The growing need for commercial drone services has led to a global expansion of drone schools and training for technology buffs who want to start a side gig or build a full-time freelance career. Aspiring drone pilots can attend drone school online or in-person, depending on their learning goals and how extensive their drone training needs are.

Online drone school classes provide inexpensive options for drone pilots who have some experience flying drones already and want to get their license to earn money with drones.

Who Is Attending Drone School?

People who attend drone school learn a variety of operational and practical skills. These skills appeal to everyone from grade school students to retirees looking to supplement a fixed income or embark on a new career. The level of training needed depends on age, skill level, and desired outcome.

Drones with K-12 Students

A grade school student taking a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) class is likely to be flying a drone for the very first time. Young students may learn coding and robotic-building skills along with hands-on drone flight skills. Students in grades K-12 may attend summer and after-school STEM drone programs, but drone school is most popular with elementary students.

Drone training advances learning in computer programming and prepares students for drone piloting and other tech careers.

How Drones are Benefiting Teachers

A two-week drone class can help current educators earn drone pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration to provide drone training to their students. Both grade school and undergraduate teachers can help students advance various skills through drone training courses.

As drone school students master the art of flying drones, they also develop a better understanding of physics, how the drones work, their different parts, and drone mechanics and repair. Some teachers create a drone training curriculum that teaches students how to design and build drones and helps them prepare to earn FAA drone pilot certification.

Military Personnel Utilizing Drones

Currently, three Marine Corps Bases (MCB) provide drone training for Marines at facilities dedicated to Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) training. Marines can attend the Training and Logistics Support Activity (TALSA) drone school at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, or Camp Pendleton, California.

Drone Options for Retirees

Increasingly, retirees interested in earning post-retirement income are attending drone school and learning to fly drones. Retired individuals who get drone pilot certification can develop side gigs or net income as freelancers without committing to a full-time job. Freelancing allows drone pilots to earn money and make their own schedule and enjoy the freedom to take time off whenever they like.

Private and Commercial Drone Pilots

Pilots of crewed aircraft attend drone school to enhance flight skills, increase their income-earning potential, and expand their career options. Flying drones is a lucrative career option for pilots who wish to continue flying past the mandatory retirement age of 65 years for aircraft pilots.

Drone Freelancers

Anyone who is interested in technology and wants to develop a side hustle or start a full-time business with drones usually attends drone school or drone training. And to make money with drones, drone pilots must pass the FAA’s Part 107 certification test.

The test is complex, and aspiring drone pilots who want to earn any compensation from flying drones will benefit from taking at least a short online drone training course to pass the Part 107 test on the first attempt.

To learn more about drone school or drone training classes, contact DARTdrones today. DARTdrones offers various online and in-person drone training classes and courses designed to enhance drone flying skills and flight knowledge and help everyone from beginners to experienced drone pilots earn credentials and gain professional licensing.

About the Author

Sean has been a private pilot and commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems operator since 2015 and is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. He is a Florida local, born in Daytona Beach and living in Orlando. After joining the Navy at the age of 19, he served a six year enlistment as a Nuclear Operator on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). Subsequent pivot points include Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nautical Horizons, LLC, Chief Seismic Navigator for offshore oil & gas, a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering with a design thesis, and a patent for ocean instrumentation devices.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

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First, there are the federal drone rules that are established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). These rules are broken into subsets based on the type of drone pilot you are.

Let’s take a look at the FAA drone pilot rules as they apply to different types of drone pilots.

Recreational Drone Pilot

• Fly your drone for your enjoyment only. This defines flying a drone for recreational purposes.
• Always keep your drone in visual line of sight (VLOS) or use a visual observer to keep an eye on it with you.
• Never interfere with manned aircraft and always give way.
• Fly at or below 400 feet in controlled airspace and use resources like DroneZone and LAANC to make sure you’re in compliance.
• Fly at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace (Class G).
• Coming soon is the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), so be sure to take that test when it comes available and retain proof of passage.
• Be sure to register your drone, mark the aircraft with the registration number and keep the certificate with you whenever you’re flying.
• Be a responsible drone pilot by not operating your drone in a dangerous manner. This includes interfering with law enforcement and emergency responders, and never fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Be aware that a breach of any of these rules may subject you to FAA enforcement.

Commercial Drone Pilot

If you’ve studied for, taken, and passed your FAA Part 107 drone pilot test, you can operate a registered drone weighing less than 55 lbs as a commercial drone pilot. At this point you can make money with your drone.  A commercial drone pilot must adhere to the same rules as a recreational drone pilot, with a few additions. The FAA has compiled a summary of the Part 107 drone rules here. Since the publication of those rules, there have been a few changes with regards to drone flights at night and flights over people.

The FAA advises that “The Operations Over People rule became effective on April 21, 2021. Drone pilots operating under Part 107 may fly at night over people, and moving vehicles without a waiver as long as they meet the requirements defined in the rule. Airspace authorizations are still required for night operations in controlled airspace under 400 feet.”

Public Safety and Government Drone Pilots

Public safety and government officials have two options for operating a drone under 55 lbs. A drone pilot could hold an FAA Part 107 pilot certificate, or he or she could maintain a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) to be able to fly a drone for governmental purposes. If you’re wondering if your organization qualifies for a COA, check out this article regarding COAs to get details about how to go about obtaining one.

The FAA has put together this public safety toolkit with associated documents and links.

Educational Drone Pilots

There are a couple considerations for flying drones for educational purposes. The “Limited Exception for Recreational Flyers and Community-Based Organizations” allows that a pilot may fly a drone without obtaining a Part 107 drone license if the flight is for recreational purposes only. The rules here are the same as the recreational drone flight rules. And of course you can always earn your FAA Part 107 drone pilots license and fly for educational purposes.

State Drone Laws

In addition to adhering to the federal drone laws, states can make their own drone rules at the state level. The overwhelming majority of these laws pertain to the use of drones by law enforcement and the use of footage captured, unlawful surveillance of persons where reasonable privacy is expected, and scouting and tracking game animals for hunting purposes.

Most states also prohibit flying drones around critical infrastructure and most certainly prohibit drones from interfering with emergency services. States can also prohibit the use of drones in state parks and designated wilderness areas. There is often signage at entrances to state parks that will tell you if drone operation isn’t welcome.

As each state has different laws pertaining to its unique situation, it is important to do your due diligence and research those requirements and limitations prior to flying your drone.

In 2020, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) met and discussed recent state drone legislation enacted by several states. The result was 11 new pieces of legislation regarding drone laws spanning the country including Florida, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, Vermont and Virginia. The following list from NCSL summarizes the legislative decisions on state drone laws:

“Four states—Florida, Idaho, Minnesota and South Dakota—allowed UAS operations by emergency management workers, including wildfire management.

Two states—Minnesota and Missouri—prohibited UAS flying over property, including correctional and mental health facilities and open-air facilities such as sports stadiums.

Two states—Idaho and Minnesota—permitted law enforcement agencies to operate UAS for specified purposes, including traffic crash reconstruction, search and rescue missions, and training purposes.

One state—Vermont—prohibited law enforcement from operating UAS while using facial recognition, except for purposes such as search and rescue and assessing wildfires, floods and storms.

Three states—Florida, Massachusetts and Virginia—appropriated funds for UAS-related certifications, programs and public-private partnerships.

One state—Virginia—empowered localities to regulate the takeoff and landing of UAS on property owned by the locality. Previously, localities were preempted from regulating UAS.”

Local Drone Laws

There are local drone laws that place limits on the use of drones in certain cities, towns, and municipalities. For example, the state of Alaska has a local drone law that is very regionally and seasonally specific: “In the Southeastern Alaska Area, (a) during an open commercial salmon fishing period, a person may not use an unmanned aircraft to locate salmon for the commercial taking of salmon or to direct commercial salmon fishing operations.”

Because state and local drone laws can change based on necessity and use, it is important to not only adhere to the overarching federal drone regulations, but also be aware of any state and local regulations that may be in place. As with the example in Southeast Alaska, it could be a law you wouldn’t even think about because it’s so specific. Keep the rules of the sky in mind, and check with your state legislature to get the most up-to-date drone regulations.

About the Author

Sean has been a private pilot and commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems operator since 2015 and is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. He is a Florida local, born in Daytona Beach and living in Orlando. After joining the Navy at the age of 19, he served a six year enlistment as a Nuclear Operator on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). Subsequent pivot points include Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nautical Horizons, LLC, Chief Seismic Navigator for offshore oil & gas, a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering with a design thesis, and a patent for ocean instrumentation devices.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

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With the FAA reporting 368,508 drones with a commercial registration, and 500,601 registered as specifically recreational, with 222,448 licensed remote pilots, it seems like there’s something in the air. It has you wondering what happens if you fly a drone without a license…

The answer lies in the mission: Are you flying your drone for fun or are you flying for profit or the benefit of another party?

We’ll take a look at the difference between flying for fun, and flying for profit. Both are regulated differently, so let’s make sure you’re on the right side of the law.

Drone License Requirements When Flying Recreationally:

You are not required to have a Part 107 drone pilot license to fly recreationally, but you are required to register your drone if it weighs over .55lbs.

Flying for recreation means that not only are you not flying for compensation, it also means that you’re not donating flight time, photographs, video, or any mapping services to an individual or organization. The Federal Aviation Administration specifically advises that:

“Non-recreational purposes include things like taking photos to help sell a property or service, roof inspections, or taking pictures of a high school football game for the school’s website. Goodwill or other non-monetary value can also be considered indirect compensation. This would include things like volunteering to use your drone to survey coastlines on behalf of a non-profit organization. Recreational flight is simply flying for fun or personal enjoyment.”

 Recreational droning is taking to the skies for your enjoyment only, and you’re keeping any media you capture for yourself.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you are flying recreationally, however. You’ll still be sharing airspace with commercial drone pilots and manned aircraft, so you’ll need to adhere to a few air-rules.

• You must register your drone with the Federal Aviation Administration if it weighs .55lbs or more. You may face penalties if you don’t adhere to this requirement.
• Fly within visual line of sight (VLOS) and have a visual observer with you.
• Fly below 400’ in controlled airspace. Use an app like FAADroneZone or B4UFly to make sure you’re clear to launch.
• Give way to and do not interfere with manned aircraft.
• Be sure to display your drone’s registration number, and keep a copy of the registration with you whenever you’re flying. Local law enforcement have the right to ask to see your documentation.

Drone License Requirements When Flying Commercially:

You are required to have a current FAA Part 107 drone pilot license to fly commercially. If you’re flying a drone for any monetary profit, compensation, or giving deliverables to another person or group, you’re flying commercially, which means you need to have a current FAA Part 107 certificate and drone registration to show if requested. Drone insurance is always recommended, especially when conducting commercial flights.

 If you’re found to be flying your drone commercially without a license, you can face steep fines to the tune of $32,666 and up. Sometimes the penalties can be quite substantial:

As stated in this 2018 presentation by the FAA, under Federal law:

“Operating an aircraft without registration or any necessary airman certification can result in a penalty with a maximum of 3 years in prison and/or $250,000 fine. (49 U.S.C. § 46306(b) and (d))”

The above FAA document presents case studies of various ways people have found themselves in trouble for flying their drones in questionable situations. It’s always great to learn a lesson from a mistake you didn’t have to make, and there is plenty of guidance out there. For example, this recent DARTdrones article discusses possible penalties and licensing requirements so you can make sure you’re pointed in the right direction.

If you do find yourself being asked to fly for the benefit of others, or any compensation, it is best to politely postpone that mission and take the time to study for and earn your Part 107 drone pilot’s license. This will give you the education to make prudent decisions and remain above reproach when you’re operating your drone. It is always time well-spent. If you’re looking for a boost,  DARTdrones offers affordable and convenient test prep courses including in-person, online, and virtual learning platforms.

If you already hold a drone pilot’s license, be sure to take note of when your license expires. If you feel like you’d benefit from a little refresher, check out this quick guide on how to prepare for your two-year recertification.

Even if you don’t have any intention of flying your drone commercially at present, the information gleaned from the test prep courses and the exam itself is illuminating. It will change the way you see aviation, aerodynamics, weather, and a host of subjects often taken for granted. And in the event you do get asked to do a commercial flight, you’ll be able to say yes. And who knows where that might lead? Great careers have been born of the word “Yes,” and you’ll have the license to back it up.

About the Author

Sean has been a private pilot and commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems operator since 2015 and is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. He is a Florida local, born in Daytona Beach and living in Orlando. After joining the Navy at the age of 19, he served a six year enlistment as a Nuclear Operator on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). Subsequent pivot points include Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nautical Horizons, LLC, Chief Seismic Navigator for offshore oil & gas, a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering with a design thesis, and a patent for ocean instrumentation devices.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

The post What Happens if You Fly a Drone Without a License? appeared first on DARTdrones.

Let’s decode 15 of the most difficult types of questions you might face on the FAA Part 107 drone exam.

These questions were taken from DARTdrone’s practice test included in our test prep course, which are meant to be more challenging than the formal FAA drone exam to ensure you have mastered the topics.

1)An aircraft announces, “left downwind for runway one six.” This means the aircraft is on a heading of:

A. 280 Magnetic

B. 340 Magnetic

This question draws on your knowledge of runway orientation. Runways are oriented based on prevailing winds and compass degrees.

Runway one six is at an orientation of 160 degrees. This pilot is on the left side, parallel and downwind of that runway, so he is on a heading of 340 degrees, 180 degrees opposite of his intended 160 degree runway.

C. 090 Magnetic

2) What are the characteristics of stable air?

A. Poor visibility and intermittent precipitation

B. Poor visibility and steady precipitation

The poor visibility is due to particles in the air that are unable to rise, therefore they just sit in place, not moving or being swept away by turbulent air. Don’t be fooled by the terms “stable” and “good” as having similar connotations.

C. Good visibility and steady precipitation

3) The suffix “nimbus, used in naming clouds, means:

A. A rain cloud

Nimbus clouds are rain-bearing clouds.

B. A low-level cloud containing pellets

C. A cloud with extensive vertical development

4) A nonfrontal, narrow band of active thunderstorms that often develop ahead of a cold front is known as a:

A. Dry line

B. Squall line

These thunderstorms are a precursor to an impending cold front. They form a line that can be miles across, fed by the warm air being pushed ahead by the colder air.

C. Prefrontal system

5) (Refer to Figure 2) If a UA weighs 33 lbs, what weight would the airplane structure be required to support during a 30 degree banked turn while maintaining altitude?

A. 38 pounds

Find the degree of bank and multiply the weight of the aircraft by the load factor.

B. 34 pounds

C. 47 pounds

6) (Refer to Figure 21, Area 2) You have been hired to perform an inspection of the tower 1NM east of Garrison (D05). How high can you fly above this tower before an airspace authorization would be required?

A. Authorization required at the surface

B.699 ft AGL

This flight takes place in Class E airspace whose floor begins at 700 ft. If you intended to fly above 700 ft, an authorization would be required.

C. 756 ft AGL

7. The lateral dimensions of Class D airspace are based on:

A. The number of airports that lie within the Class D airspace

B. 5 statute miles from the geographical center of the primary airport

C. The instrument procedures for which the controlled airspace is established

Class D airspaces’ lateral dimensions are individual to the instrument procedures in place for that specific airspace, and typically extend vertically from the surface to 2,500 above the airport elevation charted in MSL.

8) What is density altitude?

A.The height above the standard datum plane

B.The altitude read directly from the altimeter

C. The pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature

Temperature and altitude, and air density have an inverse relationship; as the former increase, the latter decreases. Warm air is less dense than cold air, therefore providing fewer air molecules to aid in aerodynamics.

9. (Refer to Figure 26, Area 4.) You have been hired to inspect the tower under construction at 46.9N and 98.6W near Jamestown Regional (JMS). What must you receive prior to flying your sUAS in this area?

A. Authorization from the military

B. Authorization from ATC

The question must be read carefully, as there are no towers at exactly that point, however there is one tower that is under construction, and that’s what you’re looking for. This tower is in Class E surface airspace, which does require authorization from ATC. It is not in a military zone, and you would not ask for permission from the National Park Service. This is a tricky one.

C. Authorization from the National Park Service

10) To avoid a collision with a manned aircraft, you had to climb your unmanned aircraft to 600’ AGL. To whom must you report this deviation?

A. Air Traffic Control

B. The Federal Aviation Administration, upon request

If the FAA requests a report of the incident, then you’d submit one. The ATC authorizes flights, and the NTSB becomes involved if there is a serious incident resulting in damage or injuries.

C. The National Transportation Safety Board

11) In which situation is advection fog most likely to form?

A. a warm, moist air mass on the windward side of mountains

B. an air mass moving inland from the coast in winter

Advection fog is most likely to form in coastal areas, with warmer air moving over the cold ground causing fog to form.

C. a light breeze blowing colder air out to sea

12) (Refer to Figure 76) What is the minimum altitude/elevation of the area depicted by the blue line labeled V71?

A. 1,200 feet AGL

This blue line is a Victor Airway, which are always within Class E airspace. The minimum altitude in Class E airspace is 1,200 feet AGL.

B. 700 feet AGL

C. 3,500 feet AGL

13) Crests of standing mountain waves may be marked by stationary, lens-shaped clouds known as:

A. Cumulonimbus clouds

B. Standing lenticular clouds

Lenticular clouds indicate high winds. It’s helpful to think of them as lens-ticular clouds to remember their characteristic lens shape.

C. Roll clouds

14) In the following METAR excerpt, what indicates wind conditions?

KNCA 130634Z AUTO VRB03KT 1SM +TSRA BR

A. 130634Z

B. AUTO

C. VRB03KT

Wind conditions are described here as variable at three knots.

15) What indicates the period the following TAF is valid?

KDFW 130520Z 1306/1412 17014KT P6SM FEW180

A. 130520Z

B. 1306/1412

The TAF is similar to the METAR except that it has a period of validity, in this case from 1302 to 1412. 130520Z indicates the date and time, and 17014KT indicates the direction and velocity of wind.

C. 17014KT

There are many topics on the FAA drone test that require more time, concentration, and invaluable extracurricular practice and study. Weather is a particularly important and lengthy subject that catches new pilots off-guard. Spend a little extra time on this, and chart interpretation.  Sign up for DARTdrones Part 107 test prep and get access to complete modules that walk you through every subject. You’ll take a practice exam that provides 300+ test questions so you can focus your efforts on topics that need more attention.

Make sure to take your time and think critically about the questions being asked of you. They’re comprehensive puzzles to solve. You’re essentially learning a new language by training to become a drone pilot. Enjoy the process; you’ll retain more than you thought possible!

About the Author

Sean has been a private pilot and commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems operator since 2015 and is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. He is a Florida local, born in Daytona Beach and living in Orlando. After joining the Navy at the age of 19, he served a six year enlistment as a Nuclear Operator on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). Subsequent pivot points include Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nautical Horizons, LLC, Chief Seismic Navigator for offshore oil & gas, a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering with a design thesis, and a patent for ocean instrumentation devices.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

The post FAA Drone Test: Explanations to 15 Most Difficult Questions appeared first on DARTdrones.

Who follows Part 107?

The FAA’s 2016 regulation requires commercial drone pilots to be licensed and defines the rules to which all civilian pilots must adhere. Part 107 defines a commercial drone pilot as any pilot that flies a drone for revenue. All commercial drone pilots must follow Part 107 regulations. But recreational drone pilots must comply with the 400-foot maximum as well. While commercial drone pilots may take advantage of at least one notable exception to the altitude limit, recreational pilots do not follow Part 107. Recreational pilots are not allowed any exceptions to the 400-foot maximum height.

Why is the limit 400 feet?

The Part 107 rule limits drones to 400 feet to allow for a 100-foot safety buffer between remote aerial drones and the 500-foot minimum cruising altitude of crewed aircraft. This altitude cap is particularly vital in regions of dense helicopter traffic. However, minimum cruising altitudes for crewed aircraft vary depending on the topographical changes. When flying over mountainous regions or cities with skyscraper buildings, pilots must set a minimum cruising altitude 500 feet above the tallest object in their flight path. Sectional charts indicate topography in the flight path, allowing pilots to adjust cruising altitude accordingly. Commercial drone pilots may fly above 400 feet to accommodate topographical changes, as long as they remain 400 feet or less above the tallest object on the landscape below. Hobbyists may not take advantage of this exception, however, and must keep drones below 400 feet at all times.

What happens if you fly a drone above 400 feet?

When you fly a drone above 400 feet, you risk a dangerous in-flight collision that can damage equipment and lead to unwanted consequences. Most near-miss events between aircraft occur above 400 feet. You may risk losing your drone at great heights. Your drone should always be in your line of sight, and it can be hard to see your drone at altitudes above 400 feet. Depending on how high above 400 feet you are flying, you may receive a fine or face arrest. Although drones may seem insignificant in comparison to larger crewed aircraft, piloting a drone requires accountability. FAA restrictions protect you, other aircraft, and the people on the ground from unfortunate mishaps due to negligence or misuse. Responsible drone pilots owe it to other pilots and the grounded public to abide by Part 107, the 400-foot altitude cap, and all FAA regulations.

If you’re interested in learning more about flying drones, DARTdrones training can help you  become the best drone pilot possible.

About the Author

Sean has been a private pilot and commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems operator since 2015 and is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol. He is a Florida local, born in Daytona Beach and living in Orlando. After joining the Navy at the age of 19, he served a six year enlistment as a Nuclear Operator on the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). Subsequent pivot points include Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nautical Horizons, LLC, Chief Seismic Navigator for offshore oil & gas, a Masters Degree in Ocean Engineering with a design thesis, and a patent for ocean instrumentation devices.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

The post What Happens If You Fly A Drone Above 400 feet? appeared first on DARTdrones.

The best way to determine which drone is right for you is to figure out what you plan to use your drone for. Then pick the drone that best suits those needs. Overall, drones can be broken up into three utility categories: camera drones for consumer, professional aerial photography, and videography; racing drones, for when you feel the need for speed and want to compete, and micro drones, best for fun flying indoors and practicing. 

Now, let’s look at some of the best drones for sale in each category.

Best Camera Drones for Sale

Drones for sale in this category, obviously, have a camera that is either permanently mounted or interchangeable. Another important aspect is the ability to hold a fixed position, altitude, and direction. They also come with intelligent features to help fly safely and get desirable camera shots like flying to waypoints, orbiting around points of interest, and most importantly, an interactive smartphone or tablet application that allows you to see what the camera sees. Compared to other camera drones for sale, DJI is the leading maker of prosumer level drones on the market right now because of their unique and user friendly interface along with the stability and performance of the gimbaled camera.

DJI Phantom 4 Professional

It’s hard to beat the value and performance of the Phantom 4 Pro. It carries a unique balance of functionality and quality with dual positioning systems for accuracy and redundancy, a 20 megapixel camera, and 360 degree obstacle avoidance technology.

DJI Inspire 2

The Inspire 2 is really about as professional as you can get without going custom made. The system comes with an interchangeable gimbal mount allowing the use of different cameras to achieve high quality (4K 16.0M) stabilized video with customizable features.

DJI Mavic Pro

For the outdoor adventurer, DJI makes the Mavic Pro which has a stabilized, front-mounted camera with quickly detachable blades and retractable arms that fold inwards making a very compact unit easy for travel.

Best Racing Drones for Sale

ESPN recently began broadcasting the Drone Racing League events on television. These are a series of speed and agility competitions among national championship drone racers being held at different cities around the United States.

While other commercial drones usually come in a complete and ready-to-fly package, when it comes to racing, you won’t usually find drones for sale like that. It’s because racers prefer to build their own custom rigs. A drone racing rig consists of three basic parts, the drone, radio controller, and first person view (FPV) goggles.

The Drones

For custom built racers, every aspect of the drone is customized from the frames and motors to the onboard electronics. This allows drone racers to, “Dial in” his or her quadcopter attributes such as the overall look, size, weight, speed, responsiveness, onboard telemetry systems, and more, to achieve a competitive edge. The KISS line of onboard electronics and GEP RC racing frames are both popular.

The Radios

To control the drones, racers use radio communications for both controlling the drone and streaming video to the FPV goggles. In the drone racing community there exists two leading manufacturers of RC radio systems, the Spektrum and the Taranis. Both are fully capable systems, however, the Spektrum radios tend to require less set-up, while the Taranis are usually more customizable. One thing to note is that the receiver in the drone and the transmitter (controller) will only work with their respective counterparts. As a result, most racers tend to stick to one brand or the other for interchangeability.

The FPV System

Perhaps the thing that makes drone racing so popular is the perspective you get when you are flying virtually from the cockpit onboard the drone itself. A camera on the front of the drone transmits video wirelessly to a pair of goggles with tiny LED screens. For this immersive experience racers look to Fatshark and Foxeer as the leading FPV systems of choice.

Those looking to start out in drone racing for the first time might consider a complete racing drone for sale. The TBS Vendetta is one example. It is a ready-to-fly FPV Racer from Team BlackSheep that provides an out-of-the-box racer ready to link with any radio/receiver set.

Best Micro Drones for Sale

Micro drones are drones for sale that are primarily intended to be flown indoors or outside in light wind conditions. That is because they are very small and lightweight. Micro drones are good for practicing because they are durable and can withstand repeated crashes. Their light weight and small form keep any damage to a minimum compared to the large consumer kinds mentioned earlier. If you can fly an RC quadcopter without any position or altitude hold modes, like most micro drones, it will be much easier to fly a well stabilized, and much more expensive drone. Since these micro drones are commonly very similar in performance, here is a summary of the most popular drones for sale in local retail stores and drones for purchase online.

Micro Drones for Sale at Local Retail Stores

Sky Viper

This is micro drone that comes with a smartphone or tablet application for live video streaming. It is easy to setup, control, and can maintain a fixed altitude and direction, but not position.

Protocol

This is a good one for free flight practice. It doesn’t come with any altitude or position hold modes making it more challenging, yet still very fun, to fly. It has a fixed camera that can record to an onboard SD card, but no live streaming capability.

Drones for Sale at Online Retailers

Hubsan X4 Series

Hubsan has several different micro drones for sale. Configurations range from non-stabilized drones with live streaming apps to position and altitude holding capable drones with  FPV screens built into their controllers.  

Syma X Series

The Syma X series of micro drones are comparable to the Hubsan in almost every way. However the controllers typically don’t have the built-in display option. 

Now that you know which drones to look out for, you can get ready to fly. And don’t forget DARTdrones offers many classes, including Part 107 Test Prep Course and in-person UAV Flight Training.

Sean Pagliari is a pilot, Navy veteran and one of DARTdrones’ drone flight instructors. He wrote this post about the best drones for sale.

The post Drones For Sale: The Best Camera Drones, Racing Drones, and Micro Drones appeared first on DARTdrones.