FAA rules you need to know BEFORE flying a drone

Drones have been one of the most popular Christmas gifts for kids and adults for several years now, mainly because the technology has evolved so much over the past couple of years, that you can now find drones with various capabilities in price ranges from $40+. And let’s face it, it is fun to have a flying camera to play around with!

So, you got a drone as a gift for Christmas or your birthday? Now what? Of course, your first instinct is to take it out of a box to try it around your house or at a local park as soon as possible, but you should learn a couple of things before taking it out for a spin if you don’t want to get into ‘hot water’ with FAA, law enforcement, or even your neighbors!

What you need to know before flying your new drone

1. Understand FAA regulations: Fly Responsibly 

Drones are legally defined as aircraft, so their operations are subject to regulation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).   You should be aware of the basic rules of safe drone operations: The FAA restricts flying your drone to altitudes of 400’ (above the ground) or less, cannot fly over people or traffic, and cannot interfere with traffic patterns of takeoff and landing areas, if near an airport. All of this basic safety information is now covered in study materials for a TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) Test, which is now a required test for all recreational (hobbyist) drone flyers. This regulation came out in June 2021, and you have to carry a certificate that you passed the test if you are flying the drone recreationally. You can learn more about this test on our Trust Test blog post or watch a YouTube Vlog about it.

2. Drone Registration: You Have To Have It

If you have a drone that weighs more than 0.55lbs, you will need to register it here

3. Airspace Authorization: Apply As Needed

If you live near a major airport or a restricted military area, you are most likely in controlled airspace, and you should check that before flying your drone even in your backyard.

Generally, you need to know what type of National Airspace (NAS) you intend to fly in before launching the drone. you can read my detailed post on this here, and if you are in controlled airspace, you will need to apply for FAA authorization (you can watch my detailed YouTube Vlog on how to do it).

5. Operate Your Drone Within the Visual Line of Sight

Keep your drone within visual line of sight at all times. Meaning, you have to be able to see your drone at all times. Otherwise, you are in the “Beyond Visual Line of Site” mode of operation and you need to have a special permit from the FAA to do so. So, if you don’t see it, you are not compliant with this regulation.

6. Flying your drone at night

Do not fly at night unless your drone has special lighting that allows you to know its location and orientation at all times.

7. Drone License: Do you need it?

You will need to obtain FAA Part 107 Certification if you want to legally sell drone services or any media (photos, videos) generated by your drone. V1DroneMedia offers a variety of Drone Training classes, including the Part 107 Drone License Prep Course in the Cleveland, Ohio area. You can also learn more about getting an FAA Part 107 Certification here. If you intend to operate your drone as a hobbyist only, you will not need a Part 107 license, but you will still need to get the Trust Certificate, which is free and only takes a short time to get.

8.  What NOT to do when flying a drone.

• Never interfere with emergency response activities such as disaster relief, any type of accident response law enforcement activities, firefighting, or hurricane recovery efforts

• Never fly over any persons or moving vehicles

• Do not operate your drone carelessly or recklessly

Now that you know a bit about the rules, are you ready to fly? If you feel like you need some guidance in getting started to fly your drone or want to learn more advanced skills, check out our Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions that we hold in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, and Contact Us to get started. Have fun and fly safely!

Ohio Drone Laws

As a commercial drone services provider located in Cleveland, Ohio, we know a thing or two about flying in this state. One of the questions we get asked often is whether you can fly at a specific location in Cleveland. See our blog post Where to Fly Drones in Cleveland for that information.

Drone flights in Ohio are subject to FAA regulations for operating in the national airspace. Some municipalities are enacting their own ordinances for drone use, but these should only apply to launching and landing locations, as local municipalities don't control airspace. We recommend checking your city/county for any such drone restrictions.

FAA Part 107 Regulations

Under FAA regulations you must have either a TRUST Test Certificate (for hobbyists) or a Part 107 Drone License Certificate (for commercial drone pilots) to fly drones in Ohio. We offer Part 107 Prep classes locally as a 2-day in-person class that prepares anyone to take and pass the test. See our event schedule for the next available class and read our student testimonials (over 95% of students pass the Part 107 Test after taking our classes!).

Are There Drone Flight Restrictions in Ohio?

It all depends on what type of airspace you intend to fly in (Class B, C, D, E). You may have to apply for FAA authorization to fly your drone in a certain area, see our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone for more detailed information and tutorial on how to do this through LAANC.

In addition, you cannot fly over moving traffic, over people, or during any sporting event where there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place.  A TFR is typically active for all open-air stadium NFL and MLB games from one hour prior to the game start to one hour after the game ends. These rules do get enforced, see this article about drone pilots pleading guilty to illegal Ohio stadium flights in 2023.

Can You Fly a Drone in Ohio State Parks and Cleveland Metroparks?

As a rule of thumb, national parks do not allow drone use on their properties. Some Metroparks have enacted the same ordinance, so you should check with the specific Metropark system. There are several designated areas where you can fly your drone in the Cleveland Metroparks, see details in their Drone Policy.

Municipal parks don't have the same restrictions usually but check with the specific park and municipality before flying your drone.

Drone Registration

If you want to fly your drone in Ohio (and anywhere else in the United States), you are required to register your drone if it is 0.55 lbs or larger if you fly as a hobbyist, and all drones (regardless of weight) if you operate commercially (under Part 107). You can register your drone on the FAA DroneZone website. The cost for registration is $5 and is valid for three years.

So, if you have checked off all necessary registrations, FAA Airspace Authorizations, and hold an appropriate FAA certificate, you are ready to fly. Now to the fun part, where can you fly your drone in Ohio? We've compiled some of our favorite locations in Cleveland where we frequently fly, see them in the Where to Fly Your Drone in Cleveland blog post.