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.

 

[hank970]

I think it is oddly worded.

Are you referring to Section 107.51 (d)? If so, I disagree. It couldn't be more clearly stated.

 

[akdrone]

Are you referring to Section 107.51 (d)? If so, I disagree. It couldn't be more clearly stated.

It says "
(1) 500 feet below the cloud; and (2) 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.

If you are under a cloud that is 1000 feet above and covers your state it's hard to get 2000 feet away from the cloud horizontally. I just ignore the rule and fly .

 

[Meta4]

It says "
(1) 500 feet below the cloud; and (2) 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.

If you are under a cloud that is 1000 feet above and covers your state it's hard to get 2000 feet away from the cloud horizontally.

So in that hypothetical situation, how far (horizontally) from your drone is the cloud?
Hint .. it's not<500 feet unless you are flying at 1000 ft

 

[akdrone]

So in that hypothetical situation, how far (horizontally) from your drone is the cloud?
Hint .. it's not<500 feet unless you are flying at 1000 ft

Horizontally to me means from the side of the cloud...out at the edge of the cloud that might be in the next state...

 

[Rchawks]

Horizontally to me means from the side of the cloud...out at the edge of the cloud that might be in the next state...

Well that's because you live in Alaska!! . It's huge...

 

[Meta4]

Horizontally to me means from the side of the cloud...out at the edge of the cloud that might be in the next state...

Maybe you are language challenged.
It's how far is your drone from the cloud ... not how far are you from somewhere that doesn't have cloud above it.

 

[Bad Santa]

The 2000' horizontally from a cloud is that if the cloud is 100 feet AGL, then you can't fly under it and the closest you can get to it horizontally is 2000'.

So, stay 2000' away from a fog bank.

If a cloud is 900' AGL, you don't have to worry about the 2000' part since you can't fly higher than 400' AGL

 

[hank970]

It says "
(1) 500 feet below the cloud; and (2) 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud.

If you are under a cloud that is 1000 feet above and covers your state it's hard to get 2000 feet away from the cloud horizontally. I just ignore the rule and fly .

It's all about safety. The intent of the regulation is to prevent a flier from entering in or encroaching upon an inherently low visibility environment like a cloud or fogbank and risking a possible collision with a low-flying aircraft -- a helicopter, for instance. If the bottom of the cloud is at 1000 feet AGL and you're flying within legal parameters at 400 feet AGL or lower, then you'd be 600 feet below the cloud and wouldn't be in violation no matter the arial extent of the cloud.

 

[Aerophile]

Crewed aircraft are inside clouds (and fogbanks) all the time, and eventually pop out of them, which can surprise you. That's why you need to stay far away from clouds and fogbanks. No flying in zero-visibility environments so you don't kill people who have clearance to be in those clouds. Not complicated.

 

[AZDave]

Horizontally to me means from the side of the cloud...out at the edge of the cloud that might be in the next state...

Obtuse much?