- Home
- Departments & Services
- Fleming Field Municipal Airport
- Drone Information
Drone Information
What is an unmanned aircraft system?
An unmanned aircraft system (UAS), sometimes called a drone, is an aircraft without a human pilot on-board – instead, the UAS is controlled from an operator on the ground. When you fly a drone in the United States, it is your responsibility to understand and abide by the rules.
The FAA allows amateurs/hobbyists to operate drones for non-commercial purposes subject to specific rules provided here: FAA: Fly for Fun.
The FAA has established unique requirements for commercial or institutional drone use (for example, when a Realtor uses a drone to take aerial pictures of a property); these specific rules are provided here: FAA: Fly for Work & Business.
UAS are Aircraft
Whether you call them UAS, Drones, Remotely Piloted Vehicles, Autonomous Aircraft, or Model Aircraft, they are all aircraft. All aircraft are subject to the rules of the Federal Aviation Regulations and the Statutes and Rules of the State of Minnesota.
The FAA requires users of all UAS that are not flown in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 14, Part 101, Subpart E to be registered by make, model and serial number. Each aircraft will be issued a registration number.
All UAS registered with the FAA and owned by a Minnesota resident must register with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and pay an annual registration fee in Minnesota. Non-residents using UAS for commercial operations in Minnesota must also register their UAS before the aircraft is used for commercial purposes. To complete registration of the aircraft, the owner is required to show proof that sales tax has been paid and provide insurance information. The insurance must comply with the requirements of Minnesota Statute 360.59, Subd. 10. On the Minnesota registration form, use the same registration number that was provided by the FAA that starts with “N-“.
UAS Information for Communities
As UAS use becomes more popular, communities are likely to experience issues related to their use. Having policies and practices in place allows a community to be ahead of the issues. Communicating with citizens about proper UAS use can reduce the number of calls and complaints in the community by encouraging safe practices, which reduces the workload for law enforcement.
Here is a link to an FAA webpage that will assist you in visualizing the ceilings for UAS/Drone flight within the local metro area. Zoom into the metro area and each rectangle is clickable and will show you how high you can fly.