Best Places to Fly in Sonoma County, CA

[Martin9597]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this group and drone piloting. I have been a photo enthusiast all my life and thought it was time to learn some aerial photo skills. I recently acquired a DJI Mavic Air 2S. I'd welcome any suggestions for picturesque locations in Sonoma County where its ok to fly. It appears that coastal/beach areas are off limits. Can anyone confirm that this is the case for all of Sonoma and Mendocino counties?

 

[dozzn]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[dirkclod]

Havn’t a clue to what you ask nut check out this section

Local and Regional Discussions

mavicpilots.com

and welcome to the forum

 

[wjkrysak]

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

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America Martin9597.

Welcome to the Forum.

 

[tibadoe]

Welcome from VA.

 

[eaglesurfing]

Welcome to the forum from south central Florida and enjoy.

 

[Gagey52]

Welcome to the forum from the land of Oz. Look forward to your input on the forum.
Regards

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[Prop Wash]

@Martin9597 - Welcome to MP! Great to have you.

If you haven't yet, check out the B4UFLY & AirMap apps. They will show you restricted areas (airports, marine preservation areas along the coast, etc) I don't think the whole coast is restricted. Check with the local Parks & Rec regarding flying in parks.

I'm over near Sacramento.

 

[Martin9597]

@Martin9597 - Welcome to MP! Great to have you.

If you haven't yet, check out the B4UFLY & AirMap apps. They will show you restricted areas (airports, marine preservation areas along the coast, etc) I don't think the whole coast is restricted. Check with the local Parks & Rec regarding flying in parks.

I'm over near Sacramento.

Thanks - I'm using both apps, as well as published regs. from public agencies. The apps are good for identifying federally restricted areas (i.e. FAA, Wildlife & Natural Recourses etc.) but don't seem to include any regional or local ordinances.

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama, welcome to the forum!

 

[BSauce955]

Welcome to the forum from the dry lakeless hills of Lake City FL. An irony... I know. If lakes grew here as much as your knowledge will, Lake City would become an ocean.

Welcome again!

 

[hychewright]

Welcome to the forum from Sweet Home Alabama!

 

[Drone-dude]

Welcome aboard. Hope you find this forum helpful in your pursuit of this great hobby.

 

[Chetk7677]

Welcome from central Florida.

 

[volareaerial]

Hello everyone. I'm new to this group and drone piloting. I have been a photo enthusiast all my life and thought it was time to learn some aerial photo skills. I recently acquired a DJI Mavic Air 2S. I'd welcome any suggestions for picturesque locations in Sonoma County where its ok to fly. It appears that coastal/beach areas are off limits. Can anyone confirm that this is the case for all of Sonoma and Mendocino counties?

As mentioned..check your B4UFly and Aloft.ai for guidance on no flight zones. For state beaches...check the website for each beach and see that rules are posted. From last understanding the superintendent of the beach must post any drone restrictions on their website. Also beware of marine reserrves or sanctuaries as they also usuallu have flight restrictions specified by NOAA.

 

[Mavikhan]

Welcome aboard!

 

[LoudThunder]

I recently acquired a DJI Mavic Air 2S.

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

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.

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 Mavic Air 2s, 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…"

DJI Air 2S - Download Center - DJI

At DJI Download Center, Learn aboutDJI Air 2S

www.dji.com

Fly On and Fly Safe…

 

[aussiemarty]

Hey everyone. I got my first drone earlier this week. I've registered it with the FAA, got my TRUST cert and have B4UFly and Aloft.ai. I live in Santa Rosa, right by STS so live within controlled airspace but getting a LAANC was pretty easy up 200ft so I can fly around my house and at the nearby field across the road.

Anything else I should know? Does anyone else still fly around Santa Rosa? I think mostly i'm worried about pissing off one of the neighbors. You never know who might be a Karen.