SteveLoker Loc: Fort Worth, TX

With Christmas right around the corner some of us will get drones for gifts and as gifts and sometimes, for ourselves. There a few things to keep in mind with drones.

First: you MUST follow the FAA mandates on drone use. PERIOD.

Next, ANY drone over 249 grams must be registered with the FAA, even if it is used for hobby flying. This includes the cheapo models. It is easy to register one. Just Google "register my drone". Its $5/year. If you are flying as a hobbyist, you can use the same registration number on all of you hobby drones. If you fly commercially, you'll need to register each drone separately, still $5/year but each drone. A drone that is 249 grams or less does not require registration but you are still responsible for its use.

As a rule of thumb, you must stay below 400 feet above ground level UNLESS you are in a Controlled Air Space, like within 5 miles from the center of an airport. Just don't fly near any airport or airfield to be safe.

You can not fly at night without a waiver from the FAA. It is do-able with some homework. You can only fly within 30 minutes of sun rise and sunset.

You can not use a drone (sUAS) for profit unless you have an FAA Part 107 certificate. They have and occasionally do check YouTube and other outlets. No more slaps on the wrist these days, it can get expensive and will make it hard to get your 107 if you decide to pursue it in the future.

All that said, drones are a blast to fly and use for photography and video. There are lots of useful apps like DJI's "B4UFLY". Open the app, give it permission to access your location and it will tell you if you can/can't fly a particular location.

Bottom line is you are responsible for how, where and when you use your drone. Just be safe and have fun. Mine is now a part of my kit.

I plan on posting photos and video in the near future.

Scruples Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Thanks for the information. I did know some of that since I’m learning to pilot a plane. A piece of metal and plastic weighing slightly over a half a pound can do significant damage if it is pulled into an aircraft’s turbines or from under a rotor wash. I don’t plan on buying one. I’m too chubby to fit inside one. I prefer a
Piper or a Cessna for now.

IHH61 Loc: Homestead Fl

Two other points about drones. If you are required to register with the FAA (heavier than .55 pounds) you must have the registration number displayed on the drone while flying. Also no flights in any US National Park.

Hugh

anotherview Loc: California

Thank goodness: "no flights in any US National Park."

I'm supposing this restriction extends to national monuments and like preserved areas, including state parks.

After all, we go to such places to enjoy natural values and to experience peace and quiet.

Photomac Loc: The Dalles, Or

In spite of the National Park rule, there are at least 2 drones in Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone!!!

morris rei

Just to clarify, the drone $5 drone registration with the FAA is for a 3 year period not 1

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

I witnessed a person flying his toy drone over the Kilauea Caldera in Volcanoes National Park one night to capture the lava lake. The Park Ranger told him to shut it down, which he thought he could just keep flying, so the Ranger warned him again only this time the guy ended up on the ground with tazer darts stuck in him. There was about 200 people taking pictures of the incident with their cellphones and I got a good shot of him sitting on the ground with the Ranger standing over him.

anotherview Loc: California

Good for the Ranger enforcing the law. More.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Generally no interest in drones, a friend suggested that one might be handy on the ranch. The info you have provided is sufficient to erase any thought of drones in my future. The less involvement with the bureaucracy I have, the happier I am. Thanks!

duckfan48

[quote=IHH61]Two other points about drones. If you are required to register with the FAA (heavier than .55 pounds) you must have the registration number displayed on the drone while flying. Also no flights in any US National Park.

I don’t own a drone yet. Thanks for this info. I was wondering about needing to apply reg’ numbers. On Parks ... didn’t know that one too So Yosemite is out. Bummer

ecurb Loc: Metro Chicago Area

Blatant abuse of authority. The Taser was intended to replace a lethel firearm when an officer would otherwise have killed a subject. Use of a Taser to force compliance to verbal orders is a gross overreaction and could be lethel. There is always a chance a Taser could cause heart issues on subjects, that's why it's classed as a less lethel weapon.
Ranger was a criminally neglect cowboy who should loose it's job.
Was the Ranger a small man or a woman?

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

Less than 100 words about the incident and you know enough to be judgmental about an event that you didn’t hear but one side of. I wonder how the people watching the actual event felt about it.

Photomac Loc: The Dalles, Or

The fact is, law enforcement is very difficult in our current societal tone. Folks have become very self-centered, wrapped up in their little worlds of media etc. The officer could have just confiscated the controls and shut the drone down, letting it fall into the crater. Frankly I have no patience with this pilot. Alternatives, yes, but you get what you gets when you fail to comply with a lawful order. I guess he has figured that out by now.

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

Part of me says overreacting by the ranger, but why dont people just comply. I got stopped using a metal detector at Lake Powell, but the officer was very nice about it and showed me the law and told me to just put it away. I obeyed and didn't get shot.

Quixdraw Loc: x

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