Located close to Flagstaff, Sedona is a desert area in Arizona with forests, canyons, and buttes. It’s beloved as a lot for its pure magnificence as for its arts.
Should you’ve at all times wished to go to Sedona and also you’re lastly making it occur, naturally, it’s possible you’ll marvel – are you able to convey your drone with you?
Are you able to fly a drone in Sedona?
You may fly a drone all through a lot of Sedona however not in Wilderness Areas or Sedona Airport and Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. You’re additionally required to observe FAA pointers when within the skies.
When you have a visit to Sedona within the playing cards, that is the article for you.
In it, we’ll focus on in-depth whether or not you should utilize a drone on this a part of Arizona, spotlight all of the off-limits areas, and go over Arizona’s flight guidelines.
Don’t miss it!
Are you able to fly a drone in Sedona?
Below Public Legislation 112-95, Part 336 and the FAA, industrial and leisure pilots can function a drone in Sedona.
Nonetheless, the desert city has plenty of off-limits locations, so let’s assessment.
Airports
Sedona is just 18.31 sq. miles, but nonetheless accommodates a number of airports. One is the aptly-named Sedona Airport, and the opposite is Flagstaff Pulliam Airport.
As a drone pilot, you’re prohibited from flying inside 5 nautical miles of an airport. Given the tiny dimension of Sedona, it will make planning flight routes tough however not inconceivable.
Navy bases
Throughout Sedona’s borders, you’ll discover a few army bases. These can also complicate your flight plans, as you’re not allowed inside 5 nautical miles of a army base both.
Wilderness Areas
Drones are strictly prohibited in Wilderness Areas all through the US. That’s been the case since 1964, when the Wilderness Act went into impact.
The purpose of that act is to ban industrialization that forestalls designated areas from current that solely shield wildlife and nature.
Sedona has two Wilderness Areas, Pink Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness and Munds Mountain Wilderness.
Neither space is small. The Pink Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness is 47,195 acres, whereas Munds Mountain Wilderness is eighteen,150 acres.
Designated Primitive Areas
Additional, Sedona legislation restricts drone entry in designated Primitive Areas.
America Forest Service as soon as used these lands, which have since largely transformed to Wilderness Areas.
Different restricted airspace
At all times use a drone map when working your UAV in Sedona. The above areas all represent restricted airspace, however different restrictions may exist all through the city.
Additionally, keep vigilant for momentary flight restrictions, which solely have an effect on your drone plans for a restricted time however are nonetheless enforceable.
4 implausible locations to fly a drone in Sedona
Though Sedona restricts drone entry to many locations all through the city, if you understand the place to look, you’ll discover an distinctive collection of spots the place you may take breathtaking footage.
Listed here are a few of our favorites.
West Fork Oak Creek Path
About 9.5 miles from Sedona is the West Fork Oak Creek Path. As you stroll alongside the trailhead, you’ll spot canyons, a stream, and cliffs.
The buttes listed below are a trademark purple, and when autumn arrives in Arizona, the autumn foliage will take your breath away.
Cost up your drone battery, as you’ll certainly need to keep right here for some time!
Satan’s Bridge Path
Enterprise out to Yavapai County to hike the Satan’s Bridge Trailhead.
Solely reasonably tough, all the hike (spherical journey) is 1.8 miles, so that you received’t must sweat it out an excessive amount of in case you’re attempting to look skilled for a drone mission.
The route takes you throughout sandstone arches, so that you’ll have heaps to movie or {photograph} right here.
Schnebly Hill Vista
Alongside Schnebly Hill, you’ll discover a vista with a clearance space to witness the great thing about Sedona.
Whereas the Schnebly Hill Vista isn’t all that removed from the Munds Mountain Wilderness, it’s effectively exterior of the wilderness boundary line.
Many drone pilots have flown right here earlier than, so that you shouldn’t must stress about restrictions. If something, needless to say the crowds right here could be reasonably plentiful.
Because it’s usually such a populated space, think about scheduling your drone flight both earlier or later within the day to keep away from the crowds.
Courthouse Butte
We additionally suggest exploring Courthouse Butte whilst you’re staying in Sedona. The butte close to Oak Creek in Yavapai County is only a bit southward of Sedona. The height of the butte is 5,454 toes.
You don’t must ascend that top up, after all. That’s what you’ve got your drone for!
You may take some aerial photographs of the tall, tree-lined butte that may make a implausible addition to your portfolio.
Drone operation guidelines to know earlier than visiting Sedona
Together with your aircraft tickets and motels booked, it’s time to jet off to gorgeous, heat Sedona.
Earlier than your aircraft touches down, be sure you’re aware about the next drone guidelines, which apply to Arizona as a complete.
Don’t launch your drone nearer than 328 toes to wildlife
Sedona drone legislation prohibits drone pilots from vertically approaching birds or animals with their UAVs.
Additional, you can’t launch your drone any nearer than 328 toes or 100 meters from native wildlife.
It’s no secret that drone publicity may cause unlucky conduct in wildlife, together with aggression and generally even abandoning their younger.
Do your half to protect Sedona’s nice wildlife!
Have your drone license and registration prepared
As a secure drone pilot, you have to have a present drone license and an lively registration (as required), each issued by the FAA or one other physique with authority.
Let’s begin by discussing your registration. Industrial pilots should register their drones, however it’s non-compulsory for leisure pilots, relying on the burden of their UAVs.
In case your drone weighs 0.55 kilos or underneath, you don’t must register it. For all different drones that require registration, you may register for as much as three years.
Subsequent, let’s go over licenses. Hobbyists should carry a TRUST certificates issued by the FAA after passing The Leisure UAS Security Take a look at.
That license doesn’t expire however don’t lose it in your journey to Sedona, otherwise you’ll must take the examination once more.
Industrial pilots want the Half 107 license, aka the Distant Pilot Certificates. You may solely get hold of this license by passing the Half 107 examination administered by the FAA.
Your certificates is nice for less than two years, however you may recertify on-line at no cost.
Keep away from important services
Arizona drone legislation mandates that pilots fly no nearer to important services than 250 vertical toes and 500 horizontal toes.
Examples of those services embody hospitals, courthouses, energy vegetation, and water therapy services.
Don’t intervene with emergency response efforts
When firefighters, police departments, and different emergency responders arrive on the scene, don’t get of their means together with your drone.
You may forestall folks from receiving the life-saving companies they want!
Don’t fly greater than 400 toes
You can not function your drone greater than 400 toes from the bottom all through Arizona. It’s your accountability to gauge the allowable top and fly your drone inside that vary.
Preserve a visible line of sight in your drone
You will need to additionally hold eyes in your drone all the time you fly. Should you function your drone thus far out of vary which you could’t see it with the bare eye or when carrying contacts or glasses, you’re past VLOS vary.
You will need to convey your drone again or function it with a spotter who can watch it past your visible line of sight.
Don’t fly your drone in inclement climate
Arizona is understood for its scorching and humid climate, however the solar can’t shine daily.
On these less-than-perfect days with robust winds and rain, chorus from working your drone. The climate makes flying a UAV too harmful.
You may additionally find yourself with a broken, damaged drone!
Sedona is a desert city in Arizona identified for its towering buttes and interesting arts scene.
You may fly your drone right here however should keep away from designated Wilderness Areas, Primitive Areas, army bases, and airports.
Observe FAA drone guidelines if you take to the sky, and bear in mind to keep away from wildlife together with your drone particularly. Keep secure and have enjoyable on the market!