Scroll down this page to view links to various sites and resources for recreational hobbyist (44809), commercial (part 107) and other unmanned aerial systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) e.g. drones.
Know before you fly your UAS, UAV aka Drone, what current or upcoming flight restrictions are, or will be in place for when, as well as where you will be flying.
Apps such as the FAAs B4UFLY among others will tell you based on where you will be if there are any Notices To Airman (NOTAMs) as well as TFRs for a given areas. TFRs can be implemented to close or restrict airspace for drones as well as other aircraft for different reasons by the FAA at request of different local and federal entities.
TFRs can be for safety, security and other reasons including VIP movement, for example POTUS (President Of The United States) in or around a given area. Other examples of TFRs include those around NFL, NBA, MLB and some college sporting events, among others for some amount of time before, during and after games.
What can happen to you if caught flying in an area under a TFR while it is in place? That depends on who has requested the TFR and the specific items outlined in the TFR that can be very serious. Thus, know before you fly and keep in mind, you as a remote pilot regardless of if hobby recreational or commercial, are responsible for knowing the rules including if TFRs are in place. This means saying you didnt know there was a TFR is not an excuse.
Learn more about TFRs and see a current and upcoming list here https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html
Reminder, in addition to having airspace approval (for controlled airspace) which is managed by the FAA, there are also non FAA regulations that determine where you can fly from (e.g. your feet and aircraft on the ground, or water). In addition to the FAA Federal Airspace regulations, check your local area for state, county, city and other applicable Drone UAS regulations.
After hearing about it for years, the FAA finally released The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) summer of 2021. This free test is a combination learning and awareness tool, as well as test to comprehend what you have learned. You do not need to study for TRUST, no should have to pay to take the test via the different providers.
All hobby and recreational remote pilot operators should take the test as soon as possible, as well as once completing the test, print out a copy of the certificate and keep with you when flying. Note that under new FAA regulations, 44809 recreational and hobby drone operators can be asked by safety and law enforcement officials (leos) to see their TRUST certificate.
Also note that as a 44809 recreational hobby operator, you are either flying under the rules of a community based organization (CBO), or those of the FAA special carve out for recreational flyers. In other words, you better know what CBO you are flying under and their rules, or those of the FAA if asked.
There is a new test for part 107 that includes information on Operating Over People (OOP) and moving vehicles, night operations, elimination (sunsetting) of part 107.29 daylight waivers, upcoming remote ID (still a few years away), and new requirements for presenting information to safety and law enforcement officials (leos) if asked.
For new or first time remote pilots, there is still the requirement to take the initial test in person for a fee. However for recurrent testing, there is no longer a fee or requirement to go in person to a facility, its all free and online (see faasafety.gov) site and the links below. If you had a part 107.29 daylight waiver, those were phased out spring of 2021, and once you take the new recurrent training test online (for free), you can fly at night without a waiver.
Watch for more updates here soon.
Contrary to what some may believe or have heard in part based on how different news and social media venues have conveyed, there are restrictions, limitations and constraints on who and when UAS drones can be operated over people.
For part 107, these are spelled out in the new regulations that went into effect in April of 2021. For recreational and hobby fliers, the regulations are spelled out under the community based organization (CBO) rules that you are operating under, or, the general FAA 44809 hobby and recreational rules.
In general, operating category 1 for OOP and moving vehicles, the aircraft at takeoff weight (e.g. with prop guards, prop cages or other devices to protect against skin lacerations) must weigh less that .55 pounds. A DJI Mavic Mini weighs less than .55 pounds out of the box at takeoff weight, however its props are exposed without adding prop guards or prop cage. As soon as you add lights, prop guards, prop cage or other things to a DJI Mavic Mini its weight goes above .55 pounds. Also for category one it is up to the remote pilot to comply with regulations, which means the OOP is for transiting vs hovering over groups of people.
Does OOP mean you can hover over a crowd, assembly or other group of people? Generally no, unless you are operating under a waiver, or one of the higher number OOP categories (there are four, 1-4, 1 being the most general).
Does this mean OOP can circle above crowds, assemblies, or other groups of people? Under category 1 generally no, you can transit, hover around edges.
Watch for more information on the different OOP categories, along with declarations of compliance (DoC) and other information including drones that can operate under the various categories to be added here in the future.
As of late summer, early fall 2021, LAANC has been updated where part 107 remote pilots who have completed the new recurrent training test, or, new operators as of April 2021 can gain access to controlled airspace (up to published altitudes) for night flights.
Note that for night flights in NFZ (no fly zone) or above published altitudes where additional coordination and airspace authorizations are needed, those need to be submitted via LAANC or DroneZone and allow time for processing. This also means that currently as late fall 2021 hobby and recreational remote pilots (e.g. 44809 ) are not allowed to gain night access into controlled airspace via LAANC.
For those with part 107.41 COAs (certificate of authorization) some of those depending on where and when issued may have night flights allowed, or, require that you resubmit to have night authorization allowed.
Watch for more updates soon.
With the spring 2021 FAA drone UAS regulation updates, there was a lot of focus around future remote id (RID). The big news and recommendation is pause, take a deep breath, and wait on this as for vendors the first phase of regulations do not go into effect until fall 2022, and for operators remote pilots, nothing takes effect until fall 2023.
There are a lot of questions such as what it all means, some of which has been defined by the FAA, however those involving what aircraft will have RID, how to retrofit aircraft, costs and things like that are still being defined by the industry (e.g. vendors). There is also signs that there will be retro or update kits available to add RID to existing aircraft UAS drones including home built kits. So, for now, be aware of whats coming down the road, take a deep breath, and wait for more info to appear.
A common question is if you are flying FPV (e.g. with goggles or device that covers your eyes) can you fly without a Visual Observer (VO) or somebody standing next to you? For part 107 the answer is No, not for outdoors unless you have a waiver, otherwise you need to have a VO. For 44809 recreational and hobby, you need to be flying for fun, and, operating under the rules of a community based organization (CBO), or, under the limited 44809 FAA rules.
Do the FAA regulations apply to if you are flying indoors? The FAA regulations apply to if you are flying outdoors. So if you are flying a drone UAS indoors you are subject to what ever rules apply at the specific venue, however good practice is to fly with same precautions as if you were outdoors. Also keep in mind that if you decide to fly out a window, door, or roof opening from indoors, once you go outside, you are now in the national airspace (NAS) and under FAA regulations.
A couple of other tips is that not all drone insurance by default covers flights indoors, check with your policy provider. Keep in mind that GPS signals may be weak indoors, you practice you “stick” flying skills for manually controlling your drone before going indoors. Also suggest flying indoors with prop guards or prop cages just in case…
✓ FAA UAS (Drone) Telephone Help Line 844-FLY-MY-UA
✓ FAA UAS (Drone) email link for help, questions: UAShelp@faa.gov
✓ FAA Safety and Resource (information, news, webinars) site (faasafety.gov)
✓ FAA Drone/UAS Site (faa.gov/uas)
✓ FAA Drone/UAS Resources (faa.gov/uas/resources)
✓ FAA Drone/UAS Hot Topics (faa.gov/uas/resources/hot_topics)
✓ FAA Drone Frequently Asked Questions (faa.gov/uas/resources/faqs)
✓ FAA General FAQ including Drones (faa.custhelp.com)
✓ FAA (Broad and General News) Newsroom (faa.gov/newsroom)
✓ Signup for general FAA updates (public.govdelivery.com)
✓ FAA Drone UAS registration, authorization (faadronezone.faa.gov)
✓ FAA Recreational and Hobbyist fliers page
✓ FAA Drone The Recreational UAS Safety Test (FAA TRUST test information)
✓ AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) TRUST page trust.modelaircraft.org
✓ FAA UAS/Drone toolkit for Public Safety and Law Enforcement (website)
✓ FAA TFR maps page
✓ FAA Visualize It Drone GIS Site page
✓ FAA Facebook page (facebook.com/FAA)
✓ FAA Twitter (twitter.com/FAANews)
✓ FAA YouTube (youtube.com/user/FAAnews)
✓ Minnesota DoT Aeronautics Drone Page
✓ Metropolitan Airport Council (MAC) Drone Page
✓ faasafety.gov/ FAA Aviation & Drone Safety
✓ tinyurl.com/72yt6anz FAA B4UFLY App
✓ PicturesOverStillwater.com/droneday Drone Day info
✓ facebook.com/groups/1860070477555048 MN sUAS FB Group
✓ facebook.com/groups/906285316171698 Mighty Drones FPV FB Group
✓ facebook.com/groups/1678622262420416 MN FPV Quad Race FB Group
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