While a majority of drones are considered toys, the use
of drones for business purposes has skyrocketed.
Small, unmanned aircraft systems, known as �drones,�
have been rapidly gaining in popularity. The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) estimates that more than 1 million were sold during last year�s
holiday season.
While a majority of drones are considered toys, the use
of drones for business purposes has skyrocketed. Drones are used to film
movies, aid in surveillance, help emergency personnel and electric line
right-of-way. Real estate agents use drones to take aerial photos of their
listings. Drones can also take over tedious tasks for farmers such as
walking rows of crops to check for weeds, bugs or other causes of distress.
Under current regulations, drones may
be operated for hobby and recreational purposes under the
FAA�s Special Rule for Model Aircraft, which includes a
community-based set of safety guidelines that are
administered through a nationwide community-based
organization such as the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).
Despite the number of benefits � and
hours of fun � that drones can provide, their use can also
present some serious safety and security concerns. Because
the presence of drones is likely to increase in coming
years, keep these safety tips in mind whenever you fly a
drone or are involved with one�s use:
Read up first: The website
www.knowbeforeyoufly.org contains helpful information for
all categories of drone users, including answers to
frequently asked questions.
Don�t fly near electric-distribution
lines & equipment: Flying a drone too close to a power line
is a major safety hazard. If you accidentally lose control
of the drone or misjudge distance, you could hit a power
line and leave hundreds of people without electricity. Even
worse, it could cause a downed line, which is extremely
hazardous. Also keep drones well away from any substations
or electric-generation facilities.
Keep drones in your line of sight: You
should be able to see your drone at all times while you are
flying it. Be aware of your surroundings and keep control
over where your drone is headed to avoid running into
anything.
Don�t fly in bad weather: Check the
weather conditions before you fly your drone. Low
visibility, high winds and storms could affect your ability
to control your drone.
Avoid crowds: Steer clear of crowds
while flying your drone to avoid the risk of injuring
someone.
Stay away from airports and aircrafts:
The last thing you want to do with your drone is crash it
into a plane. That could be dangerous for you and anyone on
the aircraft. To be safe, never fly your drone higher than
400 feet above the ground, or anywhere near an airport.
The FAA requires all owners of small unmanned aircraft
weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds to register at www.federaldrone
registration.com before taking to the skies. The owner will receive a unique
identification number that must be affixed to any drone operated exclusively
for recreation. Failure to registeran aircraft
can result in civil penalties up to $27,500 and criminal penalties of up to
$250,000 under 18 U.S.C. 3571 and/or imprisonment up to three years. Once
registered, owners will be able to renew their registration or update their
information as circumstances require (e.g., transfer or sale of drone to
another owner).
