Drone Safety Day: Promoting Safe and Responsible Drone Flying 🛩️

Drones have become an increasingly popular gadget for recreational and commercial purposes. These unmanned aerial vehicles offer exciting possibilities for photography, videography, delivery, search and rescue operations, and more. However, with the increased use of drones comes the need for drone safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognizes the importance of safe drone operations, and thus, every year, it hosts Drone Safety Day (DSD).

Purpose of Drone Safety Day

DSD is an annual campaign designed to raise awareness and educate the drone community on the importance of flying safely. The event aims to highlight the societal, economic, and safety benefits of safe drone operations. Businesses, schools, organizations, and individuals can use this opportunity to share their experiences and kick off new safety initiatives. Drone enthusiasts can share their passion for flying with their local community through local and nationwide events.

The right way to fly a drone is the safe way.

The FAA encourages all drone operators to follow these guidelines:

1. Register your drone: All drones not flown for recreational purposes must be registered, regardless of weight. Drones flown for recreational purposes must be registered if they weigh more than 250 grams. You can register your drone through the FAA DroneZone.

2. Interact with others: Join a local organization or FAA-recognized Community Based Organization. Engage in online forums.

3. Gain knowledge: Learn about drone safety and rules at faa.gov/uas. Check the airspace prior to takeoff through the B4UFLY app or an FAA-Approved LAANC UAS Service Supplier.

4. Have a safety plan: Don’t assume the flight will go as planned. Know what you’ll do if the weather changes or other aircraft or people get close. Check your drone before and after flight to ensure it’s safe to fly. Ensure you have approval to fly in controlled airspace through an FAA-Approved LAANC UAS Service Supplier or the FAA DroneZone.

5. Trust and Train: Recreational flyers only need to pass TRUST once, prior to flying. It’s the law, and you may take the free online test through any of the FAA approved test administrators.

The Five ‘Es’ on drone safety you should know

1. Education: Informing the public on the safe operation of drones, fostering greater public understanding about the commercial and recreational uses of drones, and highlighting how drones are being used in education.

2. Economics: Highlighting the economic, societal, and safety benefits of using drone technologies. For example, utilizing a drone to inspect infrastructure that would be more dangerous for a human to inspect (i.e., bridges, towers, power lines, etc.).

3. Equity: Opening opportunities for all operators. Drones offer an accessible pathway into aviation. Drones provide more opportunities for historically excluded communities to be part of the aviation community, including a lower cost of entry.

4. Environment: Fostering greater public understanding of the environmental and sustainability benefits of drone technologies. From reforestation to monitoring wildlife populations, there are countless ways to engage with our environment using drones.

5. Emergencies: Highlighting how drones are utilized in emergency situations such as natural disasters, search and rescue, firefighting, public safety, and other uses. Attendees can also learn about the FAA process to quickly approve drone flights in emergency situations.