When to notify local airports

[Mavicmaniac]

Only plan on flying my drone in my backyard and possible over at a small park until I get the hang of it, all very low altitude and in beginner mode. I have no intentions of notifying any of the three small helipads that surround me, does anyone see that as an issue.
What would be the determining factor for when you would notify local airports and or heliports.
I dont want to waste anyone’s time and become a nuisance if there is really no need.

Thank you
Jesse

 

[sar104]

Only plan on flying my drone in my backyard and possible over at a small park until I get the hang of it, all very low altitude and in beginner mode. I have no intentions of notifying any of the three small helipads that surround me, does anyone see that as an issue.
What would be the determining factor for when you would notify local airports and or heliports.
I dont want to waste anyone’s time and become a nuisance if there is really no need.

Thank you
Jesse

The requirement for notifying airports is in 14 CFR Part 101.41(e):

(e) When flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior notice of the operation.​

​

While it doesn't sound like your flights will present much of a hazard to local air traffic, flying without notifying is against the law. Whether you regard that as an issue is a personal decision.

 

[Lets Fly]

I mentioned in another site that I called the local tower and he told me I was correct that he did not want to be called every time I fly. He said just stay within the parameters set and you will be fine. I do not know if every airport feels the same, but seems it would be annoying to get calls almost every day.

 

[sar104]

I mentioned in another site that I called the local tower and he told me I was correct that he did not want to be called every time I fly. He said just stay within the parameters set and you will be fine. I do not know if every airport feels the same, but seems it would be annoying to get calls almost every day.

That's not uncommon - they will often agree to a standing notification within certain flight parameters. It's worth getting that in writing though.

 

[Lets Fly]

I have heard that they will not actually give you permission, they just wanted the address where I was flying and gave a hight restriction to stay within.

 

[sar104]

I have heard that they will not actually give you permission, they just wanted the address where I was flying and gave a hight restriction to stay within.

The law does not require you to get permission from them, and the FAA has explicitly told ATC operations not to imply that they are granting permission (JO 7200.23A)

1. ATC services. ATC services, inclusive of separation, are not provided to Part 101, Subpart E​

operators (also known as modelers/hobbyists).​

2. Notification. Part 101 operators are required to notify the airport and ATCT, if one is operational when operating within 5 statute miles of the airport.​

a. When notified of Part 101 operations that pose no hazard:​

(1) Acknowledge the notification.​

(2) Do not use the word “approved” in the communication with the operator.​

b. If the facility determines that the operation would endanger the safety of the national airspace​

system:​

(1) Deny the operation.​

(2) State the reason for denial.​

REFERENCE-​

Part 101, Subpart E; FAA Reauthorization and Modernization Act 2012.​

 

[Mavicmaniac]

I would like to be in full compliance, just wanted to make sure I was not notifying people for no reason. I have all of the local numbers and contacts already in my phone.
Thanks
Jesse

 

[theDRONEranger]

That's not uncommon - they will often agree to a standing notification within certain flight parameters. It's worth getting that in writing though.

Absolutely get it in writing, it’s not always the same person/crew working tower!

Good advice by others here as well. One thing I further recommend is to learn where to find the AMA safety rules and review them. Download a copy.
107er’s dwell much deeper than just the F4Fer’s, by virtue of the study needed for testing! But everyone should learn where to seek answers. We learn much more that way.

 

[Drone on]

All of this is why we need LAANC to roll out everywhere, and more quickly.

 

[packnrat]

ok so good about a local airport,
what about a privet helipad?
no lights. rarely used. a corp thing here. it is just a 40x40 foot space for them to land to deliver/pickup a high muckey mucky.
corp is the local power/gas company. (pg&e).
lots of people in ca have a big axe to take to them right now. but that is another (hot) story.
maybe one use a month—three. longer?

 

[sar104]

All of this is why we need LAANC to roll out everywhere, and more quickly.

But LAANC isn't going to work for recreational flights, is it? The 5-mile notification requirement will be going away under the new law and, as far as I can tell, there will be no mechanism to authorize hobbyists in controlled airspace. I'm not sure how that is going to play out.

 

[Bigbird48]

If you rememer a while back I wanted to fly over NHMS to get some shots. Their website says no drones on the property or in the airspace above their property. I emailed the operations manager of NHMS and told him I was going to fly over and take some pictures he told me I could not fly over their property because the FAA has a NFZ their because of the several heili pads they have and say are in use year round. Well thats total BS and we all know the speedway does not control the airspace over the track. Fact is I looked on all the local maps, B4ufly, Notams and every place I could think of. There are no restrictions in that area at all, no red circles or anything. But I was trying to do the right thing notifying them my intentions to fly . Even told them I was going to fly on a day when the track was closed. I just kept getting emails from this idiot telling me I can't do it LOL .
For the record I never argued with this guy,never said I could do it if I wanted to, never told him he was full of it about the FAA NFZ and heli pad restrictions and far as he knows I obeyed his demands . I did go to a side road across from the track and flew up and around the outside, took some shots, never flew over the track only because I thought the photos from the sides and end were better photos then getting right over the top of the track. But anyway the point is to do your best to notify

 

[Drone on]

But LAANC isn't going to work for recreational flights, is it? The 5-mile notification requirement will be going away under the new law and, as far as I can tell, there will be no mechanism to authorize hobbyists in controlled airspace. I'm not sure how that is going to play out.

LAANC isn't going to work for recreational flights, is it?
It may.
Originally, it was intended for commercial 107; only. However, search results suggest hobbyist as well, though predominantly commercial 107.
I vaguely remember being put off by learning that it would be available to hobbyist. Only because I had already studied, paid, and passed the 107.

It would make sense to extend the offering to hobbyist simply to record more registered flights through Airmap and others apps, and to cut down on the call ins to ATC who, by the way, have to opt into the program. I suspect the FAA intends to influence their choice.

Regardless, if you have the 107 and film without a contract but submit to a stock agency with the intention of sales, would that not constitute as being in furtherance of a business? Would it matter that there were prior sales, or only the intention of selling? If a business fails within it's first year of operations, it is (was) a business. In this case, operating at a loss, and the only difference in the extent of loss is the amount of sales. For tax purposes, you can only deduct losses for the first three years, but you can keep on losing if that's your desire.

I do film for the purpose of submitting to stock agencies. I have not sold a single frame, and don't care if I do. The focus that effort has brought to my approach is well worth it, and LAANC would just make the areas I have access to that much greater.

Right now, I am out in the boonies of G class air space. I fly there not because I don't want to call ATC. I have called, and find them easy to work with and generally, agreeable. I fly in G because there are less people to bother, and bother me. If I could easily demonstrate pre-approval to officials investigating, then more power to me. It's more difficult to prove you received permission from ATC with only their phone number in the phone's recent bank.