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(Legally) Flying Drones

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kenblu24 edited this page Jun 10, 2025 · 10 revisions

Warning

Unless otherwise noted, the information on this page was not written by a lawyer and should not be considered legal advice.

Flying drones outdoors

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) governs the flight of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in U.S. airspace (outdoors). See https://www.faa.gov/uas for more info.

Flying Recreationally

As a researcher at an educational institution, you can fly your drones under the Exception for Recreational Flyers. You need to pass a test to obtain the TRUST certification. Read this carefully: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers

Then, click here and follow the instructions to Take TRUST. Other students have had success using Embry-Riddle as their test provider. The test is guided and takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

Places where you CAN'T fly

Both the Arlington and a majority of Fairfax campus are within the DC SFRA/FRZ, the latter of which is known as the No Drone Zone. The FRZ covers a 15-mile radius of Reagan Airport.

In fact, it is nearly impossible to fly drones within the DMV: Northern Virginia (NoVa), Maryland, and D.C. area. There are airports, military bases, monuments, and the aforementioned SFRA and FRZ which were established following 9/11. It is one of the most heavily restricted airspaces in the U.S.

Caution

To be very clear, most outdoor spaces near campus are in restricted airspaces. Even if you only fly a foot off the ground, you may be violating U.S. airspace.

Places where you can fly

Luckily, there are some very small pockets of land near us where the airspace opens up a bit.
But, even so, you still need to follow the rules of the jurisdiction and land/property owner.

There are several locations where we typically fly:

Athletic Fields @ Fairfax

The West Campus Field complex is just outside the DC FRZ, so it is possible to fly drones there without a waiver from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

However, you still need to clear a few things before flying there. You must:

  • Fly recreationally or under Part 107 (see Flying Recreationally or Getting a Part 107).
  • Be aware and compliant with Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and all other airspace restrictions.
  • If your drone is over 255 grams or if you are flying under Part 107, your drone MUST be registered.
  • Equip your drone with Remote I.D. as we do not have an FRIA on campus.
    • The only exception to this is if your drone is under 255 grams, is not registered (and therefore not being flown under Part 107), and has never had a functioning R.I.D. unit.
  • Have previously notified E.H.S. of your intent to fly drones on campus and provided them a copy of your TRUST certificate or Part 107 License
  • Have obtained a time slot from Facilities to use the George Mason Stadium (the track and field), or an adjacent field, and permission from them to fly drones there
  • Ensure that your drone is safe to fly, will not fly away or lose control, or cause injury, harm, or property damage.

A power outlet and eduroam WiFi are available at this location, and there are restrooms in the Field House nearby. A parking permit is required to park here.

Fairfax Lake Park

Approximately 30 minutes from the Fairfax campus, there's a park with fields just outside both the DC FRZ and the Dulles Airport Class B airspace.

Fairfax Lake Park is a Fairfax county park. The State of Virginia prohibits localities from regulating drones, so Model Aircrafts and UAS (drones) are allowed on Fairfax County Park Authority lands. So, you can fly in any Fairfax County park owned by the Park Authority, as long as you follow all other FAA and State regulations and obey the airspace restrictions.

Warning

The above paragraph applies to county/city-owned parks. Drones are prohibited within Virginia State parks unless permitted by DCR.

While most Fairfax parks are within the FRZ (No drone zone), Fairfax Lake has a number of fields that are in Class G airspace, outside the DC FRZ and Dulles airspace (but still within the DC SFRA).

However, you still need to clear a few things before flying there. You must:

  • Fly recreationally or under Part 107 (see Flying Recreationally or Getting a Part 107).
  • Be aware and compliant with Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and all other airspace restrictions.
  • If your drone is over 255 grams or if you are flying under Part 107, your drone MUST be registered.
  • Equip your drone with Remote I.D. as FFX Lake Park is not an FRIA.
    • The only exception to this is if your drone is under 255 grams, is not registered (and therefore not being flown under Part 107), and has never had a functioning R.I.D. unit.
  • Find a clear field that is not in use by others.
  • If you are flying in an adjacent area inside the Dulles Class B Airspace: have obtained authorization via LAANC.
  • Ensure that your drone is safe to fly, will not fly away or lose control, or cause injury, harm, or property damage.

There are multiple fields in the Class G airspace (unclassed, but still within DC SFRA) where you can fly your drones, the best of which is probably the Cricket Fields (Ultimate Fields on Google Maps). This site has some diagrams of the space: https://fairfaxultimate.org/lake-fairfax-park
There is an access road leading to the center of the three fields where there are also a single stand of bleachers. This is a convenient place to set up a tent.

Be aware that some fields in the park are closer to restricted airspace. Be especially careful to not enter restricted airspace.

There is no public WiFi or AC power available at the park. Restrooms are available down the road.

Previously, the Cricket Fields at this park were closed and under construction. Check for notices at the park website.

Potomac Science Center

Approximately 30 minutes south of Fairfax campus is the GMU Potomac Science Center (PSC), which is a facility along the Potomac riverbank. There is a small area just outside both the DC FRZ and the nearby Fort Belvoir Class D airspace (military airspace which you cannot obtain authorization to fly drones in) and DOD NSUFR.

The area in which we are allowed to fly is extremely small and difficult to demarcate, so avoid using this space unless all other options are exhausted. If you want to fly here, you must be chaperoned by someone with a Part 107.

XElevate

Just over an hour away from Fairfax campus is XElevate, a commercial for-rent drone facility in Loudon county. You should not attempt to fly here by yourself. However, we have previously participated in events and drone competitions here.

This is a commercial facility, so you MUST have a Part 107 to fly here. You cannot fly here recreationally under TRUST. However, XElevate has an FRIA, so remote ID is not required to fly here. Note that you are not allowed to disable existing R.I.D. systems on drones, even if you are within an FRIA.

You must:

  • Have filled out the Facility Access form and agree to the XElevate Release of Claims and Terms and Conditions.
  • Have rented out space, or be attending an event, and comply with the rules of said event (some events require U.S. citizenship).
  • Fly under Part 107 with a commercial license (see Getting a Part 107).
  • Be aware and compliant with Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) and all other airspace restrictions.
  • You are flying under Part 107, so your drone MUST be registered regardless of weight.
  • Have a drone without Remote I.D., or have a drone with any onboard R.I.D. systems fully functional and active.
  • Ensure that your drone is safe to fly, will not fly away or lose control, or cause injury, harm, or property damage.
  • Speak with the XElevate airboss to be allowed to fly, and comply with their requirements and schedule.

The facility has porta-potties and a house with a restroom nearby. There is a canopy a few yards from the field with AC power. WiFi is available but tends to be spotty, especially during events.

Getting a Part 107

Read the following VERY CAREFULLY and don't assume things. If I left something ambiguous or confusing, please ask for clarification, because every word matters.

14 CFR Part 107 is the section of the FAA regulations that governs flying drones non-recreationally. Not sure if you need Part 107? Read here: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers

Note: Research/education counts as "recreational" use. However, there are many caveats. Not sure? Ask a labmate with a Part 107 license if your particular flight will be allowed under the recreational rules, or read the FAA guidelines very carefully! There are many caveats to the recreational rule.

The FAA has outlined the steps here for flying under Part 107:
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators

Basically, you need to:

  1. Know the rules
  2. Become a certified Drone Pilot
  3. Have your drone registered
  4. Don't break the federal/state/local laws or violate any airspace restrictions.

Becoming a drone pilot

To become a drone pilot, the FAA has this page for you:
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot

Notably, to be a pilot, you must:

  • Be at least 16 years old
  • Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
  • Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone
  • Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam: "Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)"

That last one is the hard part. You're a first-time pilot, but you may also find the transition guide for Part 61 pilots helpful - The FAA has a way for Part 61 pilots (that's actual plane pilots) to get licensed to fly under Part 107, and they provide guidance on the more Part 107-specific stuff. See here for the info: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot#ech At the bottom of the page, you'll see two links to online training courses. Both are helpful. The second online training course can be taken even if you aren't a Part 61 pilot, so you can use it to study.

But first, let's talk about the broad stuff you need to know to pass the test.

Passing the exam

You need to know:

  • All of the rules in Part 107 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107
  • Some of the rules, regulations, and definitions of Part 61, 71, 47, 48, and others.
  • How to read aviation maps and weather reports and understand aviation lingo
  • How to find out if you're allowed to fly in a particular region or request clearance
  • When you're allowed to fly
  • If you and your helpers are in good mental/physical condition to fly
  • How to use your drone safely
  • How to act when things go wrong

You don't need to know:

  • Morse code
  • NATO alphabet (although it helps)
  • How to fly a plane
  • How to talk to a tower
  • How to fly a drone well

The FAA provides some handy materials on studying for the exam. The most helpful one aside from the previously mentioned interactive trainings would be the Part 107 small UAS guide which can be found alongside other materials here: https://www.faa.gov/uas/resources/policy_library#107 If you are looking for information, check these:

For the FAA exam and sample questions, you will be expected to refer to charts and figures in the Testing Supplement FAA-CT-8080-2H to answer the questions http://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/supplements/media/sport_rec_private_akts.pdf This will be provided on test day, but I recommend printing one out for study purposes. You won't be allowed to write in it or bring other material into the exam.

Study Materials

The FAA also provides a single set of sample questions, but without explanations. Take these after you're done with all your other material, and use google if you're not yet confident you've got it right. https://www.faa.gov/faq/where-can-i-find-study-materials-part-107-aeronautical-knowledge-test https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/training_testing/testing/test_questions/uag_questions.pdf The ACSCode tells you what the question is testing you on. When you take the exam, you'll get a bunch of codes telling you what codes you were deficient on. Those codes are explained in the Airman Certification Standards here: https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/acs/uas_acs.pdf

The FAA won't tell you everything though.

Keep in mind that a big part of being a pilot is knowing where to find information, or at least know how to look for it. Don't limit yourself to the resources here, and understand that a lot of the material you'll find may or may not be relevant to you. Being good at finding and filtering information will help you a lot.

Once you're ready to take the exam, read through Step 2 here to register for an in-person exam: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators Or read through this page: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_pilot

WARNING: In case you missed it, passing the test does NOT allow you to register or fly a drone under Part 107! Passing the test lets you apply to become a Remote Pilot. Once you've passed the test and applied, you'll need to wait a couple weeks or so for the application to go through. If you fail, you'll need to wait at least 14 days to take it again, as well as let the testing center know you've failed in the past. You need a 70% to pass. See more about the what the testing process will be like in the ACS and FAA website.

Other resources

For knowing where/when you're allowed to fly, you should not only rely on apps. However, there are a lot of apps available for knowing where/when to fly and for requesting LAANC:

  • Air Aware (replaces b4ufly)
  • Air Control (provides LAANC)
  • AutoPylot

Advanced:

I should note that aside from the scary actual regulations, the FAA website has some more layman-friendly resources here: https://www.faa.gov/uas These should be easy reads, but their website isn't perfect, and some info/pages are more easily found through Google. Use these pages as a supplement to the actual regulations. To be clear, sticking to faa.gov pages is NOT ENOUGH to get ready for the test.

Flying indoors

The FAA does not regulate indoor drone flight.
Instead, it is up to the property owner whether you are allowed to fly inside.

GMU has invested in spaces for drone research so that students may perform limited testing of blimps, drones, model aircraft, and other unmanned aircraft systems indoors.

However, just because you can legally fly drones indoors, doesn't mean you can ignore pre-flight checklists or flaunt safety considerations.

  • Ensure that you are wearing the proper PPE.
  • Ensure that your attire is appropriate: that you are not wearing dangly accessories and that your hair will not get caught in propellers.
  • Ensure that your actions will not cause others harm.
  • Ensure that your drone will not damage others' property.
  • Ensure that others nearby are aware of the risks associated with being near drones, and that they are aware of your flight activities.
  • Ensure that batteries are being charged and handled safely and are stored in a safe, fire-resistant location. Never leave charging batteries unsupervised.
  • Ensure that you have a failsafe plan.
  • Ensure that you understand what failsafe actions your drone will execute should a failsafe event occur.
  • Ensure that you are able to manually initiate a failsafe (i.e. disarm your drone) at all times.
  • Ensure that you have visual line-of-sight (VLoS) to your drone at all times.

Additionally,

  • Consider filming or logging all tests, experiments, and procedures. If the drone is powered on, a camera or other logging device should be recording.
    • This helps you determine what went wrong, and is often a good backup to have to show your superiors if something does go wrong and you no longer have the demo that you wanted to present.
  • Consider that GPS and magnetometer/compass signals are weaker indoors. Your flight plans and failsafes and pre-arm checks may fail without GPS.
  • It is strongly recommended that, unless you are ready to fly your drone, either keep the battery unplugged or keep the propellers off of the drone.
  • Consider keeping all personnel out of the same room as the drone. The MARC and FUSE high-bay area both have thick glass walls for you to hide behind.
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