If anyone is finding it difficult to fly around HB or OC, just go up the road a bit like I did on Saturday. It took me only 53 minutes to drive up there ...
Don't wait to ask permission! Look on the sectionals and figure out the controlled airspace where you think potential customers might want you to fly. Submit your authorization requests for these area and ask for a couple of years. The current waiver requests that have been granted or for 4 years. Once your requests are approved (that timeline is still in question), you're good to go with minimal time lag.
That's some nice footage. Still I'm surprised you were not hassled by anyone other than the women you mentioned Sunday. Given you took off in a residential area.
For those that are curious, a lady walking her dog asked me if I was flying a "drone". I told her that my "quadcopter" was up there videoing the sign. She asked where it was and I pointed up there. She then asked if she could see my iPad display. I showed her. At that point, she did a total 180° and said, "Wow! That's amazing!". I think it was a relief to her to know that I wasn't a "paparazzi" type.
That neighborhood was cool in that it's quiet and not too busy. \
Here are my recommendations to anyone flying in "unknown territory" (e.g.not knowing if it is a UAV-friendly area or not):
- Do your research ahead of time. Know the area with respect to the terrain, trees, and other vertical obstructions.
- Do not "loiter" and fiddle around with your aircraft out in the open. Put your props on and other configuration/setup while it is in your car/trunk/boot. If you are on foot with your aircraft in a case/backpack/etc, quickly do this at the launch site.
- Take your aircraft to the launch site and perform a compass calibration (if necessary)
- Launch quickly to a good height (30 m or 100' or more) and do a quick controls check (yaw, rudder, etc).
- Climb to cruising altitude (high enough to not be heard)
- Do not hover close to the ground! (hovering draws attention and it also increases suspicion)
- If asked about what you are doing, don't use the word "DRONE"! Refer to it as a quadcopter and say you are flying around as a hobby for recreational purposes (if that is what you are doing)
- Land quickly (again, no hovering)
- Take aircraft quickly to its hanger (your car, backpack, case, etc).
Those are great recommendations. I was flying in a rural area the other day photographing a friend's house - and I hear the neighbor calling over to me. I get over to the fence and the guy doesn't appear particularly mad, but he's carrying a shotgun and saying if I photograph his property he'll shoot the bird down.
There you go. There are idiots all over the place. At that point you should have mentioned he been going to jail if he did so. I'm beginning to think that overly aggressive individuals have something to hide if they feel it necessary to confront us this was.
I met some drone pilots over the weekend at the HB pier. Friday, there were three of us there (two were flying). Saturday evening, there were two of us flying. Sunday evening, there were four drones in the air—three of us had launched from the same area, and I saw a fourth drone in the air down toward the water. I never saw that pilot. The skies are getting crowded! LOL!
Here's my video from Saturday night...
Here's my video from Saturday night...
SoCalDude, so did you get a waiver to fly at night? How long did that take?
I assume you are flying commercially because you have the video posted on YouTube under your company name. Am I missing something?
I flew that operation as a recreational mission.
There is no such company. It's just a nickname for my personal YouTube channel. However, I will be taking my commercial 107 exam in the next couple of weeks.
You can also ask for an on-going authorization for an area. Don't ask for too much or they may turn you down but you can ask for areas that you expect to need to operate and get an approval for up to four years.
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Are they any flight restrictions in HB? I just bought a P4 and don't know where to fly it in orange county can you help me?
The eastern side of HB is in Class C airspace, while the northwestern corner is in Class D airspace. (refer to sectional chart below)
Other than that, be aware of helipads--specifically the ones for police helis at Central Park and the Civic Center. Also, it is a city ordinance to not launch (or land) on city-owned parks. Follow these rules, as well as the FAA and community guidelines (e.g. AMA) and you should be good to go. There are more rules if flying commercially (e.g. FAA Part 107).
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who did u cal specifically to get approval to fly in this area? I don't see any restrictions in dana point so are they any regulations there?The eastern side of HB is in Class C airspace, while the northwestern corner is in Class D airspace. (refer to sectional chart below(
Other than that, be aware of helipads--specifically the ones for police helis at Central Park and the Civic Center. Also, it is a city ordinance to not launch (or land) on city-owned parks. Follow these rules, as well as the FAA and community guidelines (e.g. AMA) and you should be good to go. There are more rules if flying commercially (e.g. FAA Part 107).
There has been no need to call anyone in the places I have flown (at least in most of the places I have flown)
For practice, I go to the model airplane airfield in Costa Mesa (Fairview Park). Although it's in Class C airspace, there is a perpetual COA for that specific area. As for Dana Point, I haven't researched the that city's regulations, so I don't know.
I flew Huntington Harbour this evening. While I'm post-processing the video, enjoy this photograph from the operation ...
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From the City of H Huntington Beach website:
As currently proposed, the drone ordinance only requires notification of operations – there is no permit fee. A permit fee for filming would only be required if the action was covered under the Commercial Photography Ordinance.
The City is working on a “Drone” informational webpage on the City website and will post information and educational materials on the issue in the near future.
Get the airmap app, turn on all the layers, fly outside of controlled airspace (there is plenty) and notify heliports etc. Listed by airmap.
Just make sure to turn on all the layers (leave heliports turned off so you can read the map though) the heliport names will still show after you hit the next button.
If you need a phone number that is not listed look at airnavcom.com/airports.
I'm continuing to discover places around Huntington Beach to fly. Here I videoed my condo complex recently (Seabridge).
Additionally, tonight, I ran into a few other pilots with the same idea that I had—to video/photograph the super moon with the Huntington Beach pier in the foreground. We flew out past the pier and yawed our aircrafts toward the rising moon. I'll post some of those photos later. Tonight we had a fleet of three P4s, a Mavic, and a 3DR Solo. The police "HB One" helicopter knew where we were all flying and kept his distance. I think he was up there photographing and trying to get the same view as us.
Additionally, tonight, I ran into a few other pilots with the same idea that I had—to video/photograph the super moon with the Huntington Beach pier in the foreground. We flew out past the pier and yawed our aircrafts toward the rising moon. I'll post some of those photos later. Tonight we had a fleet of three P4s, a Mavic, and a 3DR Solo. The police "HB One" helicopter knew where we were all flying and kept his distance. I think he was up there photographing and trying to get the same view as us.
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