United States of America

Here you will learn everything you need to know about the drone laws in the United States of America.

Overview:

 

Do not fly near airfields and aircraft

It is only allowed to fly up to 120 m

The drone must be registered and labeled

The drone may only weigh a maximum of 25 kg

There must always be visual line of sight to the drone

Do no fly near crowds and public events

Flying is not allowed in national parks

Do not fly in the vicinity of rescue operations

In order to be allowed to fly the drone, a test must be completed in the future

In Detail:

In the future (the exact date is still unknown) a test will be necessary for everyone who wants to fly a drone in the USA. If you use your drone commercially, this has been the case for quite some time. Everyone, whether commercial or not, has to register their drone. This can be done on the Dronezone website of the American government. If you use your drone commercially, you have to choose the upper registration, otherwise the lower one. In order to register, you must be at least 13 years old and pay a fee of 5 $. If you have a drone that weighs less than 250 g, all these measures should be ignored. The drone may not be flown in the vicinity of public events, i.e.: Sports events, concerts, etc. Flying at night is also not permitted.

There are many different prohibited zones, it is best to have a look at the official map before flying. Alternatively you can download the official app.

Exceptions:

If you want to fly near an airport or other forbidden zones, you have to ask the responsible persons individually, more information on the LAANC website. The aforementioned app and the map always indicate a contact person who must be informed.

Important links:

News:

First part of 50-mile Central NY drone corridor OK’d by FAA

07. Nov 2019

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Federal Aviation Administration has approved the first segment of a 50-mile drone corridor between Syracuse and Rome. The approval allows drones to fly beyond visual line of sight within an 8-by-4-mile section of airspace between Griffiss...

UAS Operations Restricted At More Federal Facilities

30. Oct 2019

WASHINGTON – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) airspace restrictions over additional national security sensitive locations, effective November 7.In cooperation with its federal partners, the FAA will restrict UAS...

ID Requirements For Drones Coming Soon

20. Oct 2019

A critical step in the integration of unmanned aircraft into the National Airspace System is scheduled for Dec. 20 as the FAA releases its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on remote identification requirements for drones. The agency will require that all drones emit some...

FAA to Further Expand Opportunities for Safe Drone Operations

23. Jul 2019

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) beginning on July 23 will expand the Low Altitude Authorization and Capability (LAANC) system to include recreational flyers. This action will significantly increase the ability of drone pilots to gain access to controlled...

FAA Drone Webinar: How to Navigate UAS Facility Maps

19. Jul 2019

Please join the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday, August 1 at 4:00 p.m. (ET) for a free LIVE webinar, “How to Navigate UAS Facility Maps." UAS Facility Maps show areas and altitudes in controlled airspace around airports where drone pilots can receive...