HOW DO I LEGALLY FLY A DRONE UNDER THE EXCEPTION FOR RECREATIONAL FLYERS?

LABELLE, FL -- A few decades ago, drones were confined to science fiction or notions of the future. Today, unmanned Aircraft Systems, or drones, are rapidly becoming a part of our everyday lives. They are quickly increasing in numbers and complexity. The FAA has registered 869,336 drones.

The ways we use drones range from recreation to commercial and military applications.

Here's a snapshot of the current state of drones in the United States:

348,769 Commercial Drones
517,091 Recreational Drones
3,476 Paper Registrations
241,567 Remote Pilots Certified (certified pilots can operate commercially)

If you are flying solely for recreational purposes, you need to do the following:

Register your drone if it weighs more than 0.55 pounds (250g) and externally mark the drone with your registration number; Registration is good for three years
Pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and present your completion certificate (paper or electronic) to FAA or public safety personnel if asked
Keep your drone within your visual line of sight; If you’re flying First Person View (FPV) you’ll need to have someone next to you who can see your drone at all times.
Never fly over 400 feet above ground level
Use the B4UFly app to be aware of any airspace restrictions in your area
Check with your local community to verify any restrictions that could apply to the take-off or landing of your drone; Airspace authorizations may be obtained through our Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) via our approved service suppliers
Give way and do not interfere with any manned aircraft.

For questions contact your local DronePro Representative or the FAA UAS Support Center at: 844-FLY-MY-UA or UASHELP@faa.gov

-from FAA Safety Team