I am in the process of getting FAA authorization to fly within my local major airport's 5 mile zone. Given the specifics, I have every reason to believe it will be allowed. My question is, do I then need to do something with DJI or a related app to have the drone itself cleared by DJI to be in that airspace (I understand the software may hold its own restrictions)?
Flying within prohibited airspace?
- Thread starter marinsd
- Start date
I believe you first step is to take the TRUST which will answer the majority of the questions you have about flying near an airport.
FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com
The FAA abolished the five-mile rule around airports in 2019. Today, LAANC authorization is required for flights within the controlled (not prohibited) airspace around airports with control towers and services. Here's a map showing where LAANC authorization is available.
ArcGIS Web Application
faa.maps.arcgis.com
Prohibited airspace and prohibited area are different from controlled airspace. Getting approval to fly there is more difficult.
EDIT: These articles provide some information on the processes for the FAA and DJI.
Unlocking a GEO Zone on Your DJI Drone
During regular use of your drone, you may find that the drone cannot take off at some popular sites, the app prompts that the drone cannot take off and the drone has entered a Restricted Zone, and some areas are displayed in red on the map. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to apply for...
Drone Pilot Airspace Authorization Explained - Pilot Institute
As a drone pilot, one of the first lessons you need to know is that you can’t just fly your drone anywhere. Whether it’s because of reasons related to safety or national security, there are certain areas where drone flight is restricted or outright prohibited. Depending on the type of airspace...
pilotinstitute.com
What’s the Difference Between DJI Unlock and FAA Approval? - Pilot Institute
Airspace restrictions have been one of the most controversial issues among drone pilot communities. Much of the efforts by the FAA on drone regulations have been for the goal of avoiding any close encounter between drones and manned aircraft, which may have potentially disastrous consequences...
pilotinstitute.com
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Thank you, MS Coast. These articles pointed me in the right direction. My FAA approval letter came through yesterday. Since the date is in mid-June, I found that DJI only unlocks about 30 days in advance, so entered a date on my calendar in mid-May to request access from them. The FAA process seemed fairly easy, although it took several weeks to get my response (lesson to play well ahead in the future as I did this time). Again, thanks for your help.
I'm very happy to pay back some of the assistance I've received here.
You must have applied for something a little beyond a plain vanilla LAANC authorization. I'm glad to hear that the process went smoothly.
Yes, because it was within the controlled airspace of the local (major) airport, I had to apply directly to the FAA. But it was a relatively easy process. Now, hopefully, the DJI unlocking process next month will be similarly smooth sailing.
LAANC wasn't available? I see your location is Marin. Were you requesting authorization for a 0' ceiling block at SFO?
Yes, the 0' ceiling block was what was showing in my LAANC app. I was just inside the area - about a football field away the ceiling is 50'. Again, I'm new at requesting authorization....
If you went through the "manual" process to get an authorization, you probably have more experience with it than 99.5% of the folks here, me included. Let us know how it all works out.
It can go pretty fast with DJI if your application is complete, but I always do some headscratching, even having done it successfully multiple times. Drawing the operating area on DJI’s map is always a little challenging.
*DO* attach your FAA clearance, draw your area of operations a little bigger and for longer than you will need (but still within FAA auth), and use very plain language in your request.
I submitted a LAANC request over the weekend for permission to go to 400' for 15 minutes in a 200' grid in SUA (Stuart FL). I was worried that the FAA might take too long to respond. They didn't - it was denied at 7:13am today with the only comment being "Never authorized." I thought it was a reasonable request - I said I was completely flexible as to date and time, and I just needed a few minutes for a photo or two at that height. It's well below pattern altitude, I said I'd use a visual observer as well as my own eyes, in a vertical takeoff and landing that never moved far from my position. Does anyone know if there's a trick or magic words to get this approved? Is it denied at the local level (control tower) or some regional FAA office? They didn't say that my application was incomplete or deficient in some way, just "Never authorized."
MARK (LI)
Well-Known Member
If you are applying for a LAANC within the grid's height you get approval almost instantaneously ...to go higher than the grid's max ...it can be accomplished, but does take longer...a few days at least, and probably more expeditiously if you use Skyward on a desktop, rather than one of the phone apps.
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