You achieved your lifelong dream of buying a drone, and you are ready to get the batteries charged so that you can take it out for its first test flight. But before everything else, you need to make sure that you are aware of the rules and regulations that the FAA or the Federal Aviation Administration has put in place for all flying drones in the United States. You should also be aware of all the rights, as well as the rights of people around you, that is why it is very important to have proper drone training.

Flying drone for money versus flying them for fun

Before you know what rules will cover your drone, you need to know how you will be using your device. If you are flying it for fun, there are fewer restrictions and requirements. But if you are planning to make money out of your UAV or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, you will need to pass the Federal Aviation Administration standard test and receive a Part 107 certification. 

Once you are certified, you will be able to fly your drone and capture quality aerial photos or videos for weddings, real estate or videos for film production. The sky is the limit if you know how to use this excellent flying gadget. For most people, flying for fun and share photos and videos with family and friends has different rules and regulations.

Registering the drone

Mandatory registration for these unmanned aerial vehicles for recreational pilots is a requirement. There has been a back and forth challenges in favor of or against these devices. After rounds of court proceedings, pilots who fly for recreational purposes in the United States are required to spend more or less $5 to register with the Federal Aviation Administration before they can operate their UAV (or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) before they can fly it outdoors. 

For more information about UAV, check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle. 

You need to know that not all UAV that are available on the market today need to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. If it is a small toy drone that weighs less than 250 grams or 8.8 ounces, you don’t need to go through the process. 

Traditionally, you cannot register a drone that is heavier than 55 pounds using the online portal. That is inconsequential for a lot of consumers as no Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that can be used for recreational purposes is that heavy. Still, if you are using or working with an industrial device, you will need to register the aircraft to the proper authorities. 

Know the regulations and rules when it comes to flying UAV

Aside from registering your drone, you will need to follow some rules and regulations of the sky. The most basic rules are:

Fly below 400 feet

Keep your aerial gadget within sight

Do not operate near other aircraft, especially in the airport vicinity

Do not fly near groups of people

Do not operate near or over sporting events or stadiums

Do not fly near any emergency response units like fire trucks or Emergency Medical Team

Do not operate your aircraft if you are under the influence of alcohol or any forms of drugs

You need to make sure you are aware of all airspace requirements

If you are concerned about whether you are too close to the vicinity of the airport – you need to know that you have to be at least five to six miles away from the airport vicinity to operate a UAV without notifying the airport control tower of your flying activity – you can use a smartphone application just to make sure. 

Most of these rules and regulations only need common sense. And that is something you need to have when you are operating these kinds of gadgets. In addition to the Federal Aviation Administration rules, you need to remember that most, if not all, National Parks banned the use of these drones in their vicinity. 

Visit this site to find out more about FAA.

It is a shame since aerial photos or videos of beautiful locations like Yosemite or Yellowstone is an excellent reason to purchase your own Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV. On the other hand, some sites should be free of any technological aerial distractions. 

Another place where UAV is prohibited in Washington, DC, for an apparent reason – security of government establishments like the National Archives, Federal Trade Commission, United States International Trade, United States Capitol, Smithsonian Institution Offices, and the White House.