In San Juan, Puerto Rico is a residential district generally known as Viejo San Juan or Outdated San Juan.
Right here, you will discover buildings that date again to the 16th century, so the realm definitely lives as much as its identify! With a lot magnificence abounding, you’re seemingly wanting to fly your drone right here.
Are you able to fly a drone in Outdated San Juan?
In accordance with Puerto Rico drone legislation, all through most of Outdated San Juan, you possibly can legally use your drone, however stay looking out for airports and don’t fly inside 5 miles of them. You possibly can’t additionally fly a drone within the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website in Outdated San Juan, which is 75.13 acres of land.
On this article, we’ll speak additional about the place in Outdated San Juan you should utilize your drone versus the place you possibly can’t. Earlier than you jet off to Puerto Rico, ensure you learn the good information we’ve got developing!
Are you able to fly a drone in Outdated San Juan?
Declared Puerto Rico’s oldest settlement, Outdated San Juan options an assortment of castles, buildings, and different structure that’s stood for hundreds of years. The town additionally boasts stone and brick buildings with flat roofs and cobblestone roads.
As part of america, Puerto Rico follows FAA drone legal guidelines. Beneath these legal guidelines, drones can fly in Puerto Rico, together with Outdated San Juan.
Nevertheless, as we talked about within the intro and can speak extra about within the subsequent part, you’re prohibited from getting into the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website together with your drone.
That’s not all. You additionally can not fly inside 5 miles of an airport. A number of are within the space, together with the San Juan Isla Grande Airport (often known as the Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport) a mere 2.2 kilometers or 1.37 miles away.
Just a little additional out, there’s the San Juan Airport 12.2 kilometers or 7.58 miles away, then the Roosevelt Roads Airport (often known as the Jose Aponte Hernandez Airport) 56.3 kilometers or 34.9 miles away.
If you happen to preserve venturing out, the Vieques Airport (often known as the Antonio Rivera Rodriguez Airport) is 75.9 kilometers or 47.2 miles away.
The spacing of the airports makes it somewhat trickier to plan the place to fly your drone, so that you’ll must discover a slice of Outdated San Juan with out an airport 5 miles away.
To maintain all this info straight, a drone map will probably be your greatest pal!
If you happen to personal a DJI drone, your UAV will fly in Warning Zones however not in restricted airspace. Different drone fashions don’t do the identical, so it’s as much as you to know the place the no-fly zones are.
Are you able to fly a drone on the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website?
The Nationwide Park Service manages the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website. This a part of Outdated San Juan contains parts of an historic metropolis wall, powder homes, bastions, and forts from the colonial period, together with Castillo San Felipe del Morro.
In accordance with this NPS web page[1]: “San Juan Nationwide Historic Website advises guests that the usage of Unmanned Plane Programs (Drones) are prohibited inside park boundaries resulting from rules outlined within the Code of Federal Laws (CFR).
Particularly, the usage of drones throughout the park boundaries is unlawful beneath all circumstances. 36 CFR 1.5 Closures and public use limits and 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3) states, ‘delivering or retrieving an individual or object by parachute, helicopter, or different airborne means, besides in emergencies involving public security or severe property loss, or pursuant to the phrases and situations of a allow’ is unlawful. This is applicable to drones of all styles and sizes.”
NPR stepped in as a result of, based on them, extra drones have begun showing within the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website.
The NPR additional states that drones could make quite a lot of noise and disrupt the “pure panorama” of the realm.
Additional, the NPR says drones can intrude with emergency operations, negatively impression wildlife, and cut back a customer’s enjoyment of the realm.
No exceptions to this rule exist, so there’s no allow you possibly can apply for or particular exceptions.
You’ll must rigorously assessment your drone map to remain exterior of the parameters of the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website when visiting Outdated San Juan together with your drone.
Outdated San Juan drone guidelines to know earlier than your flight
Earlier than you launch your drone in Outdated San Juan, ensure you learn up on these drone guidelines. They’ll guarantee a protected, authorized flight.
Solely convey your drone in your carry-on
You don’t must undergo customs together with your drone when touring to Puerto Rico, however you continue to should go TSA brokers.
They’ll examine on your drone, so don’t preserve it wherever else however in your carry-on bag.
You could have a legitimate license and registration on your drone
The FAA requires that every one drone pilots have a legitimate license earlier than taking to the skies.
Business pilots should examine and take the Half 107 examination, which quizzes you on the whole thing of the FAA’s drone rules.
You’ll pay every time you’re taking the check, so it behooves you to go the primary time. You’ll want a rating of 70 p.c to take action.
Then you definately’re issued the Distant Pilot Certificates, which expires two years from the date you obtain it within the mail. Earlier than then, take the FAA’s free on-line recertifying examination, particularly when you plan on touring quickly.
Hobbyists additionally have to take an examination generally known as The Leisure UAS Security Check or TRUST examination for brief. You gained’t pay to take this examination, and it’s finished on-line. You may as well change mistaken solutions when you take the check.
As soon as the FAA points you the TRUST license, it by no means expires.
You’ll most likely must register your drone when you’re at it. Business pilots should at all times register drones whereas hobbyists solely must register drones weighing 0.55 kilos and up.
Give manned plane the best of means
Because you’re supposed to remain 5 miles from the closest airport, your threat of operating into manned plane is low.
Nonetheless, when you encounter a manned plane, as a drone pilot, you’re imagined to at all times present the best of means.
Don’t fly quicker than 100 miles per hour or greater than 400 toes
You’re capped at each your velocity and altitude when working a drone beneath FAA rules. You can not ascend above 400 toes from the bottom, and your UAV velocity shouldn’t surpass 100 miles per hour.
Solely function your drone throughout daylight
Take your time exploring Outdated San Juan, however solely have your drone in and out the sky throughout daylight.
Maintain eyes in your drone
Drone pilots should preserve a visible line of sight on their UAVs your complete time they’re flying.
Whether or not you put on contacts, glasses, or nothing in your eyes in any respect, you should have the ability to see your drone in entrance of you. Utilizing binoculars doesn’t rely.
Don’t fly over folks or transferring automobiles
The FAA’s Operations over Individuals and Operations over Shifting Automobiles legal guidelines restrict how you use your drone.
Let’s begin with Operations over Individuals. Drones beneath 0.55 kilos can fly nearer crowds, however heavier drones can not. You may as well fly close to folks in the event that they’re conscious you’re utilizing your drone and consent to it.
The Operations over Shifting Automobiles legislation prohibits pilots from utilizing a drone close to any transferring automobile. Nevertheless, you possibly can fly your drone close to a stationary automobile if the folks in that automobile conform to it.
Don’t launch a drone that exceeds 55 kilos
You can not legally fly in case your drone weighs greater than 55 kilos. Scale back its payload or downsize your drone, however don’t take to the skies of Outdated San Juan.
Outdated San Juan is part of Puerto Rico steeped in historical past. The town permits drone pilots to function however solely in sure areas.
You could keep 5 miles from the numerous airports that dot this historic metropolis. You’re additionally prohibited from bringing your drone into the San Juan Nationwide Historic Website based on NPS tips.
References:
1. NPS (link)