When flying a drone for fun as part of a hobby or recreation, you as the drone operator are still expected to know the rules and regulations for drone flight. The FAA currently has three main types of drone flying and each type, or category, has it's own variation of rules. For this post we are only referring to recreational or hobbyist flying and the information is from the FAA website (https://www.faa.gov/uas/). Anyone flying a drone is responsible for flying within FAA guidelines and regulations. It is up to you as a drone pilot to know the Rules of the Sky, and where it is and is not safe to fly.
Happy and safe flying.
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Would you like to learn to fly a drone, without first investing in a one, crashing it, or watching it fly away with no idea how to bring it back? The simple answer is yes, there is a very cost effective method to learn how to operate and pilot a drone without the cost of purchasing one. You can learn and test your piloting skills with a drone flight simulator. Drone simulator software is available through apps for your phone or gaming console or as downloads for your computer. Many of the apps are free or can be purchased for a few dollars. If you read through the reviews you can usually determine how life-like the flying experience from other drone pilots. A few of the options that many people seem to like are RealFlight Drone Flight Simulator (computer software), Quadcopter FX Simulator, Drone Racing League Simulator, Real Drone Simulator, the list goes on and one. You can search for a drone app simulator in the App Store or on Google Play. Using the simulator, especially for a new pilot, is helpful because it removes the element of actually crashing a drone and possibly damaging someone else’s property. Many of the simulators that are available have very good physics programmed into them and give you a real feel experience. You can start with many of the same basic maneuvers that you would want to master with your drone, like takeoffs, landings, hovering, turning, forward, backward, and side-to-side movements. If you crash, no worries, hit the reset button and try again. Another great advantage to a simulator, on those days when the weather is not drone friendly, you can open up the simulator and still log some flight time. Safe and Happy Flying! Drones come in many shapes and sizes and while they may look like a toy, they are still machines that enter into controlled airspace and can cause problems. Currently the FAA views drone pilots as being in one of two main categories:
To qualify for a sUAS Airmen's Certificate, a person needs to study FAA airspace regulations and take a knowledge test to show they do understand these regulations and how to apply them to each flight's situation. The material, especially as it relates to the types of airspace is the same information an airplane pilot needs to know. By hiring a non-certified drone pilot you can be subjected to substantial fines, and may also be responsible for any property damage that could occur. Let’s look at a scenario: You see an ad on Facebook for aerial photography. You contact the person and agree to a time and date. The person comes to the site, launches the drone and something happens with the drone’s connection to the flight controller and results in an unresponsive drone. The uncontrolled drone crashes through a window of a neighboring home, crashes into a car, or hits a person. Who is responsible, you or the drone pilot? If the police have to get involved, it is a pretty good bet the FAA will be getting involved. Your cheap aerial photograph or video has now turned into a very expense legal problem. To take this a further, Federal Statute: 49 U.S. Code §46306(b)(8) makes it a crime to hire an uncertified pilot. (8) knowingly and willfully employs for service or uses in any capacity as an airman an individual who does not have an airman’s certificate authorizing the individual to serve in that capacity By hiring a certified pilot, you are getting a pilot that has studied airspace regulations and the classes of airspace they can, or cannot, operate in without additional approval from the FAA. A certified pilot that is building up a business or running an established business is also likely operating with some type of liability insurance which helps protect you against any mishaps. |
AuthorAs a photography enthusiast, I hope to share some of my experiences, good and bad, with others that want to learn more about photography. Archives
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