As it is built to fly, drones can give you an incredible view of the world above without flying up there yourself. Also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, these aircraft have proven to be one of the most valuable flying machines ever invented. However, since drones are remotely controlled, you may be tempted to send them soaring in the sky. Were you wondering how high can a drone fly? Let us hear what the experts say.
How high your drone can fly depends on its model and purpose. Some drones can fly higher than others can. Drones built for hobbyists, military or industrial purposes need to fly to different heights to serve their function.
However, regardless of how high your drone was built to fly, there are laws put in place that regulate how tall you are allowed to fly it. A drone cannot freelance at any height you want. Going too high will land you on the wrong side of the law.
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How high can a drone fly in the United States?
In the United States, the maximum altitude you can fly a drone is 400 feet. It is a legal offense to fly above this altitude in this region. Therefore, if you stay or are thinking of having a vacation in the United States, make sure your drone is not flying higher than 400 feet.
How high can a drone fly in Europe?
You can fly your drone 100 more feet in the European region and still not be in trouble with the law. Drone flyers can legally fly their drones up to a maximum altitude of 500 feet above ground level. Any height beyond 500 feet will leave you answerable to the law.
How high can a drone fly with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)?
Regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), control the maximum altitude you can legally fly your drone. This particular one permits you to fly your drone at any height as long as you can see it. They call this the visual line of sight (VLOS). When you lose sight of your drone, you fly beyond the visible line of sight (BVLOS). It is illegal to fly in this in the BVLOS zone.
Maximum height waiver
Do you have the right drone for height and feel ample reason to fly an extra few feet? Despite the laws restricting drone altitude during the fight, you can still apply for permission to fly beyond. You can liaise with the regulatory board controlling your region. They will approve when it is safe for you to fly your drone above the legal altitude.
How high can a drone fly in specific areas?
● Airfields
In or near airfields or airports, you cannot fly your drone at any height. This is because human-crewed aircraft fly low in these regions, and they are more likely to collide with your drone. If your drone hits and damages an essential part of an airplane, the result may be fatal, even costing lives.
Therefore, when near or around airports, be sure to put away your drone. Only specific, trained government and authority boards can fly drones in such territories.
● Areas hit by a disaster
While the first instinct may be to fly your drone for photographs of a disaster-stricken area, it is no good idea. Consider the consequences of hitting a search and rescue drone or helicopter. You will cause another disaster. Therefore, do not fly your drone in these areas.
How high can the highest drone fly?
There is a high competition in the drone industry, with developers trying to develop the best and highest. One drone that has topped the charts as the global leader of its kind is the DLI’s Phantom. One YouTube user got into serious trouble with the law. He posted a video flying the DJI Phantom 2 at a staggering altitude of 11000 feet.
Why is it important to fly within the legal maximum drone flight altitude zone?
The law is not just trying to stop you from having fun or capturing awesome cool above ground-level photographs. It is protecting your drone. Above the drone altitude limit is where all the bigger aircraft fly.
Flying in the danger zone will put your small-unmanned aircraft at the mercy of much bigger manned aircraft. Collusion will just scratch the bigger aircraft but completely wreck your drone. Worse, it may damage and crash both aircraft. With this being said, flying above the regulated limit is not worth it.
Your drone is also more likely to experience a glitch flying too high. It might take longer than its maximum flight duration to reach that height and back. This means your drone will malfunction in the air and inevitably come crashing down.
Since a drone is remotely controlled, it is designed to pick up and respond to signals within a specific range. Exceeding this range will risk losing signal connection. With no signal communicating with it, your drone will smash to the ground.
Final Thought
Questioning how high can a drone fly in this region before take-off is essential. You need to know to avoid getting on the wrong side of the law, in other areas where there is no specific law, access other factors. Make sure you keep your drone safe from malfunctioning or causing any fatal aircraft accident.