Love flying your drone? Well, don’t get grounded by improper and illegal use.
The Federal Aviation Administration and Northeast State’s Aviation Technology program wants you to keep flying safely. That’s why drone operators are encouraged to participate in the third annual National Drone Safety Awareness Week happening Sept. 13 – 19.
“Drones should no longer be considered toys,” said Richard Blevins, assistant professor and director of Aviation Technology at Northeast State. “They are a productive tool that can capture amazing video and photos, deliver life-saving medical assistance, find lost victims and aid in natural disasters.”
Drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in aviation tech speak, have soared in popularity for commercial use among businesses ranging from real estate companies to entertainment show. National Drone Safety Awareness Week educates the public about safe drone operations that engage recreational flyers, commercial pilots, public safety, and educators to spread awareness.
The FAA sets forth regulations to keep the public safe and drone operators out of trouble. A few beginning do’s and don’ts for drone operators are listed below.
UAS / Drone operators should DO these activities
- Register your drone
- Fly your drone at or below 400 feet
- Keep your drone within your line of sight
- Be aware of FAA Airspace Restrictions\
- Respect privacy
UAS / Drone operators should NOT DO these activities
- Never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports
- Never fly over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people
- Never fly near emergencies such as fires or hurricane recovery efforts
- Never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol
National Drone Safety Awareness Week dedicates each day of the week to a specific educational theme:
- Monday: Safe Flyers Take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)
- Tuesday: Register and Mark Your Drone
- Wednesday: Become a Part of a Flying Community
- Thursday: New Rules – Remote Identification and Operations Over People
- Friday: Public Safety & Public Acceptance
- Saturday and Sunday: Share the Skies – Get Out and Fly
The FAA seeks to establish remote identification of drones. The remote ID gives the FAA the ability to locate a drone in flight like any manned aircraft, including helicopters and private airplanes. Remote ID helps the FAA, law enforcement, and other federal agencies find the control station when a drone appears to be flying in an unsafe manner or where it is not allowed to fly. Remote ID also lays the foundation of the safety and security groundwork needed for more complex drone operations.
A key pillar of the FAA’s work to safely integrate drones into the National Airspace System, ensuring that drone pilots understand their responsibility to fly safely, and what that entails. This week’s outreach and community engagement campaign promotes safety, technology advancements, successes, virtual events, and educational programs, as part of the FAA’s successful efforts, programs, and partnerships to safely integrate drones into the nation’s airspace.
“The advancement of drone technology and expanding drone applications depends on today’s pilots operating safely and within the FAA regulations,” said Blevins.
Blevins invites the public to learn more about drone safety and FAA regulations at an online Zoom session happening Wednesday, September 15, at 7:00 p.m. The Zoom meeting can be accessed via the link below:
https://northeaststate.zoom.us/j/94951522309?pwd=OHJIU2txbjVvN1JXZkFwMVozT2lXUT09
The 2021 campaign places a particular focus on the recreational flying community. FAA regulations forbid unlicensed pilots to operate drones over crowds.
The FAA sets forth rigid guidelines for flying unmanned aircraft systems over people. Those guidelines found here layout of regulations for such flights. Those flights can ONLY be conducted by an operator with a valid Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. All drone operators using/selling photographs or video for commercial purposes must possess an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate and should carry liability insurance.
To be a drone pilot, operators must be able to meet these basic requirements:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
- Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone
- Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam: “Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)”
The requirements to earn a Remote Pilot Certificate:
- At least 16 years old
- Able to read, write, speak, and understand English
- Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a UAS
Navigating the Process to Become a Drone Pilot
Drone operators can register his or her UAS/drone with the FAA through a few simple steps. Registration costs $5 and is valid for 3 years. Learn more about registering your drone at this link: https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone/.
To learn more about drone operations and safety, visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/.