Outbound limits

Dan Bell · Jul 27, 2020

I am a novice Mini pilot, flying in a dense urban area. So far, I have only been able to fly out 2,200 feet before I lose contact and have to RTH. Does this sound reasonable? I watch posts of guys flying out 10,000 feet. What's reasonable to expect, or what have your experienced? TIA

iaincaradoc · Jul 27, 2020

If you want to get that far out, you need an absolutely clear line-of-sight from the controller to the drone. Foliage, buildings, and other objects will block signal.

You may also want to read up on Fresnel zones for various frequencies of radio propagation.

sar104 · Jul 27, 2020

Dan Bell said:
I am a novice Mini pilot, flying in a dense urban area. So far, I have only been able to fly out 2,200 feet before I lose contact and have to RTH. Does this sound reasonable? I watch posts of guys flying out 10,000 feet. What's reasonable to expect, or what have your experienced? TIA

That's completely reasonable from a technical perspective. Everything else about your flights is completely unreasonable, unfortunately.

iaincaradoc · Jul 27, 2020

sar104 said:
That's completely reasonable from a technical perspective. Everything else about your flights is completely unreasonable, unfortunately.

One *does* wonder about vLOS for a mini at 2200 feet...

sar104 · Jul 27, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
One *does* wonder about vLOS for a mini at 2200 feet...

Setting the legalities aside, people will argue that WBVLOS at low altitude is reasonable in uninhabited areas, but over a "dense urban environment"?

Deleted member 103366 · Jul 27, 2020

My VLOS limit is between 400m and slightly below 600m depending on the background and that is over water, I guess younger eyes might be somewhat sharper.

Dan Bell · Jul 27, 2020

sar104 said:
That's completely reasonable from a technical perspective. Everything else about your flights is completely unreasonable, unfortunately.

Not sure what you mean about everything else about your flights is completely unreasonable... Please educate me. Thanks.

iaincaradoc · Jul 27, 2020

Dan Bell said:
Not sure what you mean about everything else about your flights is completely unreasonable... Please educate me. Thanks.

Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations

www.faa.gov

Of course, with a Mini the registration is up to you - unless you add anything to the drone to exceed the weight limit, you don't have to register it and mark it.

#5 is there, though. Along with #8, in "dense urban areas."

Depending on the area you're in, there are probably some airspace restrictions that you haven't looked into, either (#4).

Dan Bell · Jul 27, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
Recreational Flyers & Modeler Community-Based Organizations

www.faa.gov

Of course, with a Mini the registration is up to you - unless you add anything to the drone to exceed the weight limit, you don't have to register it and mark it.

#5 is there, though. Along with #8, in "dense urban areas."

Depending on the area you're in, there are probably some airspace restrictions that you haven't looked into, either (#4).

Thanks for the excellent information. I'll keep in handy for when I upgrade to a more sophisticated drone than the mini.

PhantomFandom · Jul 27, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
One *does* wonder about vLOS for a mini at 2200 feet...

No need to wonder. It's not happening.

PhantomFandom · Jul 27, 2020

Dan Bell said:
I'll keep in handy for when I upgrade to a more sophisticated drone than the mini.

Um, you should keep it handy now. The mini does not mean you can break any of those regulations except for #1. Being under 250 grams only means that you do not need to be registered with the FAA. However ALL other rules, laws, and regulations remain in full force.

I suspect (just from your initial post) that you most likely have already broken more than one regulation.

Dan Bell · Jul 27, 2020

PhiliusFoggg said:
My VLOS limit is between 400m and slightly below 600m depending on the background and that is over water, I guess younger eyes might be somewhat sharper.

Maybe to clarify: Horizontal distance is 2,200 feet. Vertically I'm usually around 100' - 120'.

iaincaradoc · Jul 27, 2020

Dan Bell said:
Maybe to clarify: Horizontal distance is 2,200 feet. Vertically I'm usually around 100' - 120'.

What city are you in in Utah?

sar104 · Jul 27, 2020

Dan Bell said:
Maybe to clarify: Horizontal distance is 2,200 feet. Vertically I'm usually around 100' - 120'.

To be blunt - aside from any airspace considerations, your flights are completely illegal. You are required to maintain VLOS - i.e. you can see the drone and determine it's orientation, and not fly over people, which you are obviously unable to determine. While that requirement is often ignored in more remote areas where there are unlikely to be people below or low-flying helicopters in the air, that is completely indefensible in an urban environment.

Dan Bell · Jul 27, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
What city are you in in Utah?

If you are familiar with the Lehi (Northern Utah County) area, we live up on the side of the foothills in an area called Traverse Mountain.

iaincaradoc · Jul 27, 2020

Dan Bell said:
If you are familiar with the Lehi (Northern Utah County) area, we live up on the side of the foothills in an area called Traverse Mountain.

How close to Mountain Point Medical Center?

Dan Bell · Jul 27, 2020

iaincaradoc said:
How close to Mountain Point Medical Center?

I see where you're going (Life Flight Choppers). We live on the other side of the highway, probably about 2.5 - 3 miles away.

iaincaradoc · Jul 27, 2020

Yeah. The good news is that you're not in controlled airspace, there - but if you go too far west, you end up in the Camp Willams Military Reservation.