Best places to fly a drone: Understanding the rules and regulations

Technology is changing rapidly. Businesses and consumers are finding new  and creative ways to use drones every day. From real estate to event photography, drones are being used for a number of different purposes. In addition, people are finding drones to be a great past time activity too. This is the reason why there has been such a large spike in demand for drones in recent; It seems like everyone wants to purchase a drone. In this article you will find the best places to fly a drone while getting a better understanding on the rules in regulation pertaining to being a drone pilot.

A commercial drone is basically a battery-powered gadget which is designed to fly, hover, and take pictures and videos of landscape and people. The device can fly as far as four miles away from it’s operator and as high as 400 ft. Some high end drones such as the  DJI phantom 3 drone are capable of shooting HD and 4k images and videos, generating outstanding drone footage.   It is noted that most people who own drones are well satisfied with the use of their drones in day to day activities. However, it is important that you know how to use your drone and where to fly it. You will note that there many places where you can fly your drones, but there’s also places you cannot fly a drone. You need to know a few guidelines so that you can avoid hurting yourself and others. In addition, it’s worth noting that there are some legal implications of such type of unmanned aerial vehicle. You just might fly or land in an unknown territory and thereby infringe on someone’s privacy.

What are the best places to fly a drone

There are many places where you can fly your drone, but some of the best places to fly a drone are as followed:

Beaches– Perfect area to fly your drone. You can fly hundreds of feet off shore with no obstructions in your way.

Open fields– Any open field is a good idea to fly your drone. Just be careful if there happens to be power lines around. Also, be mindful of private properties.

Farm land– This is a great place to fly your drone. Many farmers use drones to check their crops, perimeter gates,  and animals. It sure beats the heck out of driving across your field.

Mountains – Great place to take beautiful pictures on a mountains top,

Deserts– Another place that made the list of best places to fly a drone is a desert. The desert is a  good place to take your drone because of its massive space absolutely no obstructions.. Although the heat can be harsh, deserts are mostly open and have vast amount of sand on the ground, so if your drone were to run out of batteries or malfunction, the sand could break its fall.

Parks– Are the most common place to fly your drone. Many parks tend to be open fielded, so you should have no problems finding a good park to fly your drone, just be careful not to fly around people unless you know what you’re doing.

If you have toured a new area, you can readily carry your drone and take some aerial photographs. You just need to ensure that your drone has quality batteries(Bring backup batteries just in case) so that you can get the desired results. It is worth noting that the use of drones is basically divided into two categories. These are; personal and commercial categories.  Personal use basically refers to using drones for personal pleasure. If you use your drone for personal use, you will not be having the intention to sell your content thereafter. This type of use can be flown in all the places above, but just for fun and not profit. On the other hand, if you want to collect data to make money, you will be using your drone commercially. You can even send these videos to a third party and so on. Many people have made lots money using drones for business.  However, if you want to use drone for commercial use, you need to get some clearance. For instance, in United States, one must get special clearance from the FAA. It is also worth noting that personal use is only allowed under certain circumstances. The user has to follow certain guidelines. The good news is that personal use of drones does not have many strict regulations. You can fly your drone for fun. You can readily take photos and videos of different features.  It is important to note that there are some no-fly zones everywhere in the world. You should not fly your drone while in these places.

 

What are some of the legal guidelines that one should follow when flying a drone for fun?

  1. You should ensure that your drone remains in front of your eyes all the time.
  2.  Ensure that your drone does not go higher than 400 feet. If it goes beyond this height, unless you have a good onboard camera, you might lose the sight of your drone and this can make it difficult for you to control it.
  3. Remember to register your drone.
  4. If you fly your drone outside your house, the rules usually apply.
  5. The pilots should be at least 16 years old and above.
  6. Avoid flying your drone in congested places or over people. You should stay at least 25 feet away. In addition, you should not fly near emergencies.

What are the guidelines and regulations for flying a drone for commercial use?

  1. Ensure that you are certified.
  2. Do not fly more than 100 mph
  3. Avoid flying your drone at night unless you’re an experienced night photographer
  4. Seek permission before flying your drone.  It is important to know these regulations so that you can avoid getting into trouble. Knowing and understanding proper regulations and procedures will ensure that you fly your drone in safe manner that benefits us all.