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I need some help with the rules

Chris88

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Hello everyone I am a recreational flyer. I train lineman, I would like to use my drone to get some videos of them climbing and working on the poles. I would not be flying over 100 feet. It would be during work. The videos would be nice to give them. Would it be ok to do this?
Thanks Chris
 
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Hello everyone I am a recreational flyer. I train lineman, I would like to use my drone to get some videos of them climbing and working on the poles. I would not be flying over 100 feet. It would be during work. The videos would be nice to give them. Would it be ok to do this?
Thanks Chris

Yes , you can give them the videos as long you do not charge them for your work. Great Idea.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly you Mavic in the Rain and Float on Water.
 
Your videos, you can give them away. Makes no difference when they are made. May want to clear that work time thing with your supervisor?
 
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The fact that you are at work shouldn’t matter as you aren't getting paid for the video.
Obviously you took them on your brake time not when you should have been working ;)
 
FAA rules state that flying for anything other than hobbyist, compensation or not, requires a Part 107. It sounds like this is closely tied to your business (training linemen) and not strictly for recreational purposes.
Ok sounds like I am not able to do this even though I’m not selling the videos.
 
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Hello everyone I am a recreational flyer. I train lineman, I would like to use my drone to get some videos of them climbing and working on the poles. I would not be flying over 100 feet. It would be during work. The videos would be nice to give them. Would it be ok to do this?
Thanks Chris
Please disregard all of the incorrect responses in this thread. It does not matter that you are not getting paid. It does not even matter whether or not you are on the clock for work, although in this case it makes it even a stronger case of Commercial work. The only thing that matters is that you are not flying for purely recreational purposes. This isn't even a gray area case, and is as purely commercial as I can think of. You would be shooting the video expressly for the purpose of helping those linemen. This is not only work related, but you are flying for the benefit of others. No question commercial in nature, and as such you would need a Part 107 license in order to do so legally.

Thanks for doing the right thing and asking about it!
 
What a Miserable Phone call i just had With the Drone Specialist at the FAA

Starts off using words like Tricky - Slippery Slope - Purely Fun Related - than he goes on to say that once you share your video on Social Media someone could use it or sell it ...

I asked can you fly at work for Fun ?

We encourage people to get there license so they dont have to worry about the slippery slope .

So i said basically what your saying is the moment you want to share your video with anyone you need a 107 that includes Social Media .

"Correct he said.".

So what your saying is Fun videos should not be shared , "Correct "
But if i just look at them , than its ok , "Correct"

Sharing seems to be the KEY ! That and they cant stand recreational drone questions.
 
Please disregard all of the incorrect responses in this thread. It does not matter that you are not getting paid. It does not even matter whether or not you are on the clock for work, although in this case it makes it even a stronger case of Commercial work. The only thing that matters is that you are not flying for purely recreational purposes. This isn't even a gray area case, and is as purely commercial as I can think of. You would be shooting the video expressly for the purpose of helping those linemen. This is not only work related, but you are flying for the benefit of others. No question commercial in nature, and as such you would need a Part 107 license in order to do so legally.

Thanks for doing the right thing and asking about it!
Thanks for your reply this is why I asked.
 
What a Miserable Phone call i just had With the Drone Specialist at the FAA

Starts off using words like Tricky - Slippery Slope - Purely Fun Related - than he goes on to say that once you share your video on Social Media someone could use it or sell it ...

I asked can you fly at work for Fun ?

We encourage people to get there license so they dont have to worry about the slippery slope .

So i said basically what your saying is the moment you want to share your video with anyone you need a 107 that includes Social Media .

"Correct he said.".

So what your saying is Fun videos should not be shared , "Correct "
But if i just look at them , than its ok , "Correct"

Sharing seems to be the KEY ! That and they cant stand recreational drone questions.
Thanks for the reply
 
Ok... lot's of Half Right and some WRONG information in this thread.

There is no way "filming training at work while you're working" could ever be considered "Recreational".

Let's break it down into easy to digest pieces:

  • A) You can NOT hobby/recreate for another person... period.
  • B) The way you worded it 100% takes out any "Grey Area" you might have tried to claim otherwise.
  • C) Making $$ is but one way to violate the Hobby/Recreational protective bubble. You can be required to have Part 107 for many things outside of "just" making $$.
  • D) By Filming a work activity, while at work, could put not only you the RPIC in jeopardy but your employer as well.
Odds are NOTHING would ever come of this and the FAA would never know about it but . . . it's possible someone you share the video with could put it on their Social Media and someone could see it and REPORT it. At that point the FAA will investigate and who knows what would come from it. Most likely just a bunch of paperwork and a "Don't do that again" depending on your attitude etc.

The FAA doesn't care specifically what you DO with the data you create while flying... they care about the FLIGHT itself and was it carried out Recreational or outside of Recreational. If you was in my district/region we would be having some in-depth conversation about those actions.

Getting PAID to train these people and Flying the UAS to document/capture their training etc is not Recreational. That's just not how it works.

Sincerely,
Allen
FAA SAFETY Team Representative (Charlotte NC Reg)
FAA SAFETY Team Drone Pro (Charlotte NC Reg)
 
Ok... lot's of Half Right and some WRONG information in this thread.

There is no way "filming training at work while you're working" could ever be considered "Recreational".

Let's break it down into easy to digest pieces:

  • A) You can NOT hobby/recreate for another person... period.
  • B) The way you worded it 100% takes out any "Grey Area" you might have tried to claim otherwise.
  • C) Making $$ is but one way to violate the Hobby/Recreational protective bubble. You can be required to have Part 107 for many thins outside of "just" making $$.
  • D) By Filming a work activity, while at work, could put not only you the RPIC in jeopardy but your employer as well.
Odds are NOTHING would ever come of this and the FAA would never know about it but . . . it's possible someone you share the video with could put it on their Social Media and someone could see it and REPORT it. At that point the FAA will investigate and who knows what would come from it. Most likely just a bunch of paperwork and a "Don't do that again" depending on your attitude etc.

The FAA doesn't care specifically what you DO with the data you create while flying... they care about the FLIGHT itself and was it carried out Recreational or outside of Recreational. If you was in my district/region we would be having some in-depth conversation about those actions.

Getting PAID to train these people and Flying the UAS to document/capture their training etc is not Recreational. That's just not how it works.

Sincerely,
Allen
FAA SAFETY Team Representative (Charlotte NC Reg)
FAA SAFETY Team Drone Pro (Charlotte NC Reg)
This is why I asked I don’t want to do anything wrong. It looks like I need to get my 107
 
This is why I asked I don’t want to do anything wrong. It looks like I need to get my 107


Yes sir and once you have it you'll be able to fly commercially or recreationally as you wish.

Just keep in mind that you can't Mix & Match rules from one to the other. If you initiate a flight under Hobby Rules the flight must be concluded following ALL hobby rules and vice versa.

If you have any questions etc just come back here and ask.

and KUDOS to you for asking before hand. Well done :)
 
Yes I would be on the clock
Have you contacted the FAA for clarification? That might be your best bet. Better safe than sorry!

From the FAA web site
If you have a general question or comment about UAS or drones, please call us at 844-FLY-MY-UA or send us an email about:
 
Have you contacted the FAA for clarification? That might be your best bet. Better safe than sorry!

From the FAA web site
If you have a general question or comment about UAS or drones, please call us at 844-FLY-MY-UA or send us an email about:
Look at Coal's post #12. They wouldn't give a hard answer but rather "heavily suggested" getting Part 107. Basically a Non-Answer answer LOL! We see it all the time.
 

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