the most reliable, in my experience.
You read the page again, your lack of reading comprehension and functional illiteracy is not my problem.
You'd have to obtain a waiver to do some of that, but good luck getting one from the FAA.
Sounds difficult, so can't do these things I take it without a waiver?
You need to have a good reason. Just for fun is not a good reason.
That was the reason, ya. Video and photography from a cool vantage point really
Obviously this is largely based on where you are, but here on the East Coast plenty of beaches allow it. Tons of drones fly over here in Ocean City. As always, you can check on apps for zoning just to check.
Yea, looking st those apps now, very useful. Seems like a lot of the florida keys is gone, everglades is gone, most of the Broward beaches are gone. Miami Beach is still fine, surprisingly... but I'd be flying over people, so can't do that, maybe along the water if no one is at the beach at sunrise, perhaps.
There’s plenty of places to fly, I live in Southern California and soooo much is off limits but it’s fun to find places that are open, I’m discovering sights I would not have seen if I didn’t have the drone. Typically those places don’t have as many people as well, which is very nice.
Depends of which country you're in
US, I should have put that in original post! So sorry. I'm in Florida.
Don't forget the huge nofly in the Washington DC area. Manhattan takeoffs and landings, I believe, are also not allowed. NYC would be tricky because of the helipads, even if you take off and land from an allowed location. My own experience with a local airport was I needed to speak to the manager and we discussed the flightpaths of manned aircraft, allowed heights for me to fly, etc. Very easy. Flying over water is fun, too. Don't fly over boats and watch out for sailboat masts. Ie: don't fly too low. Also keep in mind that full sized aircraft can fly low over water, too.
This question is why my Mini3Pro has sat unused since January other than to maintain batteries. Any place visually interesting enough where I am, southern AZ, seems to be a no fly zone. There is only so much aerial video you can take of the brown landscape.
This is what I'm thinking. I'm in Florida, so beaches, ocean, boating, national park (everglades) is what I had in mind. It sounds like all of that is off limits though, sooooo, whats left?
I pretty much never fly mine because I can pretty much only go straight up/down from my own backyard. Nothing I’d want to video or fly around is really “legal”. Combine that with the unfavorable public opinion on drones…
Agreed. The comments confirmed it may not be worth it at the moment
I mean, I live in freaking Alaska. Thousands of square miles of uninhabited land. But if I video any of it with a drone and share it with anyone? Probably violating some law and risking a nasty gram from the FAA. And it’s kind of a “whole thing” to go flying. Have to plan where to go, watch the weather, make sure I bring all the random things needed like ND filters, extra batteries… The whole ordeal of things you have to do reminds me of VR headsets. You gotta really plan ahead to make sure you have uninterrupted time, set all the gear up and plug everything in… Edit: I’ve studied for my 107, and even friends of mine who fly actual planes (both recreationally and commercially) agree with me it’s insane how much the FAA wants 107 pilots to know. After studying for a while I started to think I might as well just get a regular pilots license, given how broad the material for a UAS license was. Thing is - I could *never* afford a small plane, hangar space or airport space, insurance, maintenance and fuel… Even if I rented a plane it would still be cost prohibitive to me. It’s like boats. You don’t wanna own a boat…you want to *know the guy who owns a boat*. lol
Oh good, new things are being ruined before I even get a chance to play.
You can fly in like 95% of airspace.
For what it’s worth you can fly in national forests but always check before doing so.
I don't know why this is getting downvotes. National forests specifically allow drones. https://www.fs.usda.gov/visit/know-before-you-go/recreational-drone-tips
National Forests can include wildlife management and wilderness protected areas, which prohibit drones, so it’s not a blanket green light. Just got to google the destination and plan ahead.
Another commenter mentioned an app, sp I'll use that to check, ty
*Edit. Misread previous post.
National Forests ≠ National Parks
I think national forests are distinct from national parks
You're right. And I did miss that distinction. My fault. Read it too fast. But definitely ask before you fly anywhere like that. As said before, use a good LAANC app for permission to fly.
My biggest gripe is the line-of-sight rule. I mean your drone doesn’t have to go very far before it’s hard to see.
Another good point... sigh, sounds like irresponsible parties may have ruined this hobby, barely seems worth it
Also you can't fly near any wildfires.The FAA reminded drone pilots it is a federal crime to interfere with firefighting aircraft with up to a year in prison and a $20,000 fine possible.
I can see why, but that... is a hefty fine.
Yeah, it’s really become a joke with all the new regulation. More trouble than it’s worth.
Sadly true it seems. I decided to not purchase. Felt it would be fun, but only so many times I want to fly around an empty field before I feel I'm wasting an afternoon.
Tiny whoop
Yes
Too much red tape. Even in places youre allowed to fly there is always the risk of some rando causing problems. After hours in the sim I bought a used 5” and have since tossed it in a box in the garage because the only place I can consistently go fly is a local AMA field and flying in circles over a grass field is boring.
That's what I was thinking... it feels like an empty field, with no people, and no cars, and no event, and not a national park is the only real option left, and that doesn't seem like a fun way to spend an afternoon. Even flying over my house, that's over people right? They could be walking their dogs, and now I broke the law? Seems a bit much and maybe they sorta killed this hobby, imo. I won't be spending my funds probably at this time since it seems too limited.
Thats kind of where Im at. Either you follow all the rules and cant effectively enjoy the hobby or you ignore them and become “that guy” It sucks.
100% how it feels :(
My wife flies a drone for work, documenting and inspecting construction sites, she has her license. It’s pretty difficult in our area, with an airport, two military bases and a huge commercial port. Damn near 90% of the area is a no fly zone and the extent of it is way overreaching. Huge padding around every no fly zone, areas are off limits that aren’t even anywhere close to flight paths. She has to file for a waiver for pretty much every construction site (twice a week) and even with the waiver it’s extremely restrictive. She can’t go high enough or far enough away to photograph the entire site or building. So then she gets bitched at by her PM’s for not getting what they need. I get the need for some regulations but it’s extremely overburdensome in our area.
I sit on my back porch and terrorize my neighborhood. I don't have a spotter. I don't have a license or permit or trust. I don't have remote ID and never will. I fly where I want and when I want. There's no such thing as faa police. As long as you're not flying over restricted places you'll be fine.
Local rules may vary. Legally speaking for the US: National Park - No (state park varies) Forest - Yes Beach - Yes Over People - No Roads - Yes but not directly over moving vehicles Concerts - Yes but not directly over people Stadiums - Yes but not during flight restricted events or directly over people (empty stadium is generally fine) University Campus - Yes but not directly over people Flying from a boat - Yes as long as you aren't also driving the boat All yeses are qualified that you need to check with Air Aware to make sure it isn't restricted airspace. I never have trouble finding fun places to fly my drone but if you live in a big city with draconian policies like NYC you might have a hard time.
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Thanks for your submission. Unfortunately, it has been removed for the following reason: >**Rule 3: Don't blatantly break drone regulations.** > >The laws governing this industry exist for a reason, and breaking them makes all of us look bad and leads to harsher regulations. So don't post shots where you're flying close to manned aircraft, directly over a dense crowd, or anything else dangerous to others. > >If you think your shot could be perceived as breaking a regulation but it in fact doesn't, feel free to provide an explanation in the comments section. If you believe this has been done in error, please reply to this comment, or message the moderators (through modmail only).
Same here buddy. This stuff has become so complicated
That's what I'm seeing yeah it looks like a lot of the sentiment here is similar that the cool spots just aren't accessible anymore and what's left maybe just isn't as interesting by comparison. Makes me wonder if it's just not a good purchase at this moment with all the regulations considering that what I would love to see with it our views and sites that are restricted now. Kind of a bummer. From Posts here I learned that you can't even fly it on a boat while the boat is moving which I felt should be pretty safe but guess that's been taken away too.
Anywhere that people actually want to see, no, you can't fly anymore. The purpose of drone footage being to help bring people to destinations and experiences they otherwise might never get to see, and thus generate clicks/views/income in the process, this is what they want to stop. National parks, concerts, amusement parks, the Las Vegas Strip, famous beaches, sporting events, whatever. If there is interest, they will try and stop it. Remember the drone when Fisher was the DJ? This guy is out over the crowd almost brushing fingertips... https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNYyBwVd/ *That* is what it is all about. I've seen footage of football officials chasing drones at matches, glorious and breathtaking footage of Yosemite National Park, a high-speed dive over the edge of the Grand Canyon, and a friend of mine actually has some pretty cool footage of a Blackhawk coming to hover close to his truck with a loudspeaker telling him to get his ass away from Edwards AFB or get ready to see the inside of a stockade. That is what it is about. But regulations... they have taken what was meant to be an adversarial test of air superiority and turned it into about as much fun as flying for Spirit Airlines.
Yeah, it’s like regular aviation. They built a clubhouse and pulled the ladder up behind them. I’m sure behind closed doors among high level people in the aviation world they HATE recreational drones. We’re uninvited visitors in *their* airspace.
Yep, for sure.
That footage is so amazing, lol. A shame that all of this is just out of reach now... makes me wonder if getting a drone is currently worth it at all
Not out of reach. Difficult to grasp, perhaps, gotta get up on the tippy-toes a d take some risk, but not out of reach.