Figuring out the place you may safely and legally fly your drone is surprisingly tough.
Certain, you obtain your first (or fifth) drone, bought your TRUST certificates, or possibly even your Half 107 certificates, however after flying in your yard for hours, you’re keen to seek out new places close to you to apply flying. Or possibly you’re touring to a brand new metropolis. So what do you do?
After all, you begin with a Google search: “The place can I fly my drone close to me?” Then, you test B4UFly for uncontrolled airspace. However even then, you continue to should test state and native rules.
Do you know that within the US, you may’t fly in a Nationwide Park? The airspace will look clear on most airspace apps, however you might nonetheless get in bother with a park ranger!
Some states, similar to Missouri, enable drone flights of their state parks, whereas others, like Hawaii, ban them.
Most different states have important restrictions on drone flights in state parks, however they permit them beneath sure circumstances or require an software prematurely.
The issue is all this data just isn’t centralized, not at all times correct, and, most significantly, not topic to suggestions from pilots.
Enter FPV Trails. FPVTrails is a free database of particular places the place you may fly, generated by precise pilots. Anybody can add, charge, assessment, and focus on locations to fly.
The user-generated information is overlaid with airspace data similar to FAA UAS facility maps and FRIAs to show spots that aren’t simply pleasant to fly — however are additionally protected and authorized to fly in.
Nevertheless, simply be sure you cross-reference websites with the FAA’s official B4UFly service suppliers, as information can shortly change (particularly if there’s a Momentary Flight Restriction in place).
FPV Trails has added many distinctive map layers, together with nationwide and state parks, stadiums, and worldwide airports, and is within the technique of aggregating college UAS packages and metropolis and state legal guidelines concerning drone flight.
In addition they supply climate layers and are continually including new places, together with over 250 within the US alone. These places are freely downloadable in JSON format.
FPV Trails intends to be a free and open platform and should ultimately add premium companies to cowl internet hosting prices.