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We get it: You finally bought that drone you’ve been eyeing at the hobby store and the first thing you want to do is take it out of the box, put in a fresh set of batteries and let it take to the skies. However, there are a lot of important guidelines, drone laws and safety features to know about owning and operating a drone before that first takeoff. To help you get ready for your inaugural flight, here’s what you should know about how to fly a drone.
In a nutshell
- The Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 lays out all guidelines for every kind of flight condition and airspace.
- Study and consult all manuals and special features that come with the aircraft before you plan on using it.
- Ensure that the area where you’re flying, taking off and landing is clear of people and other obstacles to prevent accidents or collisions.
What are the rules for flying a drone?
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned flier, safety should be the first priority when operating a drone. “Rules and regulations surrounding drones will always be somewhat of an area of contention, but safety usurps all,” says Daniel Rockey, a drone operator, writer and photographer who runs a multimedia company for publications and brands in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
The best place to start is the Federal Aviation Administration’s guidelines under Part 107, which lay out federal rules for unmanned aircraft systems operations. These rules cover all sorts of flying conditions and locations, from flying a drone at night to operating drones over moving vehicles. They also provide guidance on how to become an FAA-certified drone pilot and register a drone with the FAA.
“For example, if you are flying under Part 107 and/or your drone weighs over 250 grams (8.8 ounces) at takeoff, your aircraft should be registered with the FAA and must have its FAA registration number properly displayed on the exterior of the drone,” says Sarah F. Kozik, senior director of the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) company SkySafe, which provides drone technology to help government, law enforcement and other entities with real time airspace drone data and analytics.
Even if your drone weighs less than 250 grams, though, there are some basic rules that all drone operators should follow. Cache Merrill, drone enthusiast and chief treasury officer for the IT and drone custom software developer Zibtek, suggests always keeping the drone within your line of sight, ensuring the airspace is free of other aircraft or restricted areas and never flying over groups of people or public events.
Understand your drone’s main controls
A little knowledge can also go a long way before you even start operating a drone. Jake Marshall, chief UAS instructor and pilot for the aviation department at Aims Community College in Greeley, Colorado, says drone users should consult the documentation that comes with every drone to know the minimum and maximum speed and heights of their device in categories such as roll, pitch, yaw and thrust. “The operator must also be familiar with onboard flight modes and to assist in flight operations like track and follow, waypoints and point of interest modes,” Marshall adds.
Modes and controls aren’t the same for every drone. All operators should know how a drone will behave if it loses power or its link to the main controls during flight, or if it automatically lands to its takeoff position. “Particular controls and settings can vary widely depending on the make and model of the drone but in general, pilots should ensure they know how to land quickly in an emergency situation,” says Kozik. “They should know before takeoff what the drone’s default behavior is and if there is some sort of link loss during flight.”
Pre-flight checklist for your drone
The first thing any drone operator should check before operating a new aircraft is ensuring that it meets all FAA and local government regulations and recommendations. Unfortunately, even with the best drones, just because a drone manufacturer puts a device on sale doesn’t mean it meets all federal and local requirements.
“If your aircraft is required to be registered with the FAA and broadcasting Remote ID, you can use mobile apps like Drone Scanner or OpenDroneID to ensure that your aircraft is, in fact, broadcasting that data,” says Kozik. “While several manufacturers have claimed to have standard Remote ID support in their drones, SkySafe found that isn’t always the case. It’s on the pilot to ensure compliance with this regulation.”
Merrill also suggests learning the weather conditions before heading out to the launch site, to determine if it’s safe to fly. If conditions are favorable, pilots should also check the aircraft for any damage and make sure the batteries are safely secured and fully charged. Once those are complete, pilots should test the aircraft’s global positioning signal (GPS) and calibrate it with the drone’s compass. Once you’ve plotted a safe flight plan, you’re ready for takeoff.
How to get your drone off the ground
The takeoff site should be free of any obstacles, including people. Even if you have cleared the area ahead of time, people can wander onto the site by the time you’re ready to launch and the takeoff and landing stages present the most opportunities for accidents and collisions.
“It sounds simple but it can get complicated,” says Rockey. “People are fascinated — rightfully so — by drones, kids especially. Interested bystanders, curious children, even pets can find themselves unknowingly entering a space where they could get hit or cut by the drone’s propellers without them ever knowing that they’re in danger.”
Once the area is clear, ensure that the GPS lock indicator is ready and call out, “Clear prop,” in a loud, clear voice just before starting up the aircraft, instructs Marshall. Then, as your aircraft reaches 10 to 30 feet in the air, Marshall suggests performing one more functionality check to make sure everything is operating properly before heading out on the flight path.
How to land your drone
“For landing, the crew is challenged with assessing the landing area and making sure it’s clear, performing a safe, gradual and controlled landing,” says Marshall. “Turn off the aircraft and proceed to post-flight checklists of aircraft and operation.”
“Pilots can often maneuver the aircraft back to their location and move the left joystick in the downward direction to throttle down until the aircraft reaches the ground,” says Kozik. “There may also be a landing button, app field or a return to home (RTH) button/option somewhere to trigger an autonomous landing.”
Advanced drone flying techniques
Some drone models are programmed to execute special aerial commands depending on the needs of the operator, but it’s also good to practice and learn how to execute these moves with the controls. “I use techniques like orbiting, which is flying in a circular path around a subject for better video aesthetics, and waypoint flight for precise path controls,” says Merrill. “These techniques are useful for capturing high-quality footage and for tasks requiring precise movements.”
“For cinematic shots, I will often opt for a simple orbit or a pan of the scene and subject,” says Rockey. “For something more exciting, I may use a different kind of drone and pitch the angle of the camera to add more motion or excitement. There are dozens of different types of drone communities, all focused on different areas of flight, and they each have their own techniques and strategies to get the shot or movement they’re after.”
How to use a drone camera
First and foremost, the drone operator should keep privacy in mind when it comes to filming aerial shots, and obtaining people’s consent. Rockey says that even though people, places and things that are outdoors are considered fair game, “it’s ultimately up to you whether you want to delete that photo, or to gently remind them that taking photographs or video footage of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right.”
Pilots should also consider their surroundings and power supply while filming to ensure they are getting the shots they need. “Use appropriate settings for the environment to ensure optimal footage,” says Merrill. “Be mindful of the storage and battery life to manage long recording sessions.”
Key considerations
Mindfulness of your surroundings and conditions are the chief concern for anyone operating a drone. “In addition to ensuring compliance with all local and federal laws, pilots need to ensure the environment is safe for drone operations,” says Kozik. “This includes taking into account the weather conditions and their potential effects on aircraft operations, immediate surroundings and any potential hazards, as well as ensuring your aircraft and its components are properly maintained and in working order.”
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Ensuring the safety of your aircraft and those around you will also ensure a smooth flight and crisp, clear aerial photos and videos. The checklist for a safe and smooth flight starts long before the takeoff.
Related article: 10 best drones to turn your dreams of flying into reality
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How difficult is it to fly a drone?
Drone technology has come a long way and there are drones for every operator level, from the novice to the seasoned flier. “It depends on the pilot and the drone along with what operation they are doing,” says Marshall. “It’s like anything in life: Some have it and some don’t. Those who don’t have it but find the grit to practice and get better will be the ones who will achieve the end goal they’re seeking.”
What do I need before flying a drone?
You definitely need to familiarize yourself with drone laws before flying. “Besides the technology, they should have at the very least an FAA TRUST certificate — obtained from the FAA’s free and basic Recreational UAS Safety Test — on regulation so they can be safe and be appropriate users of the aircraft,” advises Miller. “For example, drones now need to have remote identification present and working on the aircraft. Registration is also needed if the drone is heavier than 250 grams.”
“If it’s not a standard Remote ID drone, you’ll need to ensure that you have attached a Remote ID broadcast module to your drone,” adds Kozik. “In certain cases, flight operations may require drone anti-collision lights for additional visibility.”
How much should a beginner spend on a drone?
Rockey recommends first time fliers start with a cheaper drone that they don’t mind dinging up as they learn how to operate it safely. “For recreation and particularly for first time fliers, shop on places like Facebook Marketplace, eBay and the like. You may crash and that’s OK, but you would rather not spend $500 plus on something that could very well wind up in the neighbors’ tree. Refurbished and used small drones such as something like a DJI Mavic Mini or DJI Mavic Air can be found for less than $300.”
DJI Mavic Mini - Drone FlyCam Quadcopter UAV with 2.7K Camera 3-Axis Gimbal GPS 30min Flight Time, less than 0.55lbs, Gray
DJI Mavic Air Quadcopter with Remote Controller - Onyx Black
What is the easiest drone to fly?
DJI drones are the most popular brand for fliers who don’t have a lot of experience in the air. “For beginners, DJI models like the DJI Mini are often recommended due to their user-friendly interfaces, stable flight controls and comprehensive tutorials,” says Merrill. If that changes with the proposed DJI drone ban in the U.S., though, you’ll need to look at other options.
DJI Mavic Mini - Drone FlyCam Quadcopter UAV with 2.7K Camera 3-Axis Gimbal GPS 30min Flight Time, less than 0.55lbs, Gray
Which drones do not need to be registered?
According to FAA regulations, all drones that weigh 8.8 ounces (250 grams) or more must be registered. Drones that weigh less are covered under the “Exception for Limited Recreational Operations.” “Often, I see people misunderstanding registration with licensing,” adds Rockey. “Registering your drone is as simple as plugging in an email address and making an account through your phone and usually your drone will make you go through those steps during initial setup.”
AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.