Flying when it's overcast

[akdrone]

The rule is you have to be 500feet or more below a cloud and 2000 feet from the side. Would that mean you can never fly when it's overcast at 20,000 feet? Do people in Seattle only fly 3 days a year?

 

[TwoSticks]

You have rules and then you have common sense flying. The idea is to keep away from situations that would cause a collision with something you cant see or cant clearly see you. I guess the strict interpretation says no but drones are used in storms for search and rescue so at some point you have to manage the situation. Just my opinion but you read the rule correctly.

 

[hank970]

The rule is you have to be 500feet or more below a cloud and 2000 feet from the side. Would that mean you can never fly when it's overcast at 20,000 feet? Do people in Seattle only fly 3 days a year?

It means that you can't fly less than 500 feet below a cloud or less than 2000 feet from it laterally, assuming that the cloud is low enough that you could encroach upon it within permissible flight parameters. In other words, if a low cloud is hovering only 700 feet above ground, and you're not supposed to fly within 500 feet below it, you shouldn't exceed an altitude of 200 feet.

Absent an exception granted by the FAA, no UAV should exceed 400 feet in altitude under the best of circumstances. Thus, you don't need to worry about overcast at an altitude of 20,000 feet limiting the enjoyment of UAV pilots in Seattle or anywhere else.

 

[Meta4]

Would that mean you can never fly when it's overcast at 20,000 feet?

Is that what you meant to say?
It makes no sense.

 

[Bad Santa]

Technically speaking, if you fly in fog, you're flying in a cloud.
And if you're flying a drone at 20,000 feet (in the US) then you're breaking the law.
So, don't worry about those 20K high clouds. They're almost 4 miles away, straight up.

 

[Vic Moss]

You can fly when it's overcast at 20,000'.

Unfortunately, you're limited to 19,500' AGL.

 

[Rchawks]

You can fly when it's overcast at 20,000'.

Unfortunately, you're limited to 19,500' AGL.

I'm sure this is what the op was talking about.

 

[Nanny Ogg]

The rule is you have to be 500feet or more below a cloud and 2000 feet from the side. Would that mean you can never fly when it's overcast at 20,000 feet? Do people in Seattle only fly 3 days a year?

Sometimes we get a few nice days after the 4th of July.

 

[Cymruflyer]

The rule is you have to be 500feet or more below a cloud and 2000 feet from the side. Would that mean you can never fly when it's overcast at 20,000 feet? Do people in Seattle only fly 3 days a year?

In overcast conditions most of the time the cloud is way above 500ft AGL. Therefore, you won't ever have a problem.

 

[akdrone]

I think it is oddly worded.