Question, i am looking for some good spots to film. I am under the impression that beaches are a no fly zone. bc they are state maintained. Is there any truth to this? I am a 107 holder and am extremely cautious, do to NOT wanting a fine. Id love to get some good shots in the beach areas, including the coast and in town.
Thanks for the help!
-Waylon
Several beach towns - down my way in the beach resorts of Sussex County - recently tried to ban drones in their airspaces in Delaware, but the State shot them all down claiming
it had authority over the airspace in Delaware, not the state's individual towns or locales. However, I don't believe the FAA agrees with that based on their rulings affecting drones and drone pilots in August 2016. I am certain it would claim authority of the airspace, over and above Delaware's claim.
The
ONLY beach resort town sticking to their guns is Bethany Beach, DE, but I am sure their position would not be upheld by anyone other than perhaps the misguided police officers within that town's limits following the equally misinformed Town Council's ridiculous public stance. One vocal councilwoman projected the misconception to the public that drone pilots routinely hazardously fly
55 lb drones in and around the town, which is pure fantasy.
Delaware currently has
NO drone laws on its books that make finding proper, safe, FAA-compliant places to fly hard or impossible to find. Just comply with the FAA regs, don't fly over crowds, etc., and for the most part you are good to go. The
state-maintained beaches
may be a different matter. I have flown numerous times in state parks (which those beaches are considered to be) right in front of park rangers and never had a problem. However, I later understood that the state park system does
not allow drone flying; however, that may not be the case in light of the State's position on not curtailing drone pilot's access to the first 400' of airspace. Plus, that stipulation is
NOT among any of the state parks do's and don'ts I've seen
IN WRITING, as they are supposed to be in order to be enforceable by the appropriate law enforcement agency.
Obviously you want to be in
full FAA compliance
ALWAYS at all times, i.e., having your aircraft properly identified and FAA registered, carry your certificates and registrations with you with when flying, and so on. That's a given, and although following all FAA regs and guidelines
will curtail some of the shots and images you
WISH you could get, going against the FAA regs is a
BIG no no in my book. So, be ready to compromise and to be imaginative, and get the shots you want while
always flying legal and regal. You won't regret doing this.
And when you do fly, do the rest of us a favor and try to be gentle and informative to the folks who
WILL approach you just as you get your drone in the air. Take a few minutes to tell them a little bit about what you are doing, perhaps show them your aircraft, let them know you are properly registered/certified and are piloting your drone in accordance with all FAA regs and guidelines, and help to demystify the whole concept of drones to them while you have their attention.
A little bit of goodwill and common courtesy is what
every drone pilot should be ready and willing to offer to the public these days, for the overall good of all drone pilots everywhere and for our shared common interests and future goals.
That's my advice to you, buddy. Good luck. And let me know if I can be of any further help to you, assuming I have helped you out here at all! Safe flying and welcome to the club!