Not too many years ago the idea of small unmanned flying machines seemed like something from sci-fi movies or toys for the kids to play with. This could not be further from today’s reality.
Drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), have been taking on more and more important roles and are now regarded as fully-fledged aircraft performing legitimate and crucial operations in the National Airspace.
Along with these new abilities and capabilities comes the need to understand how drones fit into today’s world of aviation and how new and existing pilots can benefit from understanding the direction drones are leading in many areas.
Who uses these things anyway?
As previously mentioned, professional UAS systems are absolutely not toys. Many common uses revolve around aerial photography and videography for industries such as real estate, insurance and roof inspections, advertising, and TV and film production. Others are deployed with growing frequency in life saving areas of search and rescue, disaster response and other critical situations.
You may be wondering, “why not use conventional aircraft and pilots…?”
That certainly is an option, but when you factor in things such as per-mission flight cost, speed of deployment, and safety factors, it becomes very difficult to not go with the UAS option.
The smaller aircraft size and incredible real-time optics, thermal sensing cameras, and onboard tech gives remote operators the ability to navigate dangerous or restrictive elements where you simply would not risk a pilot or larger aircraft.
In many cases, a drone can be deployed in just a few minutes in remote and harsh areas that would simply not be possible or impractical to consider with conventional aircraft.
Why would I want to know how to fly a drone?
It is easy to come away feeling like unmanned aerial systems are replacing actual pilots, but there is actually another way to look at this.
Despite all the advanced technology, autonomous flight software and sophistication of a UAS, there still needs to be a Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC).
Having a solid understanding and experience flying these systems will only add to your abilities, particularly as this budding industry continues to expand into areas no one has even thought of yet.
Adding “stick time” can further hone your flying abilities and open new doors professionally or even simply for recreational flying.
Do I need a license or certification?
The simple answer is yes. To fly professionally, that is.
The FAA has established 14 CFR Part 107 to allow for civil operation in the National Airspace System.
For new, previously unlicensed operators, the process is essentially being able to learn the required materials regarding airspace, weather, aeromedical factors, sectionals, rules and regulations, and other elements regarding flight operations. Then, successfully passing the aeronautical knowledge test at an FAA approved testing center and screening.
For existing pilots holding a 14 CFR Part 61, the process is a bit easier. You can take the online course, Part 107 small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) ALC-451 on the FAA FAASTeam website. Then, complete FAA Form 8710-13 online or by paper.
More details can be found on the FAA website or by contacting your local FSDO.
A new perspective
If you do have an interest in adding drones to your flying skills or as a new pilot just venturing into this new world, it is an exciting time for sure. We are seeing more guidance and formalization from the FAA, as well as many other professional entities, and the future looks bright for our new aircraft.
Whether you choose to fly for recreational fun or to expand your professional capabilities and options, it is a wonderful time to explore UAS flying!
Mr. Mann,
I know a lot more than you may think I know, I am a licensed pilot, a former radio control aircraft hobbiest, and an amateur radio operator, and a retired law enforcement officer.
Whatever is necessary that has to be done, needs to be done before a drone takes out a commercial airliner. It’s only a matter of time before it happens.
If they don’t force the technology to get compliance with the rules,the technology will be used against the drones to cause them to be unusable in certain geographic areas causing the loss of the drones. Obviously these drone operators are not interested in following the rules.
Hope you are not in the jet that ingests a drone into the windsreenn or the engine.
Reply to David K.
First, no single drone can bring down a multi-engine airliner- just as no single bird can. A single bird or a single drone can significantly damage an engine requiring a return to the airport for expensive repairs, but most bird strikes aren’t noticed by the crew until someone sees the blood and feathers on the leading edge of a wing or tail surface. The first contact with a drone is likely to be the same- without the blood and feathers.
Further, there is no magic technology that can geofence all personal drones, and the rules to require them to comply would be remarkably expensive for both the drone manufacturers and the FAA to enforce. The FAA does not undertake new rules or new equipment requirements on theoretical possibilities. In other words, since there has never been a serious accident as a result of contact with a drone, regulations and enforcement won’t happen. This is called “risk based” rulemaking within the FAA, and there’s so little risk that your desire of forcing manufacturers to geofence every personal drone just won’t happen.
Yes, there are some who don’t know or ignore the recommendations from the FAA. But, the vast majority reports of drone sightings are unverified.
As a commercial drone operator, we would love to see more pilots involved in drone operations. They already have the safety orientation and are have so much more technical depth.
We have seen that many drone operators are not interested in gaining the technical skills required to operate these drones safely. we hope that changes and encourage everyone who is flying a drone to operate with a pilot mindset and fly responsibly. Here is a pure we wrote encouraging responsible drone operation: https://mydroneservices.com/dont-fly-that-drone-unprotected/
If Pilots can help send the safety message to every drone operator they know, then we believe drone adoption will have smoother sailing.
A pilot friend of mine said he was on line and they had the drone operator test, he took it and they sent him a drone certificate. He has never operated a drone, and probably never will. I think that you missed our point! Fear of drones are hugely overstated, if you are a drone operator, they have no skin in the game!
A Part 61 pilot with a current BFR has already demonstrated their knowledge of FAA rules, and their online test to get the SUAS rating is not nearly as complex as the first-time pilot’ written exam.
Sucks when at a state or nat park and all you hear is brrrrrrrrr.
Drones are not permitted in National parks without special permission. For state parks varies between states
They make DANDY shotgun targets, over MY property…?
18 U.S. Code § 32 – Destruction of aircraft or aircraft facilities.
The FAA considers these small personal drones and model aircraft as aircraft for enforcement purposes. Shoot one down or whack it with your broom and you are inviting federal charges.
14 CFR 91.11 – Prohibition on interference with crewmembers..
If you want to punch a drone operator you will likely be adding a federal charge to the assault charges.
The technology is available to limit drones to the 500 foot above ground limitations. Why the FAA has not
forced the drone manufactures to do that with regualtions is absurd to me.
You obviously don’t know how the FAA rules work, nor how drones work for that matter. For the FAA to mandate equipment requirements by manufacturers would require the aircraft be type-certified and the equipment list would be defined in the type certificate. The FAA does not have the authority to create rules as you suggest.
You assume that all drones have barometric altimeters. Most do but many do not. Other than radar altimeter (which would weigh more than the drone), there is no reliable method of determining altitude above the ground.
Professional (part107) drone pilots are already generally limited to 400 ft AGL by rule, and most are following the rules.
Hobby pilots have no rules, only guidelines. If the FAA wants to mandate a height restriction on hobby flight, they would need new rules or include hobby pilots in the existing Part 107 rules. However, the FAA can’t promulgate new rules because of Public Law 112–95 Sec. 336. Special Rule For Model Aircraft.
Many hobbyists like myself restrict ourselves to flying as if we had a Part 107 certification. We recognize that flying safely and responsibly is the only way to gain respect with the general public and our legislators.
Hotdog sUAS Pilots and hotdog General Aviation Pilots share one thing in common, they both have no respect for the rules nor any regard for the safety of others.
You missed my point. PROFESSIONAL drone pilots take a written exam that is almost as thorough as the written exam for the student pilot to fly a C-152. Navigation and ATC procedures are not covered, but aeronautical theory, weather, health factors, airport operations and other subjects are on the test. The fail rate is very similar (https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/test_statistics/media/2016/annual/2016_airman_knowledge_tests.pdf).
Professional drone pilots are certified airmen. They are unlikely to risk their investment to become certificated SUAS airmen by violating the rules.
As I said in my blog (https://dronemann.blog/2017/07/06/registration-hobbyists-have-won-the-battle-but-will-lose-the-war/) a year ago, the day is coming that the FAA will require certification of all drone pilots. The FAA already require aircraft registration of all drones and model aircraft – pilot certification isn’t far behind. In my opinion.
Not at all unlike the FCC requiring Amateur Radio Operators to become licensed a century ago. 1912. actually. The Hams were crying that the new license requirements would destroy their hobby, etc, etc. You can expect the same crying and wailing from the hobby community when amateur Unmanned Aircraft pilots will be required to pass a knowledge test and certified.
I agree, but drones are operatered by people that on the most part, know very little about aircraft and airspace. There will be a drone and GA collision, but not to worry, the drone operator will be alright. There has been near misses, but the GA pilot avoided running into them. Drones will not replace manned aircraft, we can use military drones only because we have air superiority where they are used! RC aircraft do the same thing as drones, but are harder to fly. Why not make them pilots too?
Just keep them below 200 foot and more than one mile from the airport and I could care less.
I’m a seaplane pilot and often land off-airport. Ski plane and other back-country pilots do as well. Telling drone pilots they can fly anywhere greater than 1 mile from an airport and below 500 feet agl leaves the impression that manned aircraft will not be using that airspace. Drones are here to stay, as they have tremendous utility and appeal, but they must be kept away from manned aircraft.
It would also help for pilots to also know that merely seeing a drone doesn’t mean “WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!” as the hysterical news headlines say.
Small UAVs do not pose any significant risk to the National Airspace System. “Dangerous” and “invasion of privacy” concerns are ridiculous, driven by paranoia borne of ignorance.
There is absolutely no factual evidence to support the fear and ignorance around small personal drones. There have been more than a million hours of flight time using these small aircraft in the US, yet there is just one verifiable report of a drone crash in the US that resulted in a serious injury to someone not connected to the flight. One. (A Band-Aid is not a serious injury- See CFR 49-830.2). It is a safety record that all other segments of aviation would be jealous to have. (According to the AOPA Air Safety Foundation, 100,000 hours in the General Aviation fleet would include at least one fatality.) Where’s the blood and mayhem to justify the perception that small personal drones are a threat to public safety?
Yes, any contact with a civil aircraft and a drone is a bad thing. I am not saying that a serious accident can’t or won’t happen. It probably will in the future, but the fear of personal drones is hugely overstated.