Great interaction, but you weren't doing anything illegal. You don't need permission to launch from where you were either. Meaning, everything you explained you were doing and every place you were mentioning is 100% legal to fly. You can fly around homes etc., as long as you're not being a creeper and trying to look into people's windows or literally flying over someone say laying out at their pool and hovering, that sort of thing.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
If it's not for profit in any way shape or form part 107 is not necessary! However, if you're going to be doing any sort of flight that requires even a tiny bit of skill and knowledge such as doing flights for search and rescue, one should still get part 107. In my opinion, if you fly a lot even just for recreational purposes you should get your part 107. It helps you be a better pilot overall and it's seriously not difficult to get. Not to mention it's cheap! The TRUST certificate is a total JOKE. It's not enough for a lot of people.
Re-read the part 107 regs. If it's not for profit in any way shape or form, part 107 is not required.
I read it and have my questions on it. Here is an FAA 'tool' to determine where you stand as a drone pilot What Kind of Drone Flyer Are You? | Federal Aviation Administration. The term used in that test is 'Non-Profit work' and it is in the third question down. Non-profit looks to me like it applies to organizations and entities Nonprofit Organization (NPO): Definition and Example. Once again, I asked a retired FAA fed that I know and he rolled his eyes at the concern.
I believe you're right, the FAA will educate you before they fine you, unless your flight was clearly blatant disregard for the law and safety of the public (flying over a packed stadium, etc). If you continue to repeat the infractions, you will be fined. Continue to ignore and the fines increase. The YouTube drone pilot from PA for example is facing some very hefty fines for his continued BVLOS flights.
I wasn't sure if taking off from the side of a public road was an infraction or not, that was my issue. Is there any documentation that can be shown to Law Enforcement that would show them that I was legal doing so, for the ones that are not informed. It's difficult for Law Enforcement to know and understand all the laws and details of every situation they come across. It's simply too much info, so it's a good thing when we can help educate them with facts.
If they have an issue with it, they're the ones who need to have a code and ss's violated.
That's very cool. Every interaction I've ever had with the police have been positive. Even one police officer started litterally telling at me and told me to bring it down. I asked him was I doing something wrong he said yes you have to have a license from the faa to fly one of those. I said I do have a license he said from the faa. I said yes. And he said let me see it. I said me stop what I'm doing and bring it down because i need to be paying attention to the drone by this time 3 other police have shown up. I was like oh hell I'm going to get a beat down. So I brought the drone down and I showed him my license the other police officers were schooling him they said the dude is ok. The original police officer appoligized to me said he was sorry for all of this. I Said its no problem. But just remember in the future you are totally within your rights To ask me to see any documents but you need to make sure that you leave them alone long enough to control the drone. Because if that drone goes out of control while you're distracting the pilot you could be held liable for whatever happens. I've since seen that same police officer while i was flying at another time. He just waved and kept on goingFor 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
I keep a copy of the rules in my case just in case So i can pull it out and show them the rules if i get into a situation like that. It's alot if reading but i have the important parts highlighted. I actially have never had to pull it out since I've been keeping it in my case but I had one incident that scared the crap out of me. It ended very well but after that incident i was like I'm keeping a copy with me in case this happens again. Thankfully it hasn't happened again. Usually my run ins with the police are really positive. Just last week I was flying and three police showed up at the park and litterally parked right in front of me and watched me fly the whole time. I was so scared. I asked them did someone call and report me. They were like no we take our lunch here everyday. I was like oh. That watched me and didn't say anything else
There are some pretty stiff fines there. It's interesting that they all seem to have crashes as a common denominator.I did a quick Google search....
FAA Has Busted Multiple Drone Flyers. Here Are The Expensive Results.
We reviewed FAA enforcement actions from 2012-2020. Topping the list: one pilot received a whopping fine of $1.9 million based upon a series of commercial drone flights over a period of time.www.forbes.com
- Drone Law and Drone Attorney Assistance
Insights into the FAA's history of prosecuting drone pilots (which regulations, how much the penalty, did anyone lose their pilot license, where, etc.)jrupprechtlaw.com
The articles cover multiple cases but there's one instance of a pilot being fined for real estate work and not having the Part 107.
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Definitely the Pt. 107 certification requirement applies to all non-recreational or non-educational flying.
