7 rules you should know before flying a drone

Consumer drones are here, and they are super rad. Just look how much fun this guy on the right is having!

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Whether you just got a drone for Christmas or you plan to fly one in the new year, you should familiarize yourself with the rules that will not only keep you and others safe, but also out of trouble with the law. 

We took a look at some of the guidelines — from the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) — and narrowed down seven things you absolutely must know before flying a drone for the first time.

new zealand drone
He's <em>thrilled</em>. Reuters

Of note: these are not the only guidelines proposed by the FAA or the AMA, but these are the ones most likely to keep you from hurting yourself or others. Oh, and to keep you from getting arrested.

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Register your drone.

Eric Cheng, drone photographer
YouTube/LightSoundImagination

The first thing you need to do when you get a drone is to register it wi ith the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Registration is mandatory for all aircraft weighing between .5 pounds and 55 pounds. The process requires drone owners to share their name, email, and address with the agency. There is also a $5 fee, but you can avoid the charge if you register your drone by mid-January. 

If you choose not to register your drone with the government, know that you are subject to civil and criminal penalties, which could include fines up to $250,000 and/or up to three years of imprisonment. 

You can read more about the process here and you can register your drone on the FAA's website.

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Familiarize yourself with any local laws about operating a drone.

FAA drone zone sign
FAA

Some cities have certain restrictions regarding drone flight. You'll want to check out any local regulations before operating an aircraft in your hometown, or before venturing elsewhere to fly your drone. Don't just go flying your drone all willy nilly.

For example, you cannot fly a drone within 30 miles of the Ronald-Reagan Washington National Airport.

You should also familiarize yourself with community-based rules such as those developed by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). You can find those rules here.

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Do not fly your drone above 400 feet.

DroneInSky2x1
Sam Rega

When flying the drone, be sure to keep it below 400 feet and below surrounding obstacles when possible.

This stuff is common sense, but bears repeating:

You should never fly the aircraft around sensitive infrastructure, including power stations, water treatment facilities, correctional facilities, government facilities, and well-traveled roadways.

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Keep the drone in your sight at all times.

DJI drone
A DJI executive flies the DJI Inspire 1 drone at the company's Shenzhen headquarters. Dickson Lee

To avoid a possible dangerous or illegal collision, you should never lose sight of your drone. 

You should also not operate your drone during weather that makes it difficult for you to see your drone, including high winds, fog, rain, or any other adverse weather conditions. But then you probably aren't outside flying an expensive aircraft in bad weather anyway, right?

 

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Do not fly within five miles of airport unless you have special permission.

An airplane flies over a drone during the Polar Bear Plunge on Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York January 1, 2015. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Airplane flies over a drone during the Polar Bear Plunge on Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York Thomson Reuters

You should always avoid flying your aircraft near airports; if you feel you must, first contact the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower. 

Even then, you must be sure to avoid all aircraft at all times. Maybe just don't fly it near the airport!

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Do not fly near a stadium or near big groups of people.

Stanford Stadium
Michael Li/Flickr

One of the most important things to remember when flying a drone is to be extra careful when other people are nearby. This applies doubly so when we're talking about stadiums or other large gatherings of people. 

Think about it: if a drone falls out of the sky while you're operating it, people could get hurt. And that means trouble for you, even if no one gets hurt.

Sadly, this isn't without precedent.

In September, a New York public school teacher was arrested on charges of reckless endangerment after a drone he was flying crashed into the stands of the stadium at the US Open. 

That same month, a law student at the University of Kentucky was charged after he reportedly flew a drone into his college campus and it crashed. 

 The AMA recommends not flying a drone any closer than 25 feet to any person. Big, open fields are your friend.

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Don’t use your drone to spy on people.

DJI drone store
Reuters/ Tyrone Siu

This may seem like an obvious one, but it's important to note that you should not shoot footage or photograph anyone with a drone without their permission. 

Again, the AMA recommends not flying your drone any closer than 25 feet of a person, unless you have his or her permission. This one falls squarely into the "don't be a creep" end of the scale.

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