Owning a drone may be thrilling, enjoyable, and even profitable. But unfortunately, the associated regulations and rules that govern drone operations could be very challenging to not only follow but also to interpret. Learn them before you fly your drone.
If you are one of those drone enthusiasts who just want to fly recreationally, then we have outlined some standard rules you should follow to fly safely and responsibly in most locations and situations worldwide.
Here are the basic rules that you simply ought to abide by when flying drones for enjoyable:
Stay below the maximum allowable altitude, usually 400 feet
How high are you able to fly your drone? As a common rule, aviation authorities suggest flying beneath 400 feet or 121 meters AGL to avoid possible conflict with manned aircraft like airplanes or helicopters. AGL is short for ‘above ground level,’ or simple the height from the ground.
Guidelines differ from nation to nation (e.g., maximum allowable height in Canada is 90 meters), so check out either AirMap or even your local authorities. Ultimately, it is your responsibility alone to ensure that your drone stays within this security limit all the time.
Maintain a visual line of sight
This is the technical way of always saying that you can see your drone in plain sight all the time. You should never rely exclusively on the FPV of a drone’s camera or any other vision-assisted aides such as binoculars or telescopes (correctional lenses, nevertheless, are okay). Also, make sure to verify your local climate conditions as fog and clouds can impede your vision of one’s drone as well.
Never fly drones over other people
While you might think a popular beach might be a great place to capture a beautiful view together with your new drone, flights over people are not permitted. This could consist of more than a group of individuals or even a single individual not a part of the associated flight crew. Practice great judgment and make sure to keep away from stadiums, public events, and neighborhood events exactly where big groups of people may congregate.
Follow community-based guidelines
Your community probably has its own local regulations regarding flying drones. So you must check with them so you can understand and follow their rules. When the area you plan to fly in doesn’t have any nearby drone regulations, then you can defer to the guidelines laid out by your country’s aviation authority, such as the FAA.
Never fly your drone after dark
This final rule is the most simple: don’t fly during the night time, even if your drone has lights. Dark is typically defined as 30 minutes before the official sunrise or 30 minutes after the official sunset. This is known as civil twilight.
