What you should know before flying your drone

MIA WANTS YOU TO KNOW FOUR THINGS BEFORE FLYING YOUR DRONE

(MIAMI, February 22, 2016) – While there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in South Florida’s beautiful weather this time of year, flying a drone near an airport is not one of them. Many users of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones, are not aware that these devices are considered to be aircraft by government agencies. Therefore, certain restrictions apply.

The Miami-Dade Aviation Department wants you to be aware of the following four regulations before flying a drone in Miami-Dade County:

• All drones must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• You must contact the airport or FAA control tower before flying within five miles of any airport.
• Effective January 30, 2016, drones are prohibited from being flown within one mile of any Miami-Dade County airport, unless authorized by the FAA.
• Unauthorized use of a drone in Miami-Dade County shall result in a civil penalty of $500.

“The recreational and business use of drones has been increasing rapidly,” said Miami-Dade Aviation Director Emilio T. González. “We want to ensure that the public operates drones safely and responsibly, which means away from airports. A drone interfering with an aircraft in flight is dangerous at best, and the worst-case scenario would be catastrophic. Additionally, unauthorized operators may be subject to stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time. I appreciate our Board of County Commissioners for approving legislation that strengthens enforcement against unauthorized drone use near our County airports.”

The FAA recently released a report of pilot, air traffic and citizen encounters with UAS, which notes that more than 700 incidents were reported nationwide between November 2014 and August 2015.

For more information, visit the FAA; Florida Department of Transportation and the Miami-Dade County Ordinance.