How high can a drone fly?
Drones have become something that anyone can own. With just a few bucks, or just about $100, you can get yourself a decent drone for your enjoyment. Many drones have been developed targeting leisure consumers making them even cheaper and easy to acquire. With this trend growing in the market, millions of drones are now owned by ordinary people in America only.
Now we have thousands of drones in the sky, which can be fun but also dangerous in a way. For this reason, the FAA had to come up with strict regulations to make sure you fly your drone safely and do not endanger the life of anyone around you. As such, when you fly your newly acquired drone, make sure you fly within the allowed limits.
How high can you fly Phantom 4 drone?
One of the most common drone in the market today is the Phantom 4. This drone was designed with the normal new consumer in mind. It is made to be very easy to fly. You only need to press one button for it to go up and another to make it land. It also has several cameras that enable it to identify obstacles in advance and avoid collisions.
When it comes to speed, it is fast and can fly to altitudes of up to 500 meters. It can fly at a speed of about 20 meters per second going up. The altitude is only limited by its software as it can fly even higher. According to the DJI Phantom 4 pro spec sheet the max service ceiling above sea level is 6000 meters or 19685 feet assuming all the software limitations were removed.
How high can you fly a Parrot Drone?
The parrot drone has an enhanced system that allows you to control it using a smartphone app. Its control is decent and flight stability is good for beginners. The drone mimics the movements of your smartphone. This means that flying the drone is almost similar to playing a game; when you tilt your phone left, the drone flies to the left and when you tilt the phone right, it flies to the right. The same principle applies when you tilt your phone up or down.
The Parrot A.R drone 2.0 can fly to altitudes of approximately 164 feet. However, you might need calm conditions as windy weathers can make it unstable. The app also comes with special features that allow you to upload any footage recorded from the drone straight to YouTube.
How high can a Drone fly legally?
Although the drones are built to go to very high altitudes, it is against the law to fly a drone beyond a certain height. Different states and countries come with different regulations. Some regional laws may be harsh and others allow you to fly your drone at higher altitudes.
In Canada, the rules are strict.
The rules are straightforward and don’t allow you to fly your drone in either of the following conditions:
• Do not fly at heights above 90 feet.
• Do not fly at night or in the clouds.
• Do not fly your drone further than 500 meters from you.
• Your drone should not go anywhere within 75 meters of a crowd, building or cars.
Your drone should have your name, address and phone number on it in case it needs identifying. Without this label, it is illegal to fly your drone.
In the UK, the rules are a bit different but the concept is the same – to regulate how high a drone can fly. The rules are as follows.
The drone should be within range. That means you should not fly your drone to altitudes exceeding 400 feet and 500 meters horizontally. This is to discourage users from flying blindly which might cause accidents with other aircrafts and other people.
Drones have also been involved in accidents where they collide with aircrafts carrying passengers. This is what the authorities try to avoid by setting these rules.
Your drone should weigh below 20kg and not to be used for commercial purposes. It should only be for recreational and your enjoyment.
Do not fly your drone anywhere near a building, a vessel, or a crowd; it is best to avoid flying the drone within 50 meters of buildings or crowds. Keep your drone at a safe distance away from a congested area.
A few other drone rules to keep in mind
The question is not just how high can a drone fly but also where can you fly a drone?
There are areas that are restricted by the law that nobody can fly his or her drone there. The FAA gives a comprehensive list of such no drone zones. Some of the guidelines they outline include.
Stadiums and over specified events
If you thought you would bring your drone to a stadium full of people, you are wrong. It is imperative to note you are not allowed to. You are not allowed to fly your drone in a stadium while a sport such as baseball, football, or racing is in progress. This law is effective starting one hour before the event starts and one hour after the event ends.
Airports
You drone should not fly anywhere around an airport. If you have to fly it there, then you need to inform the authorities at the airport so that they can keep tabs on your drone. Without permission, you are flying against the law.
Sensitive airspace
This is where the altitude comes in. you should not fly your drone above the allowed airspace, which is usually 400 feet. This is to avoid collision with other aircraft or confuse airport control towers and pilots.
Any airspace that is controlled for special activities is also prohibited. This includes military operations base, restricted and prohibited airspace etc.
Wildfires
Your drone should not interfere with a firefighting operation. Flying in an area where firefighters are fighting a wildfire is therefore prohibited. All other areas where emergency teams are working are also restricted. Your drone should not go anywhere near such an operation as it can confuse the workers.
The bottom-line
Flying a drone should be a fun experience. You only need to make sure that you do not endanger anyone’s life while you are doing it. This means that you should learn the rules and regulations around your area before you go out flying.
But if you can keep the following in mind then you will be okay.
Do not fly near people, buildings, or cars.
Do not go too high or out of sight.
Do not fly near an airport. If you have to, then give notice to the Airport Operator/Manager.
Do not fly at night or in harsh conditions where you cannot control your drone.
