Drones for RVers
05-31-2018
Author: in Education
Boondocking
We usually stay in RV parks, but there are times when we want to just go out into a forest or national park and get away from it all. A lot of times, these locations include roads that are not always maintained. Considering we are driving a motorhome, it is important that we have a way to get out of any location we get ourselves into. Before the drone, we would walk the road for a bit to see what was ahead, or we would have to unhook the car to explore the road first.Related Read: Boondocking 101
The drone gives us a birds eye view of the area. We can see live on our smartphone screen if there are any clearings of trees that could indicate good camp sites. It will also allow us to see if there are a lot of people already camping in that location. We are able to make sure there are areas large enough to turn the RV around should it be necessary to do so. This is especially helpful when in forested areas because the drone can get above the trees. On top of getting an aerial view, a drone can fly down the road you want to drive, allowing you to asses the road’s condition.Photography
RVers stumble across breathtaking beauty on their travels. Photos taken from the ground are nice, but sometimes when you are overlooking a vast grassy prairie with herds of animals grazing in the distance, a handheld camera fails to capture what you see. Using a flying camera to back up and take in the vastness of the scene can give the photo that breathtaking feel that you are trying to capture. Additionally, a drone can be used to take some pretty cool selfies of you and your RV overlooking the sunset.Related Read: Tips on Taking Great Travel Photos While RVing
Rules and Regulations
Drones fall under the category of a UAS or Unmanned Aircraft System. The FAA has special rules that one must follow for non-commercial users. If your drone weighs less than 0.55 pounds, you will have to register it with the FAA. Registration costs $5 at the time of writing this. You are not allowed to fly your drone above 400 feet, and it can not be flown over sporting events or concerts. You are asked to respect others personal property, as well. Keep in mind that if you have a drone and want to sell the photos, you must get a commercial drone registration.Comment
Be aware that flying drones over any federal lands is illegal. This includes national wildlife refuges, national forests, parks, etc.
Please let us know what drone you purchased and maybe a link to the site you bought it at?? Thanks
You are correct. More than 0.55 pounds has to be registered and then you can only fly these drones below 400 ft. and more than 5 miles from any airport. Plus, you must keep the drone in sight at all times, not flying 4 miles away. Drones are a great tool and I take them on my trips and ask Park Owners or management prior to flying. Most don't mind and you usually end up attracting a crowd interested in what you are doing.. Educating the public is my first priority when it comes to drones.
I want to check the sentence, "If your drone weighs less than 0.55 pounds, you will have to register it ..." This implies only tiny drones must be registered. I think the sentence was intended to say "...more than..." Yes?
Author: Levi and Natalie Henley
