Interesting interaction with police today

[MS Coast]

Definitely the Pt. 107 certification requirement applies to all non-recreational or non-educational flying.

I'm not aware of an educational exemption in the 44809 rules. It allows exemption from Part 107 only for recreational operations.

 

[Walleye Hunter]

Definitely the Pt. 107 certification requirement applies to all non-recreational or non-educational flying.

As to how many people have been fined, what I’ve picked up talking to people and reading various internet sources is that FAA has done a lot of warnings pointing out requirements to pilots they identify on Youtube. Some of those YTers have posted more clips about their experiences, I get the impression that it’s been regarded inside FAA as an educational campaign.

Since we *don’t* (yet?) seem to have the drone police lurking in every park and farm field demanding one’s ID and certificate the remainder of what I’ve picked up is the publicly flagrant violators, especially those who crash or whose actions require a public safety / law enforcement response.

Sorry, no numbers. Perhaps the FAA summary referenced earlier in the thread would answer your question?

I looked through there and most of those who got fined were pretty far over the edge.

 

[SethB]

I'm not aware of an educational exemption in the 44809 rules. It allows exemption from Part 107 only for recreational operations.

I find it helpful to go to the source, the FAA documentation. Info such as the educational classification in 44809 doesn’t seem well known.

Educational Institutions
The statutory provision in (P.L. 116-283, Section 10002) clarifies that drones flown for educational and research purposes may be operated under § 44809 for qualifying educational organizations. Qualifying educational organizations include institutions of higher education, Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs, and educational programs chartered by an FAA-recognized Community Based Organization.

From:

Educational Users | Federal Aviation Administration

Drones for Education Drones (and model aircraft) are great tools for use in education. If you are a teacher or a student looking to bring drones into your curriculum, here are a few things you should know before you get started.

www.faa.gov

 

[MS Coast]

I find it helpful to go to the source, the FAA documentation. Info such as the educational classification in 44809 doesn’t seem well known.


From:

Educational Users | Federal Aviation Administration

Drones for Education Drones (and model aircraft) are great tools for use in education. If you are a teacher or a student looking to bring drones into your curriculum, here are a few things you should know before you get started.

www.faa.gov

Thanks for pointing that out and posting a reference.

I suspect that most of us on this the educational exemption isn't applicable.

for qualifying educational organizations. Qualifying educational organizations include institutions of higher education, Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) programs, and educational programs chartered by an FAA-recognized Community Based Organization.

 

[Arkarian]

Sounds applicable. OK, how many people got fined for doing that?

If you have a crash and an incident as a result, you could be fined for not following part 107. What? You don't have part 107???? OK even more fines.

 

[Saarge]

For weeks I've been trying to get access to a lake where I want make my first edited video. I'm calling it " Mansions on a Lake ". It's a beautiful, fairly large lake with many Multi million $$$ dollar mansions all around the lake. There are several parks around the lake but not quite close enough to get my footage. I got permission to fly from one Park, but lake is too far out. I finally found an orange orchard next to the lake around a bend in the road not visible by any houses, and plenty of space to stop on the side of the road. I've been nervous to stop there and send out the drone fearing someone will call police and report me. This morning I saw a sheriffs department vehicle parked five minutes from that orchard and figured I'd take a chance and have a conversation with him. I explained my situation and told him I wanted to take a video of the lake and wanted to park next to the orchard to fly out and asked him what his thoughts were on that. He asked me if I had a license, I said no, drone is under 250 grams and just needed a trust certificate , which I have. He then asked me if I fly above four hundred feet, and I said I always stay about 120 feet while flying. I told him I was just going to hand launch out my window, fly over the Lake for 10 minutes at a time and then leave. He then said. " YOUR GOOD ".
I then said, there are lot of wealthy homes around there and someone might call on me and then you guys are gonna show up - what happens then. He said yeah they probably will call and we will show up, but you won't have a problem as long as you're being respectful and not doing anything stupid. He then said he's been flying drones since he was 15 years old and has a mavic 3 and used to be on the drone team for the police department, they have three $10,000 drones and fly them every day.
So starts the video

Do you have the video? I would love to see it