With the rising popularity of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, there is an increasing need for a proper set of guidelines for pilots to follow to safely and responsibly fly these aircraft.
This is where the “Know Before You Fly” campaign comes in. The educational campaign cofounded by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the AMA, the Small UAV Coalition and in partnership with the FAA, focuses on providing users of UAS with the information and guidance they seek to safely and responsibly fly.
The campaign includes common sense guidelines to follow such as staying under 400 feet and not flying over people or moving vehicles. Other less known information is also included such as the need to contact the airport or air traffic control before flying UAS within five miles of an airport.
The commercial and recreational possibilities of UAS are infinite. So far UAS have been used for various tasks from spraying crops to delivering packages, but the future is bright for UAS pilots.
The next step for the campaign is the creation of an application for mobile phones. The FAA is developing the B4UFLY app for recreational users. The app will provide geo-targeted information about the guidelines in the pilot’s area and if they are correctly meeting the regulations.
Read the full article from General Aviation News here.
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