Fly a Drone, But Keep it Legal: B4UFLY
Get your drone on. With rules about registering your drone now in effect, and drone popularity reaching new heights everywhere, the Federal Aviation Administration finally went airborne this month with its high-flying app providing hobbyists and recreational users of unmanned aircraft real-time, on the go information about where under federal aviation regulations they may fly. Not the first ever app for drone enthusiasts, the agency lifted off B4UFLY after months of beta testing, and no surprise, fliers appear to appreciate the FAA’s drone app more than its rules. I will test it this summer, meanwhile B4UFLY seems flier-friendly enough: using your phone’s location, or your input while in planner mode, the app tells you flying requirements or restrictions for your location. It generates four possible statuses: flight prohibited; warning – action required; use caution – check restrictions; and data unavailable. Restrictions can be based on airspace, federal law or temporary conditions like a fire.
