Greetings from the San Francisco Bay Area!

[OMMBoy]

Hi, Everyone!

First-time drone pilot here. I used to build and fly R/C planes and gliders about 20 years ago, but drones are a whole different beast -- and I'm loving it! I've been flying my Mavic 2 Zoom for just under a month now, practicing different maneuvers and trying to learn all the features before our trip to the Philippines next month. My only complaint is that many communities here in the SF Bay Area are averse to drones, akin to the anti-skateboard sentiments of the 80s and 90s. I'm using Airmap and Kittyhawk to help determine where I can/cannot fly, and my community doesn't have any FAA restrictions, but the city does Anyway, enough of my rant -- I'm just happy to be here with others who share the same hobby.

Chris

 

[dirkclod]

Welcome to the forum.
I hope you will find our site helpful and look forward to any input , photo's/video's you might post .
Don't be shy and ask anything if you can't find it by searching .

 

[hiflyer201]

Hi, Everyone!

First-time drone pilot here. I used to build and fly R/C planes and gliders about 20 years ago, but drones are a whole different beast -- and I'm loving it! I've been flying my Mavic 2 Zoom for just under a month now, practicing different maneuvers and trying to learn all the features before our trip to the Philippines next month. My only complaint is that many communities here in the SF Bay Area are averse to drones, akin to the anti-skateboard sentiments of the 80s and 90s. I'm using Airmap and Kittyhawk to help determine where I can/cannot fly, and my community doesn't have any FAA restrictions, but the city does Anyway, enough of my rant -- I'm just happy to be here with others who share the same hobby.

Chris

I wonder if you can fly a drone at/over Alcatraz..from a tour or maybe a boat?.. I've passed it at night leaving SFO bay on a ship. I was surprised to see a few lights in windows. very spooky and haunting place.

 

[Flycaster]

No, you cannot fly at/over Alcatraz, legaly. Or the Golden Gate Bridge...
Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge area(s) is administered by the National Park Service...That'll tell you everything.....However, "technically", you can take off OUTSIDE the park boundary, and then fly over the park, but all the good bits are farther inside and you have to get back out of the park....
Treasure Island is good to go.....

 

[OMMBoy]

I wonder if you can fly a drone at/over Alcatraz..from a tour or maybe a boat?.. I've passed it at night leaving SFO bay on a ship. I was surprised to see a few lights in windows. very spooky and haunting place.

That would be awesome! You wouldn't be able to fly a drone directly over (or too near) Alcatraz Island as it is part of the National Parks Service, but you could definitely approach it, being sure not to violate the airspace around it. Hmmm, maybe a nice sunrise shot with the Golden Gate Bridge... the sun would be in alignment with Alcatraz Island and the GGB around the last couple of weeks of March 2020 thru the first couple of weeks of April 2020.

 

[OMMBoy]

No, you cannot fly at/over Alcatraz, legaly. Or the Golden Gate Bridge...
Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge area(s) is administered by the National Park Service...That'll tell you everything.....
Treasure Island is good to go.....

Ha! You beat me to the reply by one minute!

 

[Drone Master]

Welcome to Mavic Pilots! Enjoy the forum!

 

[Flycaster]

Tag, you're it.
But to OP, also, be very wary about launching from a boat. A lot of metal on the boat, the boat may be moving....
Do a search for "Boat Launching" in this here forum, and go from there...

 

[Rattydude77]

Welcome

 

[hiflyer201]

No, you cannot fly at/over Alcatraz, legaly. Or the Golden Gate Bridge...
Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge area(s) is administered by the National Park Service...That'll tell you everything.....However, "technically", you can take off OUTSIDE the park boundary, and then fly over the park, but all the good bits are farther inside and you have to get back out of the park....
Treasure Island is good to go.....

Flycaster...you're no fun at all
I hope they address the National Park issue one of these days..the blanket rule is ridiculous. I have a 107 ...maybe I could get a permit. Here's a photo from last weekend over Death Valley.
Just imagine the damage you could cause by actually flying a drone in this area.

 

[OMMBoy]

Tag, you're it.
But to OP, also, be very wary about launching from a boat. A lot of metal on the boat, the boat may be moving....
Do a search for "Boat Launching" in this here forum, and go from there...

Thanks for the advice! Launching from a boat is actually on my to-do list for the Philippines

 

[OMMBoy]

Just imagine the damage you could cause by actually flying a drone in this area.

Ha! You might disturb some grains of sand should you crash. I can understand the no-fly rules for National Parks with lots of trees, vegetation, wildlife, and large crowds, but a desert?!

 

[Thomas B]

Welcome to the forum from the deserts of Arizona! Enjoy.
Here’s a link to the full 70 page online only DJI manual for your new bird if you haven’t read it. Other useful stuff here too

Mavic 2 - Product Information - DJI

The Mavic 2 is DJI's flagship consumer drone built for pros and enthusiasts. Discover more about the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom with specs, FAQs, video tutorials, guides, and user manuals. Learn more at DJI.com.

www.dji.com

 

[OMMBoy]

Here’s a link to the full 70 page online only DJI manual

WHOA! Information overload! LOL! Thanks for the link to the manual -- I've already started reading it and have learned a couple things I didn't know before, such as the P-, S, and T-Modes. I've seen them mentioned in YouTube videos, but not to this extent. I'm sure I'll come across lots of great info. Thanks, again!

Chris

 

[Thomas B]

WHOA! Information overload! LOL! Thanks for the link to the manual -- I've already started reading it and have learned a couple things I didn't know before, such as the P-, S, and T-Modes. I've seen them mentioned in YouTube videos, but not to this extent. I'm sure I'll come across lots of great info. Thanks, again!

Chris

Welcome!

 

[hashfly]

miss the bay area! welcome

 

[RoarRoar]

San Francisco is great. Had an awesome time flying there last year.

 

[OMMBoy]

San Francisco is great. Had an awesome time flying there last year.

Great shot of Pier 39 and the Embarcadero! Just behind and to the left of the Pier 43 Ferry Arch is the Franciscan Crab Restaurant, our favorite restaurant. Haven't had a chance to fly the drone in the city yet, but will definitely take it the next time we're there. Where did you take off from?

Chris

 

[OMMBoy]

Thanks, everyone, for the warm welcome! I know I'm really going to enjoy myself here with such awesome pilots

Chris

 

[old man mavic]

welcome to the forum