Drone Flights Over Vermont Homes: New Rules & Restrictions for โฃPilots
MONTPELIER, VT – As drone use increases across Vermont, residents are raising questions about airspace over thier properties and the legality of interfering with drone operation. Federal regulations govern drone flights,โ and Vermont has its own restrictions, โขparticularly concerning state lands. Here’s โwhat you need โto no.
Under federal law, anyone operating a drone weighing between 0.55 poundsโ and 55 pounds for commercial purposes must be at least 16 years old and obtain โFAA certification โฃbyโ passing a knowledge test and registering the drone. The FAA considers part 107 the default rule set for these drones. โ
Operators who endanger other aircraft or people on the ground can face fines exceeding $30,000, and theโฃ FAA can suspend or revoke their pilot certificate.
Is it legal to shoot down a drone? The FAA explicitly states โฃthat shooting down a drone is โขillegal both in Vermontโค and nationwide. Residents concerned about unsafe droneโค operation shouldโข contact local law enforcement. The FAA does not regulate drones โขregarding privacy concerns.
Were can drones fly in Vermont? Dronesโ are permitted in โboth controlled and uncontrolled airspace,but restrictions apply. Federal law requires drone operators to avoid flying near airports, prisons, and other sensitive โคareas. A comprehensive list of restrictions can be found on the FAA website.
The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks โand Recreation prohibits drone use in state โคparks and forest facilities without written approval from the Commissioner, with exceptions only forโ emergencies. This prohibition extends to launching and landing dronesโ from these locations.
Resources for determining permissible flight locations include the FAA’s B4UFLY โคmobile appโ and desktop site (https://airaware.aloft.ai/?lat=42.263405&long=-71.802193), which provides up-to-date airspace data. Operators should also beโข aware of “no Drone Zone” signage.
For more information on FAA drone regulations, visit www.faa.gov/uas.