When it comes to drones, there are a lot of questions that people want answered. This article is going to give you everything you need to know about the regulations governing drone use in the United States. We’ll cover everything from licensing requirements and how to register your drone, to where you can fly your drone and what types of drones are allowed for operation in U.S. airspace.
What is a drone?
First things first, let’s talk about what a drone is. You’ve likely seen pictures or videos of drones flying in the sky. Drones are unmanned aircraft that are used for surveillance and other aerial purposes that often involve photography. Drones can be very small, weighing in at less than a pound. They can be used for a variety of different purposes, from filming weddings to inspecting crops. Laws governing drone use are in place to ensure that drones are used safely, but drones can be used for a wide variety of purposes.
Why are there drone regulations?
There are many reasons why drone regulations are in place. Some of these reasons include ensuring that drones don’t pose a risk to aircraft, people, and property, as well as ensuring that the airspace is used safely. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is responsible for regulating drones. They are tasked with ensuring that all drone operations are safe and that they don’t interfere with other aircraft operations. It is the FAA’s responsibility to ensure that the airspace is safe for other aircraft and people and that drone operators follow certain regulations and guidelines.
Is it necessary to register your drone?
The short answer is yes. If you are flying a drone for commercial purposes or if you are operating a drone for business purposes, you will need to get a license. This license is called a Remote Pilot Certificate. You can get your certificate online and it’s fairly easy. You’ll need to pass a written exam and pass a knowledge exam that tests your knowledge of airspace regulations, operating restrictions, and other information.
Which drones can be operated in the US?
There are some drones that are allowed to be flown in the US. Depending on your purpose for flying a drone, you may be able to fly one of these drones. The three categories of drones that can be used in the US are: hobby drones (anywhere), commercial drones, and model aircraft (model aircraft are allowed to be flown without a license). The FAA has outlined the regulations regarding each of these drone types.
Drone Use Permitted In Some States
Drone use is permitted in a handful of states. In these states, there are no laws regulating drone use. This means that in these states, people can use drones for whatever purpose they choose. Some of the states that allow drone use are: California, Connecticut, Maine, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington.
There are, however, other states that either don’t have any laws or specific regulations regulating drone use. Some of these states include: Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming. It’s important to note that even though it is legal to use a drone in these states, you can still get into trouble for doing so. It’s important to know the laws and regulations that pertain to drone use in your state.
Drone Use Prohibited In Some States
On the other hand, some states have even more restrictive laws regulating drone use. In fact, some states outright prohibit the use of drones. What are these states? They are Arizona, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. Some other states that have restrictive laws include: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Washington. These states have very specific drone laws.
In these states, it’s illegal to: When it comes to recreational drone use, people in these states can make a couple of stipulations. For instance, you can fly your drone during daylight hours only and you must keep the drone within the line of sight (i.e. you can’t fly your drone beyond sight or above the line of sight). It’s also important to note that even though it is legal to use a drone in these states, it is still prohibited. This means that if you get into any trouble, the courts will punish you just like they would if you were using a drone illegally.
Federal Laws Regulating Drone Usage
There is one other federal law that governs drone use, which is called the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Modernization and Improvement Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-92). This law authorizes the FAA to regulate the national airspace system, which includes commercial flights, and to develop a drone traffic management system for the system. The FAA is currently in the process of developing regulations that will govern where and when commercial drone flights are permitted.
They hope to complete the process by September 2018, at which time flight operators will need to be certified to use the system. In the meantime, however, the agency has begun to issue temporary certificates. The FAA has already begun issuing temporary certificates to drone operators who are able to meet minimum testing standards. In order to be eligible for a temporary certificate, an operator must:
Not All Drone Use Is Legal
Although most drone use is perfectly legal, that is not the case for all drone use. In fact, many people are unaware that more than just commercial drone use is prohibited. In order to use a drone for any kind of illegal purpose, you must first have a drone that is FAA-certified. This means that the drone must meet certain safety requirements and the operator must have a remote pilot certification from the FAA.
This is the law that makes it illegal to use a drone for illegal purposes. You must also know and follow the drone laws in your state. This means that even if it is legal to use a drone in your state, you could still get into trouble if you violate state laws. If you fly your drone in a way that violates state or local laws, you are still violating the FAA laws even if you are following the law in your geographic area.
Which U.S. Drone Regulations Applies To You?
There are many FAA drone regulations that pertain to every drone user. In order to make sure you are complying with those regulations, you can use the following as a guide. Where can you fly your drone? Drones can only be operated in specific locations. The places where drones are allowed to be flown are usually in rural areas or unpopulated areas where there are no people. Where you can fly your drone is based on several factors, such as the time of day, weather conditions, aircraft traffic conditions, and the distance of where you are flying your drone from people or objects.
What can you do with your drone? There are numerous things you can do with your drone, such as taking photos and filming videos. You can also use your drone to conduct inspections of crops or land. You can’t fly your drone over people unless you are operating a hobby drone. You also can’t fly your drone too high or far. The FAA has set a maximum altitude of 400 feet and a maximum distance of 4 miles, which is the maximum distance a drone can fly from the operator.
The Final Word
All of the regulations surrounding drone use can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why this article was written. We’ve covered the basics of how drone regulations work in the US, as well as which drones are allowed to be flown. We hope that this article has been helpful in providing you with more information about the regulations surrounding drone use in the US. If you have any questions about the regulations, feel free to reach out to us. We’d be happy to help.
