Does anyone use a drone while RVing?

[Rvlegaleagle]

Just discovered the use of drones as part of the RV experience and lifestyle. Youtube has been a massive teacher for me over the last few years regarding the RV lifestyle and capturing the memories for family posterity.

Was checking out the Autem evo which gives you some freedom to use it. Also just learned the FAA is coming out with some potential regulations about the use of drones, licencing and the internet with one of those purported "smart" phones.

Does anyone use a drone as part of their RV experience?

[rk911]

faa licensing for drone use is and has been in place for a while now. google for details. fas is now contemplating requiring drones to txmt unique ID info tied to specific personal information. stay tuned.

[Bahamaniac]

National parks have pretty much outlawed using them for a while now. It could be fun or could get you in trouble. Know you local, state, and federal laws!

[tcg]

I just got myself a Mavic Mini for Christmas, looking forward to using it this summer as we travel.

It's a dream to fly and it only weighs 249g so you don't have to register but you really don't register the drone, you register yourself.

The new rules proposed will be interesting but I'll cross that bridge if/when it happens.

[larliebler]

I use mine when I'm in a good location, but the restrictions have definitely limited my use of a drone.

I used to take it with me when I traveled internationally to get some amazing footage, but so many places did not allow drones, so it's just not worth dragging it on the plane.

It's less of an inconvenience to take it along in the RV, but wish I could use it more.

There's always someone that ruins it for everybody else. There were folks flying their drones next to eagle nests, bison etc....not surprising the exclusion from national parks.

[Mikenat]

We take a Phantom 3 Standard along. I enjoy getting perspective in parks or locations always thinking about not disrupting or intruding on others. Many of our spectacular pictures are obtained using it.

[gatorb8]

I have many drones and bring some when I travel. I expect them to be banned and worthless within 5 years due to new FAA regs. (Unless you only fly in a sanctioned RC field or indoors).

[BSHGTO]

Seems like a new and different way to record your experiences while traveling. Last conversation I had about drones ended in the Meat Heads in the group saying they would knock it out of the sky if one came "in range of them" They still think you are going to hover over the skylight in the bathroom and watch their wife shower or your using it to watch girls at the beach. This mentality will help ruin it for others. You tube has many interesting vidieos from people that could not be had without one. Vidieos of Medevile castels over in England are a good example. l`ll see what happens with the new laws before I invest in one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0trIjDaBUAc

[powercat_ras]

In the United States of America ...

It appear that you don't have to register if your drone is for recreational purposes and is under 250 grams ( .55 pounds ), as of 1-1-2020 anyway. Over .55 pounds you are supposed to register each drone and it must display the registration # on the drone somewhere.

Even under 250 grams you are required to operate under 400 feet above ground level and within line of sight. It appear to me that even under 250 grams you are still supposed to only operate in "class G" un-restricted air space. You can determine if air space is restricted using a smart phone app: B4UFLY

There is a lot of restricted air space, around airports, schools, stadiums, military installations, national parks and monuments, etc. Within restricted areas, it appears that even under 250 gram recreational drones can't be flown without permission. There is a way to work thru the FAA to get permission but it's overloaded and not available to recreational users at all at this time.

There is starting to be sanctioned low altitude air space for recreational drones and radio control choppers and aircraft even in restricted air space, but the ability of RC flying clubs to get these sanctioned flying areas is impaired by lack of FAA staff and funding to process the applications and get them approved and added to the airspace flying maps and databases that need to reflect and document them.

[UTTransplant]

My husband enjoyed his drone, but he gave up taking it with us. We stay mostly in public areas, and too many of them don’t allow drones. There are also the bad actors who bother wildlife and others. Gives drone users a bad name.

[tap4154]

I bought some as Christmas presents for nephews and a BiL, and got one for myself. Inexpensive ones under .5 lbs that don't require registration. Having fun with it but realize my options of using it are limited. May take it to Joshua Tree later this month and use it on BLM land, but not inside the park.

Video of learning how to fly it, in the back by the MH. A Force1 U45 Bluejay, does video and still pics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezN5j879qks

[Cooperhawk]

It is illegal to fly one within five miles of an airport for good reason. Ingesting even a small drone would cause damage to any jet engine. At flight speeds a drone through the wind shield would also be a problem. I would love to have one but live about four miles south of a small airport.

[Monacoach]

If you fly a drone around a campground you will just look like a peeping Tom. They will be banned.

[tap4154]

Originally Posted by Monacoach

If you fly a drone around a campground you will just look like a peeping Tom. They will be banned.

I don't get that. Folks always assume you're peeping. A thread in another forum had the same reaction. Folks even talked about shooting at them. I know a few folks misuse them, but I suspect by far most are used to get legitimate shots of their surroundings, and the good ones really provide spectacular shots!