New Pilot in Oakland, CA

[plhoward]

Greetings and Happy Holidays everyone -

New drone pilot here from Oakland, CA. Just got the DJI Mini 3 Pro to add to my photography landscape portfolio. Really excited to learn more about the drone community and how to fly this baby. I have a list of a few places designated for drone flying in the Bay Area. But if there are any add'l resources on this forum please feel free to direct/link me to them so I can lear.

Happy flying,
Paul

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum!

 

[msinger]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America plhoward

Nice to meet you Paul.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[Hauptmann]

Hi, Paul Howard!
Welcome to the Forum! The SF Bay Area is GREAT for droning. Just ask a Texan!
1. Try Treasure Island, just west of the dog park. You get a terrific view of the Bay Bridge and the SF Financial District. Early morning is best. You can also reach Alcatraz from there if you have Superman's vision.
2. Another good spot is the parking lot behind the Palace of Fine Arts, from which you can reach the east side of the GG Bridge (again, with Superman's vision).
3. A good spot for taking off to fly the west side of the GG Bridge is the cul-de-sac at the end of 25th St.
4. Alamo Park will give you a good view of the "Painted Ladies", with the Financial District in the background. The streets SURROUNDING Alamo Park have several beautifully-renovated Victorian houses even more spectacular than the Painted Ladies.
5. Flying above Coit Tower is a nice shoot. You can legally take off and land on the surface streets nearby.
6. Lombard Street, with its twists and turns, is a fun shoot. You can legally TO/Land from the sidewalks by the tennis courts.
7. JapanTown has a Pagoda and a really spectacular church. Be sure to go inside--the architecture and stained-glass windows are beyond belief.
8. Alcatraz is pretty ugly up close, but every droner needs to fly it at least once. The best spot is the wood pier at the end of pier 45 ( I think that's the one). Nobody minds if you park right by the dumpsters. The seagulls can get pretty aggressive while you're trying to land.
8. There is a drone-legal "island" within the Presidio--The Disney/ILM museum, from which you can TO/Land legally.
9. The East Bay: the wood fishing pier at Port View Park is a nice spot for shooting shipping activity and the south side of the Bay Bridge.
That's all I can think of for now. There's a LOT more!
Enjoy your Mini 3 Pro!

Rich R, Hurst, TX

 

[Drone Master]

Welcome to Mavic Pilots! Enjoy the forum!

 

[LoudThunder]

New drone pilot here from Oakland, CA. Just got the DJI Mini 3 Pro to add to my photography landscape portfolio. But if there are any add'l resources on this forum please feel free to direct/link me to them so I can learn.

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.

Member Map

mavicpilots.com

And we have a Regional Sub-Forum for California…

US - California

Are you a California mavic drone pilot? Join other pilots in the state to discuss local laws, restrictions, favorite places to fly, etc..

mavicpilots.com

As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…

If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…) . If your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds) and you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.

When I first started flying I registered my Mini 2 because the TRUST Certificate and FAA Registration established me as a "certified" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot. I have now passed my Part 107 License Exam and am awaiting the arrival of my Permanent License and then I will re-register my Mini 2 under Part 107.

Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)

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

Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)

FAADroneZone

faadronezone.faa.gov

If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…

Online Ground School: Aviation Classes - Pilot Institute

Pilot Institute offers courses on drones and airplanes from world-class experts. Pass the Part 107 or Private Pilot exam and take to the skies.

pilotinstitute.com

Since you live in California, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.

Drone Laws and Best Places to Fly in Every US State - Pilot Institute

pilotinstitute.com

Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a kitten or puppy opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 3 Pro, including the User Manual.

After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"

And make sure you understand the Smart Return Home Function, it's tricky, so read the manual well and check out YouTube Videos…

DJI Mini 3 Pro - Download Center - DJI

At DJI Download Center, Learn aboutDJI Mini 3 Pro

www.dji.com

Happy Droning…

 

[wjkrysak]

Welcome to the forum. We look forward to your participation and your view of the world.

 

[SpitFire]

Paul: Welcome to the forum, from Chicago the Windy City.
FLY SAFE & FLY SMART

 

[twickers14]

Welcome board.

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[Gagey52]

Greetings plhoward, welcome to the forum from the outback of Australia
Regards

 

[plhoward]

Hi, Paul Howard!
Welcome to the Forum! The SF Bay Area is GREAT for droning. Just ask a Texan!
1. Try Treasure Island, just west of the dog park. You get a terrific view of the Bay Bridge and the SF Financial District. Early morning is best. You can also reach Alcatraz from there if you have Superman's vision.
2. Another good spot is the parking lot behind the Palace of Fine Arts, from which you can reach the east side of the GG Bridge (again, with Superman's vision).
3. A good spot for taking off to fly the west side of the GG Bridge is the cul-de-sac at the end of 25th St.
4. Alamo Park will give you a good view of the "Painted Ladies", with the Financial District in the background. The streets SURROUNDING Alamo Park have several beautifully-renovated Victorian houses even more spectacular than the Painted Ladies.
5. Flying above Coit Tower is a nice shoot. You can legally take off and land on the surface streets nearby.
6. Lombard Street, with its twists and turns, is a fun shoot. You can legally TO/Land from the sidewalks by the tennis courts.
7. JapanTown has a Pagoda and a really spectacular church. Be sure to go inside--the architecture and stained-glass windows are beyond belief.
8. Alcatraz is pretty ugly up close, but every droner needs to fly it at least once. The best spot is the wood pier at the end of pier 45 ( I think that's the one). Nobody minds if you park right by the dumpsters. The seagulls can get pretty aggressive while you're trying to land.
8. There is a drone-legal "island" within the Presidio--The Disney/ILM museum, from which you can TO/Land legally.
9. The East Bay: the wood fishing pier at Port View Park is a nice spot for shooting shipping activity and the south side of the Bay Bridge.
That's all I can think of for now. There's a LOT more!
Enjoy your Mini 3 Pro!

Rich R, Hurst, TX

Wow, thanks for all the great spots @Hauptmann - I'm finding California to be fickle about where you can actually operate a drown. Most parks are off limits per city ordinances but slowly figuring my way around. I've copied this info into a doc for future reference.

 

[dirkclod]

Welcome to the forum.
Please and do be sure you have read our guidelines.
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .

 

[SeaPig]

Welcome to you from Houston Texas

 

[RS Bush Pilot]

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.

Member Map

mavicpilots.com

And we have a Regional Sub-Forum for California…

US - California

Are you a California mavic drone pilot? Join other pilots in the state to discuss local laws, restrictions, favorite places to fly, etc..

mavicpilots.com

As a New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…

If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…) . If your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds) and you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.

When I first started flying I registered my Mini 2 because the TRUST Certificate and FAA Registration established me as a "certified" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot. I have now passed my Part 107 License Exam and am awaiting the arrival of my Permanent License and then I will re-register my Mini 2 under Part 107.

Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)

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

Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)

FAADroneZone

faadronezone.faa.gov

If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going…

Online Ground School: Aviation Classes - Pilot Institute

Pilot Institute offers courses on drones and airplanes from world-class experts. Pass the Part 107 or Private Pilot exam and take to the skies.

pilotinstitute.com

Since you live in California, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.

Drone Laws and Best Places to Fly in Every US State - Pilot Institute

pilotinstitute.com

Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a kitten or puppy opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 3 Pro, including the User Manual.

After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"

And make sure you understand the Smart Return Home Function, it's tricky, so read the manual well and check out YouTube Videos…

DJI Mini 3 Pro - Download Center - DJI

At DJI Download Center, Learn aboutDJI Mini 3 Pro

www.dji.com

Happy Droning…

Some very good information you provided in your post, but I'd like to know more about the para I highlighted in BOLD. I just read on the FAA website last week, that once a drone (any drone) is registered with FAA, either as Recreation exception, or 107, it cannot be re-registered, even when you get your Part 107.

So I'm wondering where you have found the info regards to re-registering it differently. Please post a link, if you have one.

 

[LoudThunder]

Some very good information you provided in your post, but I'd like to know more about the para I highlighted in BOLD.

I do know what you are referring to so please highlight the text that is in "Paragraph 1 that is highlighted in Bold" and so I know how to respond... I am a "linking fool" so I am at a complete loss... And if you highlight the actual text, the link will be provided.

Thanks

 

[RS Bush Pilot]

I actually did highlight the text of your post, in my reply, but here it is again:

"When I first started flying I registered my Mini 2 because the TRUST Certificate and FAA Registration established me as a "certified" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilot. I have now passed my Part 107 License Exam and am awaiting the arrival of my Permanent License and then I will re-register my Mini 2 under Part 107."

I am of the understanding that once a drone is registered one way, it cannot be changed, or re-registered differently. I just read that in an FAA doc last week. Is that not correct?

 

[Hauptmann]

Wow, thanks for all the great spots @Hauptmann - I'm finding California to be fickle about where you can actually operate a drown. Most parks are off limits per city ordinances but slowly figuring my way around. I've copied this info into a doc for future reference.

Many California cities have outlawed taking off and landing drones within city parks. But you can still FLY over the parks if you TO/land from the sidewalks. Don't try this in Seattle. They've outlawed TO/landing from ANY city-owned property. I haven't flown Seattle yet, so I don't know how rigidly the regs are enforced. NYC is even worse (unless your name is Casey Niestad).

 

[LoudThunder]

I actually did highlight the text of your post, in my reply, but here it is again:

Oh, now I see what you are talking about, you forwarded the entire topic I wrote and you bolded some discrete text buried deep within, rather than highlight just the text you were referring to… When You highlighted the entire topic, the entire topic is not displayed in your reply and I had to expand the entire original copy you made…

In the future, only highlight the immediate text in question, not the entire topic…

As for your question, here is a screen shot of the text and the actual link is pasted below…

How to Register Your Drone | Federal Aviation Administration

Register your drone at FAA DroneZone either under part 107 or the Exception for Recreational Flyers. If you are not sure what kind of a drone flyer you are, check out our User Identification Tool or visit our Getting Started webpage to learn more.

www.faa.gov