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- Apr 2, 2019
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Part 107 specifically prohibits flight over people though there is no prohibition of this in Part 101.41. The FAA's website for drones prohibits flight "over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people" though I cannot find any regulations outside of Part 107 which state this. Part 101.41 (b) does state the UAV must be "operated in accordance with a community-based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization." I suppose this 'community based organization' basically defaults to the FAA and the judgment of the Administrator and his appointed inspectors from the local FSDOs.
How does this apply to public parks? A person takes a drone out to a public park or place with other people gathered there, there is a chance the drone will overfly them at some point. While I can understand that a person may be held liable for injury or damage done to others as a result of misuse of the drone, but the prohibitions on direct overflight of people makes it virtually impossible to operate the craft in any kind of public urban setting. Fly over a shopping center parking lot, the Inspector can cite you. Fly over a public park, they can cite you.
I always interpreted the regs as that flight over large groups of people ie at an outdoor concert, public gathering, etc. was prohibited as there is a very high risk of the drone hitting a person in the event of departure from controlled flight, motor failure, etc. Anybody have any additional experience dealing with the FAA on this?
How does this apply to public parks? A person takes a drone out to a public park or place with other people gathered there, there is a chance the drone will overfly them at some point. While I can understand that a person may be held liable for injury or damage done to others as a result of misuse of the drone, but the prohibitions on direct overflight of people makes it virtually impossible to operate the craft in any kind of public urban setting. Fly over a shopping center parking lot, the Inspector can cite you. Fly over a public park, they can cite you.
I always interpreted the regs as that flight over large groups of people ie at an outdoor concert, public gathering, etc. was prohibited as there is a very high risk of the drone hitting a person in the event of departure from controlled flight, motor failure, etc. Anybody have any additional experience dealing with the FAA on this?