sidtx
 Second Officer
Flight distance : 266729 ft
United States
Offline
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Your statement about airspace ownership is true for most countries. I should have clarified that I was talking about the United States.
Here, in the US, no one owns the airspace above their property. It is all public owned and controlled/managed by the FAA. As long as we fly within FAA rules and regulations , we can fly anywhere at anytime. You are free to fly over someones property provided you follow the same rules that manned aircraft fly - especially with respect to flying in/over crowded areas and/or controlled airspace (airports, heliports, etc.).
This conflict over what people think of as their private airspace, really comes into play here in the US when people or organizations buy a house or property near an airport, and then suddenly realize that aircraft are flying over or near their property. They go to great lengths to get the airport shutdown. for the most part, the FAA tells them to take a hike. Don't like aircraft or aircraft noise - move.
In spite of this, the FAA (and no one else) can still take you to task for flying in what they might consider unsafe or dangerous manners.
Having said this, because of the negative perceptions and misconceptions about drone usage, I'm very careful when flying around/over neighborhoods. I think it would be the height of folly to fly into (or over at very low altitude) someone's house or property.
I still hold to my statement, that if someone captures or shoots down my drone, then I will politely ask (demand) full re-imbursement. If not, off to court we go. I may start carrying my FAA Pilot License (for manned aircraft) with me - it may be useful in case I ever get into a "discussion" about drone operational legalities with anyone.
Sid |
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