I've had my DJI Mavic Air for some time now. One thing I find super hard is to find recreational spots nearby to fly. Honestly, from the posts I could find - I had to comb through many posts in Instagram before finding what shots I could get. If y'all know a better way to figure out where to fly from a photography point of view too and not just safe to fly, let me know.

I wanted to solve this problem by making an app for helping recreational drone flyers find spots nearby. The app is available at https://dronetrails.app and there's also a test flight link if you are on iOS and want to test it out here https://testflight.apple.com/join/id9NkioE

I would love to hear back from y'all! No Ads and completely free! Basically want to solve the issue of not knowing where to fly.

So will your app tell you if a good photo location is in a NFZ?

Thanks for sharing

Cavu Films Posted at 9-4 07:40
So will your app tell you if a good photo location is in a NFZ?

Very good point

Cavu Films Posted at 9-4 07:40
So will your app tell you if a good photo location is in a NFZ?

Yes! An example I would like to share to support my answer

In USA, FAA categorizes areas as safe to fly using an app called B4UFLY. However, this is not true always. Local court rulings take precedence so it is possible if you don't contact rangers/authorities beforehand that you know this area is truly safe to fly. I got bit by this and got myself a ticket in Big Sur area.

The way I intend to solve this is to make it crowd-sourced as possible. Things change fast enough that I would rather have the pilots report such safe locations outside of NFZ info already there.

soupynoodles Posted at 9-4 08:36
Yes! An example I would like to share to support my answer

In USA, FAA categorizes areas as safe to fly using an app called B4UFLY. However, this is not true always. Local court rulings take precedence so it is possible if you don't contact rangers/authorities beforehand that you know this area is truly safe to fly. I got bit by this and got myself a ticket in Big Sur area.

The idea is great and I had a similar idea for a web based Geo Location site where pilots could upload a picture and tag the location from where the picture was taken. I sent you  a PM about it.

There is also UAV Forecast for searching NFZ you could use also for your app.

Super hard indeed.
But even harder to find time to fly!

Montfrooij Posted at 9-6 11:58
Super hard indeed.
But even harder to find time to fly!

Very true mate

A J Posted at 9-18 22:47
Very true mate

Especially with multiple hobbies

Montfrooij Posted at 9-19 01:59
Especially with multiple hobbies

Indeed mate - time is key

A J Posted at 9-19 02:02
Indeed mate - time is key

But that is also the fun of it.
You enjoy it even more when you find some time

Montfrooij Posted at 9-19 02:02
But that is also the fun of it.
You enjoy it even more when you find some time

Very true mate

A J Posted at 9-19 04:48
Very true mate

Hope to have some fun tonight with whatever hobby comes first
Probably bass guitar. Since I have to keep my fingers trained

Montfrooij Posted at 9-19 09:55
Hope to have some fun tonight with whatever hobby comes first
Probably bass guitar. Since I have to keep my fingers trained

Enjoy it mate!

A J Posted at 9-19 14:21
Enjoy it mate!

I did.
Lots of fun with 2 new songs we just made with the band

Montfrooij Posted at 9-19 23:55
I did.
Lots of fun with 2 new songs we just made with the band

Cool man - my Dad plays in a band

A J Posted at 9-20 00:48
Cool man - my Dad plays in a band

Nice.
What does he play?
(instrument)

Montfrooij Posted at 9-20 03:30
Nice.
What does he play?
(instrument)

Electric guitar

A J Posted at 9-20 09:24
Electric guitar

Oh cool. I bet we have more musicians around here.
What about you?

Montfrooij Posted at 9-20 09:35
Oh cool. I bet we have more musicians around here.
What about you?

My wife has a music degree and can play the clarinet and piano. I don't play any instruments.

A J Posted at 9-20 09:36
My wife has a music degree and can play the clarinet and piano. I don't play any instruments.

Ok, that sort of counts

Montfrooij Posted at 9-20 10:07
Ok, that sort of counts

Hahahaha - her whole family are very 'musical'. I would like to learn the piano - such a beautiful instrument

A J Posted at 9-20 11:06
Hahahaha - her whole family are very 'musical'. I would like to learn the piano - such a beautiful instrument

Oh yes. If I had to pick one, that would be it!

Montfrooij Posted at 9-20 11:14
Oh yes. If I had to pick one, that would be it!

So what do you want included in posts. I live in Dunedin, Florida

Hey Folks,

Thanks for all the support. I managed to launch it on the app store. App is available here https://apps.apple.com/us/app/drone-trails/id1518831280

Bradone Posted at 9-21 15:25
So what do you want included in posts. I live in Dunedin, Florida

The only required fields in post are location, drone and description of flight. Location is auto-extracted from the image if it is unedited.

Nice work, thanks! Ill check it out.

One of the first things to look at are National Parks besides airports here in the states and state parks I can only speak of Oregon and Washington and if the other states are the same it takes it to be brought up for vote in the state legislature. Now BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) that I would fill would be a conversation with the area manager for clarity since it is usually open use land one of them being recreational.

Hey, this is a great idea that was long due, now we all need is to chip in to make it a great tool. HFTA!