mchaos
Active Member
Emailed the FAA again regarding flying within 5 miles of an airport... (I have had several emails with the FAA about these rules prior to the registration laws being thrown out. Post is on RCgroups.)Had a few back and fourths about it.. Some interesting things came of it.
On the subject of flying within 5 miles.. You are required to notify only. You do not have to ask permission... BUT, ultimately.. it is a guideline.. Not a law. So there is nothing legally binding anyone to these guidelines.
HOWEVER.. I DO NOT SUGGEST FLYING AT AN AIRPORT. I ALSO SUGGEST IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CALL AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
Here is the thing.. While there are no "laws" telling you how you can fly your drone, there are laws in which you may infringe upon that you can be charged with. What I mean by that is.... Let say you decide you don't care, and there are no law's so you are going to fly near a run way.. You can be charge with reckless endangerment & trespassing to name a few. There are numerous ordinances you can infringe upon as well.
If you fly 3 miles from an airport without calling the tower will you get arrested or fined?? Most likely not. There is not much they can do unless you are breaking some kind of law. Maybe you fly and you are standing on private property.. then you will get charged with trespassing.
The topic had come up. I had asked theoretically if I flew 3 miles from an airport and didn't call, what were the legal ramifications. Basically nothing unless I am breaking a law. And if I was breaking a law, Because I was flying within 3 miles, I would probably get the book thrown at me. No charges would be drone specific charges because there are none.
Now.. If someone does fly at an airport... and causes an issue. Interrupts traffic etc.. they are going to be in a lot of trouble. Because there are guidelines, and as a Drone pilot, and a citizen it is up to the pilot to be aware of any guidelines, and is ultimately responsible for their actions.
Bottom line.. if you fly within 5 miles of an airport with a tower, can the tower deny you? NO. (unless you flight plan poses a risk to air traffic.... DUH) If you are not going to be posing any risk. the tower will not deny you, and they cannot because FAA has no jurisdiction.
SO.......
If you plan to fly near an airport. Call the tower and let them know so they are away in case they have to redirect traffic or need to make traffic aware. It's only civilized.
On the subject of flying within 5 miles.. You are required to notify only. You do not have to ask permission... BUT, ultimately.. it is a guideline.. Not a law. So there is nothing legally binding anyone to these guidelines.
HOWEVER.. I DO NOT SUGGEST FLYING AT AN AIRPORT. I ALSO SUGGEST IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO CALL AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
Here is the thing.. While there are no "laws" telling you how you can fly your drone, there are laws in which you may infringe upon that you can be charged with. What I mean by that is.... Let say you decide you don't care, and there are no law's so you are going to fly near a run way.. You can be charge with reckless endangerment & trespassing to name a few. There are numerous ordinances you can infringe upon as well.
If you fly 3 miles from an airport without calling the tower will you get arrested or fined?? Most likely not. There is not much they can do unless you are breaking some kind of law. Maybe you fly and you are standing on private property.. then you will get charged with trespassing.
The topic had come up. I had asked theoretically if I flew 3 miles from an airport and didn't call, what were the legal ramifications. Basically nothing unless I am breaking a law. And if I was breaking a law, Because I was flying within 3 miles, I would probably get the book thrown at me. No charges would be drone specific charges because there are none.
Now.. If someone does fly at an airport... and causes an issue. Interrupts traffic etc.. they are going to be in a lot of trouble. Because there are guidelines, and as a Drone pilot, and a citizen it is up to the pilot to be aware of any guidelines, and is ultimately responsible for their actions.
Bottom line.. if you fly within 5 miles of an airport with a tower, can the tower deny you? NO. (unless you flight plan poses a risk to air traffic.... DUH) If you are not going to be posing any risk. the tower will not deny you, and they cannot because FAA has no jurisdiction.
SO.......
If you plan to fly near an airport. Call the tower and let them know so they are away in case they have to redirect traffic or need to make traffic aware. It's only civilized.