Regulations
Regulations get our backs up. We hate to feel that anybody is dictating what we can do. Especially if we are the kinds of free spirits who welcome the risk of flying a drone -- something that perhaps we have always wanted to do, but until the appearance of inexpensive highly capable remote control aircraft we have not been able to do. To have the government immediately impose regulations on what we can do with what seems like a toy or hobby is off-putting and annoying.
BUT, there are some very good reasons for these regulations. If these seemingly small devices are used carelessly, they can cause extreme damage -- both to other larger aircraft and their passengers as well as to bystanders. So, the FAA has recently instituted regulations controlling how drones can be flown by hobbyists. There is an additional set of regulations for drones being flown in commercial operations. This website, however, only addresses the use of drones by hobbyists.
Here is a video introduction by the FAA about first use of your drone:
BUT, there are some very good reasons for these regulations. If these seemingly small devices are used carelessly, they can cause extreme damage -- both to other larger aircraft and their passengers as well as to bystanders. So, the FAA has recently instituted regulations controlling how drones can be flown by hobbyists. There is an additional set of regulations for drones being flown in commercial operations. This website, however, only addresses the use of drones by hobbyists.
Here is a video introduction by the FAA about first use of your drone:
Here are the websites mentioned in that video:Another good website for hobbyist beginners is:
There are a couple of guidelines that make the regulations easier to understand:
You should not feel that because of our close proximity to Hanscom flying a drone in Lexington is prohibited. It isn't. What is required is that if you are going to fly your drone, you must contact the Hanscom Control Tower and let them know about your plans. When I first read this, I was concerned that the Tower was not going to permit me to fly -- but I quickly found out that was not true. The Tower will treat you just like any other operator of an aircraft flying in the area for which they are responsible. Here are some facts to know about this interaction:
Hanscom Air Traffic Control (ATC) Telephone Number: (781) 862-1592
Information Hanscom ATC will want from you:
I have always found Hanscom ATC to be very professional and cooperative.
There are a couple of guidelines that make the regulations easier to understand:
- Fly at or below 400 feet: Most drones will have built in software that limits the maximum altitude they can fly. You need not worry about going over the limit. The drone won't let you. It turns out that 400 feet is quite high. When I approach that altitude, I have to struggle to see my drone.
- Keep your UAS within sight: It is tempting with drones that send video back from the drone in real-time to look at the screen to see where you are rather than to look up into the sky. Don't do this. Always understand where your drone is located.
- Never fly near other aircraft, especially near airports: The common sense regulations that apply to all aircraft, large and small, apply to remote controlled drones.
- Never fly over groups of people: Don't risk loosing control of your drone and having it hit people. This can happen and although you think you will be able to recover if you see your drone headed towards people, chances are you won't.
- Never fly over stadiums or sports events: A generalization of the previous point.
- Never fly near emergency response efforts such as fires: Sure, fires make for exciting video, but your cool videos are worth the risk of interfeering with efforts to respond to the emergency.
- Never fly under the influence: Just like driving a car, except you need even more attention to fly a drone.
- Be aware of airspace requirements: Lexington is next to Hanscom Field, an active civil aviation airport. This puts an additional level of regulations on flying drones in Lexington. Actually, most of Eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod are under similar restrictions because there are lots of small airports and heliports scattered east of Worchester.
You should not feel that because of our close proximity to Hanscom flying a drone in Lexington is prohibited. It isn't. What is required is that if you are going to fly your drone, you must contact the Hanscom Control Tower and let them know about your plans. When I first read this, I was concerned that the Tower was not going to permit me to fly -- but I quickly found out that was not true. The Tower will treat you just like any other operator of an aircraft flying in the area for which they are responsible. Here are some facts to know about this interaction:
Hanscom Air Traffic Control (ATC) Telephone Number: (781) 862-1592
Information Hanscom ATC will want from you:
- Your Registration Number: This is the number you got from the FAA when you registered your drone.
- Location: They will ask you where you plan to fly your drone. Locations such as "near my house" or "over Willards Woods" are the kinds of answers they expect.
- Maximum Altitude: They need to know how high you plan on flying.
- Planned Time Period for Flying: They need to know when you will be flying your drone at the indicated location and altitude so that they can alert other aircraft flying in the same area about your presence.
- Contact Hanscom ATC when you are finished: They want to hear back from you when you are finished so that they can remove your plans from the set of active flights in the area.
I have always found Hanscom ATC to be very professional and cooperative.