Just Got a Drone as a Present? Here Are Some Tips to Help You Get Started [Updated for 2023]
BY Zacc Dukowitz
12 December 2023Did you just get your first drone for Hanukkah? Or maybe you’re expecting to get one for Christmas? Then this post is for you.
Over the last few years drone prices have gone down while their quality has continued going up, making them a popular present for people who are curious about aerial photography, into flying, or just love technology in general.
So first, we want to say welcome! We write regularly about drone technology and regulations here, and we’re glad you found us as you begin your drone journey.
To get started, there are a few important things you need to know—let’s dive in.
Want to Jump Around?
This article covers rules for flying a drone for fun, rules for flying a drone for work, and resources to help you improve your drone pilot skills.
Follow the links below to jump to the section that applies to you, or keep reading to learn the difference between the two.
- How to Know If You’re Flying for Fun or Work
- Fly for Fun
- Fly for Work
- How to Build Your Drone Pilot Skills
Are You Flying for Fun or For Work?
The first thing to think about when you get a new drone is how you plan to use it—will you be flying for fun or for work?
Federal drone regulations in the U.S. are created by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). If you’re going to fly for fun then you’ll be viewed as a recreational flyer by the FAA, and you’ll follow the rules for recreational flyers.
On the other hand, if you’re going to fly for work then you’ll be viewed as a commercial drone pilot, and there will be a different set of rules you’ll have to follow.
But what does the FAA mean by work?
For the FAA, work means any kind of operation that involves you making money with your drone, or exchanging goods or services for what you do with your drone. The FAA also views free contributions, like taking aerial photos for a high school’s website, as work, noting, “Goodwill can also be considered non-recreational.”
If you’re not sure how you’re going to fly, we suggest getting started as a recreational flyer.
Why? Because becoming a commercial drone pilot is a lot more involved than becoming a recreational flyer, and you can always go through that process later if you decide that you’d like to start flying your drone for work.
How to Fly Your Drone for Fun
If you plan to fly your drone for fun there are actions you’ll need to take and rules you’ll need to follow.
We’ve broken out each category to make the information easy to digest.
Actions to Take as a Recreational Flyer
Here are the three actions you need to take if you plan to fly for fun.
1. Take the TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test)
The test is free, takes about 30 minutes to complete, and you have as many chances as you need to pass. No studying or prior drone knowledge is required to start the TRUST—it’s more of a step-by-step guide to drone rules than an actual test.
After you pass the TRUST you need to carry proof that you have passed it whenever you’re flying your drone.
Take the TRUST now with UAV Coach.
2. Register Your Drone(s)
Each of your drones needs to be registered. Registration must be attached to each drone and you need to carry proof of registration whenever you’re flying.
Register your drone now with the FAA.
3. Make Sure Your Drone Is Compliant with the FAA’s Remote ID Requirement
The FAA’s Remote ID rule requires that all drones must broadcast identifying information, including their Drone ID, location and altitude, and velocity.
The rule applies to both recreational flyers and commercial drone pilots.
Here’s what you need to know:
- The Remote ID rule went into effect on September 16, 2023. However, the FAA has issued a six-month grace period for compliance. So if you’re struggling to comply, you have until March 16, 2024 to get compliant.
- All new drones should be manufactured to be compliant with the Remote ID rule. For older drones, you can make them compliant either by updating their firmware or, if no firmware update is available, by buying a Remote ID module to attach to them.
There are only two exceptions to the Remote ID rule:
- Drones that weigh less than .55 pounds AND will be flown only for recreational purposes do not have to comply with Remote ID requirements.
- If you fly ONLY in an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) you do not have to comply with Remote ID requirements.
Here are some resources to help you learn more about Remote ID:
Rules to Follow as a Recreational Flyer
Here are all the rules to follow if you plan to fly your drone for fun.
- You have to fly only for recreational purposes.
- You have to follow the safety guidelines of a Community Based Organization (CBO). Learn more about CBOs and safety guidelines.
- Keep your drone within your visual line of sight or use a visual observer who is standing near you and in direct communication with you.
- Give way to and do not interfere with other aircraft.
- Do not operate your drone in a manner that endangers the safety of the national airspace system.
- Fly at or below 400 feet in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace.*
- Fly at or below FAA-authorized altitudes in controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, and surface Class E designated for an airport) only with prior FAA authorization by using LAANC or DroneZone.*
*Note: Flying drones in restricted airspace is not allowed. Drone pilots should always check for airspace restrictions prior to flight on the FAA’s B4UFLY app or the FAA’s UAS Facility Maps webpage.
Where to Fly and How to Comply with Drone Laws
In addition to the above actions and rules, there is one more thing you should think about as a new drone pilot—where you plan to fly.
When thinking about the location where you want to fly, it’s important to know if you’re allowed to fly there. Being allowed to fly means 1) that the airspace is Class G (uncontrolled) or 2) that you have obtained permission to fly there.
Here are a few resources to help you with determining whether you can fly in a given area:
- The FAA’s B4UFLY app, which lets you check the airspace where you’d like to fly to learn more about it.
- The FAA’s Where Can I Fly? page.
- UAV Coach’s Drone Laws directory, which contains state, county, tribal, and local drone laws for all the states in the U.S.
How to Fly Your Drone for Work
Think you want to fly your drone for work?
Actions to Take as a Commercial Drone Pilot
To become a commercial drone pilot and fly your drone for work the FAA requires you to:
- Learn the Part 107 rules (i.e., the rules pertaining to commercial drone operations)
- Pass the Part 107 test
- Register your drone with the FAA
- Make sure your drone is compliant with the Remote ID rule (you have until March 16, 2024 to comply—see the section above or check out our in-depth guide to learn more)
You also need to be at least 16 years old; be able to read, write, speak, and understand English; and be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone.
The biggest hurdle by far of all these requirements is preparing for the Part 107 test.
The test is dense and involved, covering topics like how to read sectional charts, radio communications, and knowledge about weather and micrometeorology.
To help pilots prepare for the test, we created Drone Pilot Ground School, an online test prep and training course. Over 99% of our students pass the Part 107 test on their first try—learn more about Drone Pilot Ground School here.
Not ready to take the test just yet? Check out our free resources for commercial drone pilots to help you get started.
How to Build Your Drone Pilot Skills
Did you just get a drone as a gift and you’re not sure what to do next?
We launched our Drone Pilot Skill Builder courses to help drone pilots build up their skills. The course is designed to help both recreational flyers and those who want to fly drones commercially.
In the course, we walk you step by step-by-step through everything you need to know to get up and running as a drone pilot, covering topics like:
- Where you can fly legally
- How to do airspace research + plan flights like a pro
- Flight exercises that hone your drone piloting skills
- Techniques to capture breathtaking drone footage
- Intelligent flight modes to get the most out of your drone
- Troubleshooting & emergency procedures for any situation
If you’re looking for a step-by-step resource to help you get up and running as a drone pilot, our Drone Pilot Skill Builder course is for you.
