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Hi Guys:
A few days ago I tried to fly my DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 under a permanent TFR. I am very familiar with airspace restrictions, having over 5000 hours as a pilot in manned aircraft. I went to a park and tried to take off under a large shade tree. I was within the physical confines of the TFR, but technically below it because I was under the tree. My understanding is that the FAA has no jurisdiction over airspace that is under permanent structures. For example, flying a drone in your house, or inside a warehouse, that are under the TFR, would be outside the FAA's jurisdiction, or at least outside of any controlled airspace.
You are probably not surprised when I tell you that the DJI system would not let me take off, logically thinking that I was trying to fly in the TFR. This brings up the question of how to work around the requirement when you are under the TFR -- such as under the tree or flying inside your house. I know that my drone will pick up enough satellite inside my living room to let me fly in full green inside my house. So ... for you poor souls who live under a TFR, what do you do if you want to fly inside and you're under the TFR? (I regularly fly inside to test my system and make sure its all up-to-date before going on an important drone mission).
My second question is if a work-around would be what I tried this evening in my house. (My house is outside the TFR.) I covered the Phantom with a space blanket and powered everything up. The controller connected to the drone, but the drone could not pick up any satellites. The drone did not know where it was. I removed the space blanket and immediately took off before it could acquire any satellites. The question, then ... is ... would this be a work-around for taking off below the TFR? Once the drone is airborne, I think we have full control -- even if the system continues to warn about the airspace (don't know what happens related to any return-to-home functions).
I have a Part 107. What if I get a client who wants me to use the drone to film inside his warehouse, or inside a hall during a wedding, and its located under the TFR? What do you guys do in that situation to work around DJI's restrictions on flights that it thinks are in the TFR, but which are not ... ? Is my low-tech, but very easy, space blanket idea logical? Or is there a more professional way around the problem?
I've had people tell me I need to get FAA clearance in these situations, but my response is that I'm not in the TFR and no FAA clearance is needed.
Thanks for any comments or advice.
A few days ago I tried to fly my DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 under a permanent TFR. I am very familiar with airspace restrictions, having over 5000 hours as a pilot in manned aircraft. I went to a park and tried to take off under a large shade tree. I was within the physical confines of the TFR, but technically below it because I was under the tree. My understanding is that the FAA has no jurisdiction over airspace that is under permanent structures. For example, flying a drone in your house, or inside a warehouse, that are under the TFR, would be outside the FAA's jurisdiction, or at least outside of any controlled airspace.
You are probably not surprised when I tell you that the DJI system would not let me take off, logically thinking that I was trying to fly in the TFR. This brings up the question of how to work around the requirement when you are under the TFR -- such as under the tree or flying inside your house. I know that my drone will pick up enough satellite inside my living room to let me fly in full green inside my house. So ... for you poor souls who live under a TFR, what do you do if you want to fly inside and you're under the TFR? (I regularly fly inside to test my system and make sure its all up-to-date before going on an important drone mission).
My second question is if a work-around would be what I tried this evening in my house. (My house is outside the TFR.) I covered the Phantom with a space blanket and powered everything up. The controller connected to the drone, but the drone could not pick up any satellites. The drone did not know where it was. I removed the space blanket and immediately took off before it could acquire any satellites. The question, then ... is ... would this be a work-around for taking off below the TFR? Once the drone is airborne, I think we have full control -- even if the system continues to warn about the airspace (don't know what happens related to any return-to-home functions).
I have a Part 107. What if I get a client who wants me to use the drone to film inside his warehouse, or inside a hall during a wedding, and its located under the TFR? What do you guys do in that situation to work around DJI's restrictions on flights that it thinks are in the TFR, but which are not ... ? Is my low-tech, but very easy, space blanket idea logical? Or is there a more professional way around the problem?
I've had people tell me I need to get FAA clearance in these situations, but my response is that I'm not in the TFR and no FAA clearance is needed.
Thanks for any comments or advice.
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