Hey everyone, my wife got me a bigger drone for my birthday. I used to fly a small one, but this one is over the FAA weight limit. I registered it and plan to take the drone test tomorrow. When I checked the Avision app, I saw that my area and most of the state are covered with NOTAMs. Does this mean I can’t fly it at home? I’m new to all this, so any advice would be great.
It depends on what the NOTAM says. Can you share more details?
Blaine said:
It depends on what the NOTAM says. Can you share more details?
Sure, here are the details for the three I saw:
NOTAM 1:
- Type: N
- Affected FIR: ZID
- Location: LEX
- Start: 2024-11-05
- End: 2025-02-02
- Coordinates: 375602.90N 0843521.90W
- Radius: 5
NOTAM 2:
- Type: N
- Affected FIR: ZID
- Location: HYK
- Start: 2024-09-04
- End: 2025-01-15
- Coordinates: 3757N 08428W
- Radius: 5
NOTAM 3: Just says “Status: operational.”
One of the notices is about a light out at Lexington Airport, and the other mentions a VOR system being down. Neither of those will affect you as a drone pilot.
Kai said:
One of the notices is about a light out at Lexington Airport, and the other mentions a VOR system being down. Neither of those will affect you as a drone pilot.
Thanks! Do you think I’ll learn to understand these better after taking the drone test? Also, on the app, I noticed yellow NOTAMs and red ones. Do the yellow ones just mean caution while the red ones mean no flying?
@Kei
I don’t think the test goes over NOTAM codes. I had to look up and translate the NOTAMs into plain language on the FAA site. Anything that restricts flights will usually appear as a TFR, not just a regular NOTAM. If it’s not a TFR, it’s more of a heads-up than a strict rule.
@Kai
Got it. Thanks again for helping me figure this out. Really appreciate it.
@Kei
If you don’t understand it now, the test won’t magically make it clear. Also, the way you posted those NOTAMs isn’t the standard format. Use the FAA’s official NOTAM page for accurate details.
The FAA has a free study guide for the Part 107 test. Go through it a few times and do practice tests until you’re confident. Just a heads-up, the test is pretty expensive. By the way, the weight limit you mentioned only applies to registration. There’s no specific flying weight limit unless your drone is over 55 pounds.
@Bay
Wait, do I even need to take the Part 107 test? I’m just flying for fun, not commercially.
Kei said:
@Bay
Wait, do I even need to take the Part 107 test? I’m just flying for fun, not commercially.
For recreational flying, you only need the TRUST certificate. By the way, what kind of drone did you get?
@Bay
It’s a DJI Air 3S.
Nice! Make sure you get your TRUST certificate and register your drone on the FAA’s DroneZone site. The TRUST certificate won’t cover NOTAMs, though. Good job being cautious about airspace rules. It might still help to look through the Part 107 guide to learn about the National Airspace System.