10 FAA Rules And Regulations For Drones You Have to Know
September 16, 2019Hello everyone,
Today’s post is brought to you by a guest blogger, Jose Lozano from RC Hobbies On Air. It offers excellent information on FFAA Rules And Regulations For Drones that you need to be aware of, and I thought you’d appreciate the infographic he has provided. So, without further ado here it is…
Table of Contents
I think you would agree with me that drones are awesome and we simply love them, right? And I also think you would agree on the fact that it is hard to keep up with all updates on FAA rules and regulations for drones.
I mean, big companies have lawyers and dedicated resources to understand how to stay in compliance and out of trouble, but you and I are just hobbyists wanting to have some fun.
Well…
The truth is… you still have to keep up with FAA’s rules and regulations. Yet, it doesn’t have to be that hard, and that is why I want to share with you a cool summary of 10 things you need to know as a hobbyist to stay out of trouble.
THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE SEE MY AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
10 FAA Rules And Regulations For Drones You Have To Know As A Hobbyist For Safer Flights
In short, if your drone weighs between .55 lbs (250 grams) and 55 lbs (25 Kg), then you have to register, and this whole process is triggered.
I think the most important thing to remember is that even though regulations may seem hard to follow, these, in reality, are there for the benefit of the many. They are intended to preserve the right to privacy and safety that we all have since the day we are born.
Here is another interesting post with additional information about registering your drone with the FAA. It may not be fun at all, but failing to register your drone can make you subject to criminal penalties.
Final Words On Drones And Regulations
I need to reinforce that if you are not willing to follow these rules and regulations, then you should not get into drones at all. As much as I hate to say that, I actually feel worse when somebody does something against these rules, and these get tighter for the pilots wanting to play on the safe side of this hobby.
I also have to say that following these rules is not hard at all. There are plenty of resources online, just like this one, to guide you through the process of doing it, and it is just a matter of will.
Now…
If you are willing to move within the rules of this amazing hobby, then I promise you that getting started is your next best step, and for this, nothing like a good drone for beginners. Here is a good post with recommendations of drones under 200 dollars to get started. What I like about this post is that besides giving you a list with great recommendations, it also teaches you how to select a drone.
Now I turn it onto you.
Make sure you learn and educate yourself as much as possible about safe flights, rules, and regulations, and get started with this amazing hobby. If you are already a pilot, then make sure you play on the safe side.
As always, I’m thrilled to know your thoughts and comments, if there is something you think needs to be added or need additional help with, start the conversation via the comments section or on social media.
Until the next one, happy flights!
About The Author
Jose Lozano is an engineer and enthusiast of aviation gadgets. He enjoys having fun with family, friends, and drones. When Jose is not flying drones, you can bet he’s working on his next post at RC Hobbies on Air, the site where he shares thoughtful and useful reviews and tips about RC aviation gadgets.
Conclusion
So there you have it, 10 FAA Rules And Regulations For Drones You Have to Know. What do you think? Feel free to chime in by commenting below.
Thank you,
Scott Hinkle
MavicManiacs.com
Thanks a lot for this article.
It is really very important for people to know what the rules are that they need to follow while flying drones. Most people believe that there are no fixed rules while they try out drones, but the reality is totally different.
Most do not know the rules at all and your article can now be treated as a ready-reckoner for understanding the rules for flying drones. It is very important to follow these rules, but more important is to first know them. This article does just that.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Yes, most people buy “toy” drones and think, I’m good to go and, in many cases, that’s just not true. I wouldn’t be surprised if a sticker or label requirement comes down the line that will need to be placed on drones for sale in the US to inform consumers that they need to follow certain rules, etc.
Scott
This is great information to be shared.
I’d love to have a drone for the ability to place cameras in high places and get unique views of the world. However, I definitely don’t want to inadvertently break any laws while playing with these high tech toys.
I appreciate the easy to follow list of rules and the additional resources you’ve shared! This will provide ease of mind while learning to fly!
Hello,
Drones are definitely great tools and toys (depending on your use).
The infographic, provided by Jose, really does cover some great information. I hope this post helps others from making a costly mistake.
Thank you,
Scott
This is great information that all people flying drones should know.
I am thinking of getting a drone myself for some filming uses and having this post here is great so that I don’t get into trouble for something that I wasn’t aware of. That being said, there are still a few things that I want to know.
It’s regarding filming with the drone. If I fly the drone high up and record a park or something and there are random people walking through the park, what kind of legal obligations must I attend to?
If you know something about this, that would be great. Thank you!
Hello there,
I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to comment and see if I can’t answer your question.
First, let me just reiterate that the infographic here is more for the hobbyist drone pilot. If you’re planning to use the drone in a commercial way (or anything non-hobbyist related), you will need to obtain the FAA Part 107 certificate (assuming you’re in the US). That will entail a lot more than what this infographic covers.
As for flying over people, it’s not currently allowed unless you obtain a waiver. That said, work has been done that may make that restriction go away if you meet certain criteria. See my post here: FAA Drone Rules – Will We Be Able to Fly at Night and Over People?
Thanks again,
Scott