Recreational Guidelines

Download the handout PDF here.

Introduction

Before we get started with basic recreational guidelines I will introduce myself. Hello and thank you for joining me today. My name is Steven Epperson. I am a certified commercial remote pilot, and the owner of Fly High Photography. Today we will talk about what remote pilots need to know before flying a drone for recreation. We are here to have some fun and fly drones, so I’ll try to keep the talking part as short and sweet as possible. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

There are three things we are going to cover – the pilot, the drone, and how to fly safely. Once we have briefly covered the basics, I will be giving some pointers on how to fly so you can capture more cinematic footage with your drone. When we are done here you will know everything you need to fly a drone recreationally. Anyone who is interested in commercial flying will need to obtain a part 107 certificate. Commercial flying is anything outside of strictly recreational flying.

Recreational Guidelines: The Pilot

Fist we are going to get certified to fly. Every remote pilot needs to have their TRUST certificate to fly recreationally. Obtaining your certificate is free and shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes. It’s simply going over what the rules are for recreational flyers. The TRUST certification is required for recreational flying only. For anything that is not recreational then you will need to have your part 107. A TRUST certificate is still required to fly recreationally even if you already have your part 107.

I have provided some resources in the handout, if you haven’t already download the free handout here. Please feel free to use the resources provided or choose another if you would prefer. I included these resources becuase these are the ones I use, but you do not have to use them. In the handout I provided, you can find a link to the Pilot Institute to obtain your TRUST certification.

Please take a moment to complete that and continue to the next step. Be sure to print/save your certificate when completed.

Recreational Guidelines: The Drone

The next thing we are going to cover is the drone registration and Remote ID. These guidelines apply to any drone over .55lbs or 250 grams, so most drones need to follow this requirement. Drones must be registered with the FAA, and all must broadcast Remote ID now as well. If you have an older drone that does not have remote ID already then you will have to pick up a remote ID module to attach to the drone. Both the drone and RID module will have to be registered with the FAA.

Once you have registered the drone, you will be given a number that you must print on the drone. You will find the link to the FAA website on the handout. It’s $5 per registered drone/module. The pilot institute also offers free license plate stickers for your drone, to obtain them just apply with your registration numbers and they will mail it to you.

Please register your drone and move to the next step.

Recreational Guidelines: Flying Safely

Now that you have your Trust Certificate and your drone is registered, you are almost ready to fly. Next, we will talk about Community Based Organizations, or CBO’s. The FAA requires that all remote pilots follow a set of approved safety guidelines set by a CBO. You may choose which CBO guidelines to follow. I use Academy of Model Aeronautics or AMA. To learn more, you can find a link to the AMA website in your handout and download the safety handbook. You do not have to become a member to follow their guidelines, although the benefits of becoming a member are worth it for me. Again, you do not have to use the resources that I provide.There are several approved CBO’s to choose from. This is just the one that I use.

Software

Next, we will be checking to make sure your drone software is up to date and to make sure that the RID is broadcasting. Depending on the drone you have, the steps may vary slightly. Download the recommended application for your drone controls and if you haven’t already, download the Drone Scanner app.

I recommend turning on the controller and the drone prior to heading out to the field to check for available updates, restart and perform a short control flight test by simply hovering over the ground and test the controls to check for software glitches.

Once you have completed the control test flight and safely landed, I recommended to check and confirm your RID is broadcasting correctly. To do this, open the Drone Scanner app and search for your Remote ID.

Notes

Note: If you do not see your remote ID broadcasting. Remember remote ID can be broadcasted via Bluetooth or wi-fi. In my experience both android/iphone phones can have difficulty detecting a RID that is broadcasting in either wi-fi/blutooth. Be sure to check that the application has both Wifi and Bluetooth enabled.

Note: it is recommended to check and make sure both the controller and drone batteries are fully charged. Be sure to check SD memory cards (if applicable) and check to make sure the accessories are fully charged (lights/RID modules/etc.) Anti-collision strobe lights are only required for night operations. I recommend using a strobe light on each flight to give better visibility of the drones’ position to manned aircraft. Remember: All drone pilots MUST give way to all manned aircraft. A strobe light doesn’t give the operator right of way, it simply gives the manned aircraft better visibilty of the drones postition.

Applications

Next, we will go over a few of the applications necessary to check airspace and weather. If you haven’t already, please download the applications Aloft AirAware and AirControl. These applications will help you see any flight restrictions, view the current weather conditions, and allow you to request instant airspace authorization (if available.)

Open AirControl, select the location you are planning to fly to see what authorization (if any) will be needed. The attention indicator below will let you know if there are any restrictions or areas nearby that may require authorization. Click the weather tab to check weather conditions, visibility and wind direction/speed. Be cautious of areas that may require authorization or have active flight restrictions.

Operations near airports may require the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability
(LAANC). If available, Click the LAANC tab and follow the prompt to request authorization to fly in the airspace.

Note

Note: The Benton airport here in Redding California is not in the LAANC system. Due to the amount of air traffic near that area I make a phonecall to the tower at Redding regional to inform them of the drone operations location, duration and altitude. Whenever operating near an airport I recommend utilizing an airband radio to monitor air traffic approaching or taking off from the airport. (safety first)

Recreational Guidelines: Final Recommendations

Recreational or Commercial: This overview is for Recreational Users Only. All remote pilots must obtain the part 107 certificate prior to any commercial use.

Check Your Surroundings: Once you’re at the location where you are going to fly, I recommend visually looking around the area for nearby aircraft, wildlife or other hazards that may interfere with the operation. I also recommend using the Flight Radar app to help see any commercial aircraft that may be nearby. Note: not all aircraft broadcast tags visible on flight radar, this just helps to see ones that do.

Notify Nearby Remote Pilots: I recommend using Aloft’s AirAware App to complete the flight checklist and submit a notify & fly to allow other remote pilots in the area to know that there is an active operation in progress. Click checklist and follow the prompts.

Set Return-to-Home Altitude: Once the drone is in the air, I recommend taking the drone up the same height as the tallest obstacle in the area to set your return to home altitude. Note: do not exceed the maximum altitude of 400 ft above ground level (AGL).

Community Based Orgonizations (CBO)

Consider CBO membership: Consider joining your CBO as a member, especially if you fly frequently. You do not have to be a member to follow the safety guidelines, but some CBO’s include member benefits. It may be worthwhile to explore your options to see what benefits are included with membership. One of the many reasons why I chose AMA is that it includes a liability drone insurance policy that covers the remote pilot in case of an accident.

Attachments (lights, RID module, etc.,): Remote pilots should be aware how the drone will perform with the additional weight of any attachments. I recommend performing a short test flight with all attachments to be used during the operation fixed to the drone, so that the remote pilot can better understand the handling capabilities with the additional weight.

Privacy

Privacy: Drones that fly or hover over private property may be considered a nuisance. To prevent this, I recommend that all remote pilots follow the rule of “reasonable expectation of privacy.” If there is reasonable expectation of privacy, then the remote pilot should respect that privacy. If possible, prevent from flying over or capturing images of these areas, especially in areas where private property is fenced. Reasonable expectation of privacy example: When someone is inside there house, a patio or behind a fenced backyard or similar then that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. If there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in an area then prevent unnecessary flyovers or photos without permission.

Recreational Guidelines: Resources

Websites:

Apps:

  • Aloft AirAware – Pilot checklist, Notify and fly
  • Aloft AirControl – Airspace, Weather, LAANC authorization
  • Flight Radar 24 – Monitor commercial air traffic
  • Drone Scanner – Check RID is working properly and monitor nearby airspace for active drones
  • B4UFLY – FAA recommended app