Dear users. I found many posts related to traveling to US with drones, however none too recent and I given the political situation over there I wanted to ask for advice here. In a month I will be traveling to US for the first time, and I want to bring my drones with me to record videos of hikes with my family. I fly my drones completely for the purpose of photography and never for any commercial activity.
For reference I have an M3P and a Neo. Both under 250g and I have them registered in my country of residence. Can I bring them with me without any problems? Do I need to register them in some way in the US? I plan to bring them in my registered luggage with batteries removed. I will be flying over from Europe.
Reagan said:
Keep in mind that even though you may be flying a sub 250g drone, you still have to know where the restricted areas near airports and such are.
Thank you. I will always double check my location before flying.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulates airspace here in the US. Here is a link for more information: FAA Resources for Foreign Operators. If your drone weighs less than 250g and you are flying for fun, you do not need to register it in the US. It is totally fine to travel with them. Make sure you bring your batteries in the cabin with you; never allow your batteries to be in your checked luggage in the underside of the plane. Check this map for flying areas: FAA Map for Drone Flying. Note that drones are banned in National Parks.
Axel said: @Niko
Thank you very much for the information!
Also, be sure to check and double-check the areas where you will want to fly. Not every app is accurate or updated regularly. I recommend Air Control (formerly Aloft). Also, check local laws depending on where you are. Some apps only take into account federal laws and restrictions, while each state can have additional laws and policies.
I usually use the app Air Aware to look at flight restrictions. As long as you don’t fly near airports, stadiums with active sports, military bases, and similar restricted areas, usually the worst that happens is someone asks you to stop. Generally, as long as you are respectful with your drone, no one will notice or care.
Don’t come to the US. Our current government is off the rails. You might end up in jail for two weeks and then deported. I’d recommend you travel to Canada instead; they have a stable and reliable government. From an embarrassed American.
@Dara
And you likely believed all the propaganda like a good sheep. But how about you don’t make stupid assumptions about others you know nothing about?