Drone Laws & Regulations – What You Need to Know
Many new drone pilots ask the question: “How, where, and when is flying my drone legal?” Understanding local drone laws and regulations is essential for professional UAV pilots and hobbyists. By following government issued guidelines regarding UAV operation, users can ensure the safety of themselves, their aircraft, and others.
Many countries have passed drone laws and regulations similar to Transport Canada (Canada) or the FAA (USA) which detail best practices for flying and steps users need to take before flying recreationally or professionally.
Drone laws vary by country and region, so it’s essential to research the specific requirements in your area. DJI provides a resource to check the regulations in your country at this link: https://www.dji.com/flysafe. Just select your country and you can view or download the information.
Some drone regulations are common in various parts of the world. Below is a list of common drone laws and safety items you should know.
Register Your Drone (If Necessary)
Some countries require that users register their drones before flight. Registration makes it so users can more easily locate their drone if it flies away or be held accountable if they fly irresponsibly. In the United States, anyone with a drone weighing over 0.55 lbs (250 g) is required to register their drone with the FAA. In Canada you are required to notify Transport Canada and have insurance for your drone which also requires registration in the event of a crash.
Flying Professionally? Get Certified.
If you’re a film or photography professional looking to expand into aerial imaging, make sure to get any necessary certification before flying for money. In Canada, you are required to attain an SFOC (Special Flight Operating Certificate). This is an extensive document submitted to Transport Canada identifying your safety procedures, emergency response plans, and other details that you will follow to ensure safe flying. In the US, this means studying for and passing an aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center. The FAA offers a free study guide, sample questions, and registration on their official website.
Fly Within Line-of-Sight
Some drones are capable of flying up to 7 km away, but often, 7 km is beyond one’s visual line of sight (sometimes abbreviated as VLOS or LOS). In most countries, you are required to maintain visual line of site to your drone. This is an important safety measure as the video feed from your drone’s camera can fail. Watching your drone at all times during flight is the easiest way to prevent accidents. If you only watch the camera view through your phone or tablet, you won’t be able to see what’s around your drone and you’ll be much more likely to have an accident.
Don’t Fly Near Airports and Other Sensitive Locations
This is also common sense. Don’t fly where commercial aircraft are flying, unless you have special permission. Doing so poses serious security risks and hazards for overflying aircraft. Some drones won’t take off when close to an airport as they have safety measures in place attached to the GPS signal that will prevent take off in restricted airspace. Always check the airspace you are flying in before a flight to see what activity might be taking place in your area.
Airports are obvious no fly zones but some places you may not expect can also have air traffic. This includes sea planes, helicopters, and emergency response flight paths.
Fly at a Safe Altitude
Many drones allow users to fly at up to 500 meters (1,640 feet). Typically commercial aircrafts fly above 300′ (100m) so in unrestricted airspace it is best to stay well below this ceiling.
Anything Else You Should Know?
Of course! This list isn’t exhaustive or universally applicable. Like we mentioned before, it’s important to check specific drone laws in your region; these are just several common ones.