Hey guys, I need to do a real estate shoot but it’s in restricted airspace. Any advice? Here’s the location for reference:
You really need to plan for this stuff at least a month in advance.
Quinlan said:
You really need to plan for this stuff at least a month in advance.
I try to plan for two months if I can.
Quinlan said:
You really need to plan for this stuff at least a month in advance.
Thanks for the heads up! Unfortunately, we didn’t get much notice from the client. We’ve already explained the situation to them, and I’ve applied for a waiver through the FAA drone zone. If anyone’s had any luck calling ATC or knows a good number to reach out to, I’d appreciate any tips. I also saw someone shared a form, so I’ll check that out too. Thanks again!
@Kameron
Just make sure you don’t fly in restricted airspace without a waiver and permission. You could end up with federal charges.
If you’re not sure, DO NOT mess with military airspace. Seriously, they will come after you if you do.
Peyton said:
If you’re not sure, DO NOT mess with military airspace. Seriously, they will come after you if you do.
Even if you get authorization, it’s probably smart to give the base a heads-up about what you’re doing.
First thing you see on the FAA site: ‘Please submit requests at least 60 days before your operation.’ I usually warn clients about this upfront when dealing with restricted airspace.
How about a really long selfie stick? 
Raleigh said:
How about a really long selfie stick?
Yeah, pole photography is actually a thing in areas where drones aren’t allowed.
Raleigh said:
How about a really long selfie stick?
Yeah, pole photography is actually a thing in areas where drones aren’t allowed.
Exactly. They even make telescoping tripods that go up to 50 feet.
That’s an MOA (Military Operations Area), so if it’s not active, you can fly there. You can check NOTAMs to see when it’s hot. I just checked for you:
SFC-17,999 MSA
Intermittent, 0600-2100 Monday-Friday; other times by NOTAM.
I also found two UAS NOTAMs valid from April-December for SFC-250 and SFC-400. They seem to be operator-specific, but I’m not 100% sure.
Oh, and watch out for R-2914A. Your spot is close but not inside. Restricted doesn’t mean impossible, but you need approval. If you stay out of it, you should be good.
For restricted or military airspace, I usually get approval or denial within about 10 days after applying.
Make sure your client knows upfront that there’s a good chance you won’t be able to fly a drone there.
Kai said:
Make sure your client knows upfront that there’s a good chance you won’t be able to fly a drone there.
I’ve flown on military bases before, and they usually respond to waiver requests pretty quickly if you have a commercial purpose. If it’s not some super-secret base, they’ll probably approve it. But if your reason for flying isn’t legit, don’t expect much.
Just tie a string to it and say it’s a kite. 
Keats said:
Just tie a string to it and say it’s a kite.
Honestly, that thought crossed my mind. Does a tethered drone still count as a drone?
Keats said:
Just tie a string to it and say it’s a kite.
Honestly, that thought crossed my mind. Does a tethered drone still count as a drone?
Yes, except for some very specific cases that don’t apply to real estate photography.
Keats said:
Just tie a string to it and say it’s a kite.
Honestly, that thought crossed my mind. Does a tethered drone still count as a drone?
I was just joking! 
Keats said:
Just tie a string to it and say it’s a kite.
Honestly, that thought crossed my mind. Does a tethered drone still count as a drone?
Yes, a drone is still a drone even if you tie it down. A kite is designed to be tethered; adding a string to a drone doesn’t change the rules.