If you own a quadcopter or is about to buy one soon, then you should know that these devices are not joys toys you can play with and fly over at just any place. For the fact of the matter is, drones are also governed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules whenever they are flown outdoors.
And if you’re interested to know more about this subject, then we invite you to continue reading as we will talk about the considerations and regulations on the use of a long range drone in today’s post.
Brief Background
The rising popularity on the use of remote/unmanned aerial vehicles known as drones has caused lawmakers to be concerned over possible violations against the public and the environment at the same time. And this led to the legislation of laws to mandate or prohibit the usage of drones unless the owner has obtained a certification from the government.
The primary objective of these laws is to protect the privacy of the people, which is one of the basic rights of every citizen in the United States, and other countries in general. Aside from that, these laws are made to protect the public from any intimidation brought by pervasive surveillance. Likewise, it prohibits the benign use of these technologies during situations like accidents, crime scene documentation, and other related circumstances.
In addition, drone-related laws aim to guide the public on the proper use of drones for fun and hobby-related activities.
But for the sake of this discussion, we are going to focus only on the rules and regulations concerning the public use of drones.
Droning For Fun Vs. Droning For Money
Before you know what type of rules will apply to your situation, you need to decide how you will be using your long range drone. Basically, there are 2 common uses of drones and these are for leisure and for making money. If you intend on using it for fun and share pictures and videos with family and friends, then the regulations will be less strict. However, if you plan on using your drone for work and make some dough in the process, then you are required to take and pass the FAA test to secure a Part 107 Certification.
Once you are certified, you will be able to make use of your quadcopter to capture aerial photos and videos and sell them as stock images. Aside from that, you are also permitted to work on capture top view images on film productions, weddings, real estate surveying, and etc.
Drone Registration
Before taking the FAA test, you are required to register your drone first to have an FAA identification number. The cost of registration is $5 for drones weighing 8.8 ounces or 250g and above is $5. And this registration is valid for 3 years.
Do take note that the FAA identification number sticker should be placed on a visible part of the unmanned aircraft and not inside the battery compartment, which is an update from the previous ruling regarding the placement of the identification sticker.
However, there are exemptions if the long range drone does not exceed the minimum weight required. For example, if you own a DJI Mavic Mini, which has a takeoff weight of 249g, then you are exempted from having the FAA identification sticker. But still, you are still required to obey the standard droning rules and regulations. And having the Part 107 Certification is still mandatory if you intend to use your quadcopter for commercial purposes.
Follow The Rules At All Times
The basic rules you need to keep in mind are the following:
- Maintain a flight distance of up to 400 feet.
- Always maintain visibility with your drone upon flying.
- Flying in restricted airspace is strictly prohibited.
- Never fly near other aircrafts, especially if you’re flying near airports.
- Flying or hovering over groups of persons is also prohibited.
- Flying over sporting venues and stadiums during a sporting event is not allowed.
- Flying over emergency response situations such as accidents, crimes, and fires are also prohibited.
- NEVER fly your drone under the influence of alcohol and other illegal substances.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the considerations and regulations on the use of a long range drone are mostly common sense. Just keep in mind to maintain the privacy of other individuals and establishments, especially if they are found in public areas and you’ll be good to go. And make sure to review the information we have provided here before you operate your remote aircraft device outdoors.
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