Filming football practice

[Cafguy]

so here's the question I'm going to ask to see if it changes my mind or not: if I get my part 107 tomorrow, can I sell the thousands of hours of recreational footage I've made over the past several years?

Your church is going to hold a fundraiser. at this event the church will sell an aerial photo of the building to raise money.
To aquire this aerial photo the Pastor approaches two Recreational Drone pilots in the flock.
One pilot runs home and finds an old aerial photo of the church he took while having a picnic with his family on church grounds one day. He gives it to the church to sell..... This Recreational pilot is fine and its perfectly legal to sell this photo.

The second pilot goes out the next day and takes his Drone up to get a great pic of the church to sell to get the best price..... This pilot is in violation of the rules and it is not legal to sell the photo or use it for any non-personal purpose.
INTENT.

 

[Neal W]

Can I use my drone to record boys football practice (at the coach's request)?

There are two separate issues here.

1) If you are operating to "film" practice at the request of the coach, it is not a recreational operation (even though it might be good fun). That flight would not qualify under the Recreational Exception. You would need your Part 107 certificate.

2) Operating Over People aka OOP. License or recreational, you cannot operate or transit DIRECTLY over people or moving vehicles. It would seem to me that there would be plenty of space at a football practice where you could operate safely.

Neal

 

[WilliamDaugherty]

Yes. But not able to fly over people.

Incorrect. With Part 107 you can easily get a 3-year waiver to fly over people all day long. I do it all the time.

 

[WilliamDaugherty]

Under 249g you cannot fly over a crowd but i imagine at football practice its going to be a few people watching not a crowd (big grey area here) when does a few spectators become a crowd?

Absolutely incorrect. Few or many has nothing to do with it. Part 107 pilots can fly over people only with a Category 1-4 drone or with a waiver and appropriate waiver-configured aircraft.

 

[Max Headroom]

Absolutely incorrect. Few or many has nothing to do with it. Part 107 pilots can fly over people only with a Category 1-4 drone or with a waiver and appropriate waiver-configured aircraft.

Absolutely incorrect note the difference between -

249g - You still can’t fly over crowds.

250g - You still must not intentionally fly over people.

Drones and model aircraft below 250g​

The rules on minimum distances to people are different for drones and model aircraft below 250g.

If you’re flying a drone or model aircraft that’s below 250g, you can fly closer to people than 50m and you can fly over them. You still can’t fly over crowds.

Remember, you must never put people in danger. Even small drones and model aircraft could injure people if you don’t fly them safely.

Drones and model aircraft that weigh 250g to 500g​

If you’re flying a drone or model aircraft that’s between 250g and 500g, you can fly closer to people than 50m if you get the A2 Certificate of Competency (A2 CofC). You still must not intentionally fly over people.


5. Never fly over people who are crowded together

A crowd is any group of people who cannot move away quickly because of the number of other people around them.

Never fly over people who are crowded together, no matter what size of drone or model aircraft you have.

Examples of places where people are often crowded together include:

shopping areas
sports events
religious gatherings
political gatherings
music festivals and concerts
marches and rallies
at a crowded beach or park
parties, carnivals and fêtes

​

Where you can fly drones | UK Civil Aviation Authority

Find out about height limits and distances from people, buildings, crowds and vehicles. Restrictions on flying drones and model aircraft near airports.

register-drones.caa.co.uk

 

[WilliamDaugherty]

OP clearly flies in the US (mentions Part 107 in the original post) so do you really think it helps anyone to cite UK regs? The FAA did no favors to anyone with their confusing language concerning "large gatherings" and "transit" of same when they were talking about Category drones. Many recreational pilots somehow got the idea that this applied to them during all flights. Now you want to cite rules from a completely different country to do...what exactly? It seems unhelpful at best.

 

[Max Headroom]

OP clearly flies in the US (mentions Part 107 in the original post) so do you really think it helps anyone to cite UK regs?

It would appear you have similar rules -


There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding when it comes to flying a UAV, drone, or model aircraft in the United States that weighs less than 250g ( 0.55lbs ).

Many people incorrectly assume that if their aircraft is less than 250g they can safely ignore all the regulations. However this is not the case for anyone flying outdoors in the US.

It is true that recreational pilots, those flying just for fun and not for the furtherance of a business, do not have to register their drone if the flying weight is below 250g. However ALL other regulations do apply to any UAV that weighs less than 55 pounds, with no lower bound. Such as the following:

• If you are flying in controlled airspace, you need to use LAANC to get authorization.
• You must have a visual observer colocated with you that can see the UAV if flying FPV.
• You must stay below 400 feet Above Ground Level ( AGL ) or the maximum height allowed by LAANC for the area.
• Follow all FAA airspace restrictions including TFRs and NOTAMs.
• Never fly near other aircraft.
• Always give way to all other aircraft.
• Never fly over groups of people.
• Never fly near emergency response activities.
• Never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Sub 250g Regulations — FPV Freedom Coalition

fpvfc.org

 

[WilliamDaugherty]

Do you have restrictions for under 250g and over 250g in America?

Not as concerns flying over people. The only operations allowed over people are limited to Part 107 pilots, which means no distinction between over or under 250g. So if you are flying a Cat1 drone, or a drone that meets a waiver requirement, the rules about being over unprotected people are the same, and it does not matter if it's one person or one thousand, nor whether you are in transitional or sustained flight above them.

 

[Cafguy]

If you are ever Brave or foolish enough to attend coachella and you are close enough to the stage during a performance you are going to see a Drone or 2 buzzing around. maybe over your head if your in the first few rows.

 

[WilliamDaugherty]

It would appear you have similar rules -


There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding when it comes to flying a UAV, drone, or model aircraft in the United States that weighs less than 250g ( 0.55lbs ).

Many people incorrectly assume that if their aircraft is less than 250g they can safely ignore all the regulations. However this is not the case for anyone flying outdoors in the US.

It is true that recreational pilots, those flying just for fun and not for the furtherance of a business, do not have to register their drone if the flying weight is below 250g. However ALL other regulations do apply to any UAV that weighs less than 55 pounds, with no lower bound. Such as the following:

• If you are flying in controlled airspace, you need to use LAANC to get authorization.
• You must have a visual observer colocated with you that can see the UAV if flying FPV.
• You must stay below 400 feet Above Ground Level ( AGL ) or the maximum height allowed by LAANC for the area.
• Follow all FAA airspace restrictions including TFRs and NOTAMs.
• Never fly near other aircraft.
• Always give way to all other aircraft.
• Never fly over groups of people.
• Never fly near emergency response activities.
• Never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Sub 250g Regulations — FPV Freedom Coalition

fpvfc.org

It appears you are not looking at the actual FAA recreational exemption which indicates that you must follow the rules of a CBO. Currently there are three FAA-approved CBOs in the US, all of which say you can't fly over people. Full stop. This is in fact one of the criteria for FAA approval as a valid CBO. So while it is true that as a recreational pilot you should "never fly over groups of people", it is also clear that you may not fly over unprotected people or moving vehicles at all.

I hope the OP reads this exchange we are having because I think it is helpful to understand just how easy it is to read the wrong information. It is always best to check with the FAA if you are uncertain. The good people at the FAA sUAS hotline have always been very helpful to me.

 

[LoudThunder]

It would appear you have similar rules -

Similar, but not the same... I live in "controlled Airspace" and LAANC a authorization not available for all of my property... I am in the Class D airspace of an air force base and to fly within this area, an FAA Authorization is required as a minimum. however, where I live is also in a Zero Altitude Quadrant and a Part 107 Certification is required to receive an FAA Authorization. FOr example, my recreational flyer neighbors cannot fly their drones under an circumstance in our neighborhood....

And there are many, many more differences that keep the similarities apart...

 

[Dmcvey]

It appears you are not looking at the actual FAA recreational exemption which indicates that you must follow the rules of a CBO. Currently there are three FAA-approved CBOs in the US, all of which say you can't fly over people. Full stop. This is in fact one of the criteria for FAA approval as a valid CBO. So while it is true that as a recreational pilot you should "never fly over groups of people", it is also clear that you may not fly over unprotected people or moving vehicles at all.

I hope the OP reads this exchange we are having because I think it is helpful to understand just how easy it is to read the wrong information. It is always best to check with the FAA if you are uncertain. The good people at the FAA sUAS hotline have always been very helpful to me.

AMA also prohibits hand catching. Hand catch and you are no longer recreational.

 

[Meta4]

Hand catch and you are no longer recreational.

There's no logic to that statement.

 

[mavic3usa]

AMA also prohibits hand catching. Hand catch and you are no longer recreational.

Whoa, not so fast. As a recreational flyer, you are tasked with following the guidelines (not the laws) posted by one of four CBOs. If you don't then you are not following their guidelines and I personally believe it's a leap to further claim you are now breaking the law at that point for the purposes of kicking you off recreational and thrusting you into part 107. Not a fan of that "loophole" and I speak out against it all the time but I'm not yet ready to place that kind of impact with the CBO compliance. Violating the recreational flyer like that can cause all kinds of major problems. Don't forget, you "declare your allegiance" to a CBO by flight so don't pick the AMA when you "hand catch".

I guess there's no such rule break as "flying without having a TRUST certificate on your person" since that technically means flying without a part 107 certificate and a bunch of other things, huh?

 

[Dmcvey]

There's no logic to that statement.

AMA Guide: "No pilot or other person should touch an outdoor model in flight, while still under power, except to divert it from striking an individual."

You must fly within CBO guidelines as part of 44809 Rec. If you don't follow the guidelines, you are no longer covered under 44809; therefore, you are now covered under 107 since 107 is the default.

 

[Meta4]

AMA Guide: "No pilot or other person should touch an outdoor model in flight, while still under power, except to divert it from striking an individual."

You must fly within CBO guidelines as part of 44809 Rec. If you don't follow the guidelines, you are no longer covered under 44809; therefore, you are now covered under 107 since 107 is the default.

No-one is ever going to get caught out by that pedantic nonsense.

 

[Cafguy]

The AMA does not allow Hand catching of Drones on their fields.
Your AMA insurance is not valid for injury if you hand catch on their property.
Its a safety thing and some AMA fields that allow Drones will pull your field membership card for hand catching. Without that you can only fly as a guest at AMA fields.
None of this has any status on weather you are part 107 or Recreational and you don't need to be an AMA member to fly a Drone (not yet). Your Membership with the AMA has NOTHING to do with Drone laws or Drone operation. AMA membership is voluntary. AMA-----Academy of MODEL AERONAUTICS .
Late Edit: I will say that the AMA are the ones the FAA listens too when it comes to rules and regulations for RC aircraft.

 

[mavic3usa]

The AMA does not allow Hand catching of Drones on their fields.
Your AMA insurance is not valid for injury if you hand catch on their property.
Its a safety thing and some AMA fields that allow Drones will pull your field membership card for hand catching. Without that you can only fly as a guest at AMA fields.
None of this has any status on weather you are part 107 or Recreational and you don't need to be an AMA member to fly a Drone (not yet). Your Membership with the AMA has NOTHING to do with Drone laws or Drone operation. AMA membership is voluntary. AMA-----Academy of MODEL AERONAUTICS .
Late Edit: I will say that the AMA are the ones the FAA listens too when it comes to rules and regulations for RC aircraft.

Watch this video at the 7 minute mark. It's not my video and I may or may not support all the comments made here but you're welcome to decide for yourself. The discussion here is not whether you will get caught or not or whether the FAA will decide to take it that far or not should they have a reason to investigate. My personal viewpoint is the negative way this is setup, yet another reason why I am 100% against state and local law enforcement being given the ability to handle and investigate drone rules and regulations.

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[Cafguy]

This is all wild speculation on most parts.

One mistake and you lose your license?! Sorry NO that won't happen. A runway incursion in front of an airliner full of passengers I am sure they gave him a number to call lol. As far as I see The NTSB also partly blames the Taxiways signage that was misread by the Captain of the bizjet. Hes gonna get a blight sure, but lose his license nah...
They also seem to think that Part 107 is different from Recreational. That can't be farther from the truth. You are flying recreational under an EXEMPTION under part 107.
The A.M.A. also has a rule stating you cannot fly your aircraft toward yourself or others..If they enforced that for Drones what would be the point!
Don't get me wrong Every owner of a Drone over 250 grams that does not posses a part 107 certificate will soon enough find themselves only allowed to fly at AMA airfields and that will require you to become a member.
Our AMA field forbids hand landing for the simple fact that emergency services take 30 min to reach the field by road.
Hand landing an inspire is simply stupid. oh sorry but by the way you can hand land your under 250 Drone the AMA doesnt care.

 

[mavic3usa]

Hand landing an inspire is simply stupid. oh sorry but by the way you can hand land your under 250 Drone the AMA doesnt care.

Will you help me remove or edit any AMA statement that says you cannot hand catch your drone due to safety reasons? since they don't care, they wouldn't mind taking that out, correct? Ultimately they may or may not care but I just think it needs to be removed so someone who does care don't try to enforce it. If I write a letter to the AMA on this, will you support it?

Honestly, if it will never happen, why not just remove it? Why not state "The AMA does not believe hand catching a drone is safe and we recommend pilot not. While it is not illegal or against any FAA rules or regulations, we will not cover and injuries or damages....." That way we reduce the chance to a definite zero instead of a maybe zero for anyone to claim the hand-catching recreational pilot is violating the CBO promise. We recently had a video about a drone encounter with the police and some in the drone community insisted the drone pilot broke the law by not have ID in his possession while flying his drone because the rules say so. Before the total and absolute enforcement of drone rules and regulations began to take effect in the next year or two, I'd like to help clean it up a bit to make it ready; right now, it is in shambles.