Drones are becoming more popular as technology advances, and they can make a great gift for the holiday season. However, you can’t fly a drone whenever you want, and important safety rules must be followed.
“Everybody that flies a drone or a remote-controlled aircraft now has to have a TRUST certificate,” said Dave Hook, president of Planehook Aviation Services.
A TRUST certificate stands for The Recreational USA Safety Test. This is a 15-20 minute free, online Federal Aviation Administration-approved test. Once taken and passed, the user becomes certified to fly a drone recreationally.
On top of being licensed to fly a drone, there are rules you must follow:
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Don’t fly over military installations
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Don’t fly over airports
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Don’t fly near critical infrastructures
“If there’s a question about whether the drone should be in the air or not, put it on the ground, sort it out and then figure out if you should be flying,” Hook said.
You must also register your drone through the FAA’s Drone Zone if it weighs more than .55 pounds.
You may see more drones than ever before, as these devices can be helpful in construction projects and even law enforcement.
Construction sites may use drones for site surveys and to see how a project progresses.
For fire departments, they can help with fighting fires.
“Firefighters might be able to see above and beyond all the smoke and make good decisions on how to deploy the resources,” said Hook.
As for police, it can help scope out dangerous situations.
“The police department is able to use that to inform their officers what’s done that shadowy alleyway before actually sending their officers into that area,” Hook said.
If you are ever flying a drone, make sure you keep an eye on that drone at all times. This is especially important if you happen to see another drone in the air.
“If we can see our drone, we can probably see the other drone and fly to avoid it,” said Hook.
You can learn more rules for recreational drone flying by clicking here.