Some Things to “Know Before You Fly”
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In 2014, there was the incident of a drone flying “recklessly” too close to a Lollapalooza crowd. And another incident involved a drone bumping into a couple of midtown Manhattan buildings before crash landing 20 feet from a pedestrian.
As drones – small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – make it into the mainstream, governments, industry and community members are scrambling to come up with rules to better share our airspace.
Starting at $30, drones became such a popular Christmas gift last year it spurred the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to launch the campaign, ‘Know Before you Fly‘.
Here are some of the guidelines:
- Fly below 400 feet and avoid obstacles such as trees, awnings and hydro poles.
- Keep the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) within view at all times.
- Avoid manned aircraft operations and obstructions.
- Keep a distance of 25 ft away from people and property.
- Contact an airport before flying within five miles of it.
- Avoid weather conditions that would hinder control or reduce visibility of your sUAS. Not only for safety reasons, but to prevent “flyaways.”
- Do not fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Verify the safety of your flying environment and and make sure the operator is experienced.
- Avoid industrial facilities, busy roadways and government buildings.
- Do not film or photograph people without their permission.
Lastly, check your local laws. While the above guidelines are generally accepted in the United States, in the UK, UASs must remain a distance of 164 feet from most subjects with specific rules to stay 492 feet away from large groups of people such as at sports events and concerts.
For more details, see the safety guidelines developed by the Academy of Model Aeronautics or the Know Before You Fly campaign initiated by the FAA.
Read “Ground Control” in The Technology Issue for more on drones.