Remember That Drones Aren’t Considered Toys By The FAA

If a drone is on your Christmas wish list, take care. Fox 5 Atlanta reports that the FAA is reminding shoppers that drones are more than toys. 

The FAA released a video on Twitter to remind people there are certain safety rules that must be followed when operating a recreational drone. 

A new law was recently passed designating where, when, and how people can fly drones for recreational purposes. 

• The drone must be registered, marked on the outside with the registration number, and proof of registration should be carried with the operator.
• Fly the drone for recreational purposes only. 
• Drones must be flown at or below 400 feet when in uncontrolled or “Class G” airspace. 
• Drones CANNOT be flown around controlled airspaces, such as airports. 
• Keep the drone within line of sight or in line of sight of a person who is in communication with the operator.
• Do not fly over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people. 
• Never fly while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
• Do not fly over the sites of national disasters, accidents, law enforcement activities, firefighting, or hurricane recovery efforts. 

Violating these regulations can result in being liable for criminal or civil penalties. 

From military applications to delivering packages, drones have become a part of our society. The history of drones is fascinating, and it begins in 1943 when the “Fritz X” became the first remote-controlled weapon to be used in World War II. The 1960s saw a boom in radio-controlled planes built by hobbyists. The first military drone strikes took place in February of 2002. In 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration recognized the potential of non-military commercial applications of drones and began issuing commercial drone permits. By 2016, DJI released a drone called the Phantom 4 that had smart computer vision and machine learning technology. This allowed the drone to avoid obstacles and to track and photograph people, animals, and objects. 

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