Paint Rock
Drones
I am a part 107 certified drone operator, based in Lexington, Massachusetts. At present I fly a DJI Mini 2 and a DJI Air 2s. You can find some of my drone photos on Instagram (and they might give you some interesting ideas of where to fly). For the moment messaging me there is the best way to reach me. Feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss flying!
If you are interested in flying a drone in Lexington, the first thing you need to do is check out the FAA rules for flying drones anywhere in the US. A good starting point is the FAA UAS web site (UAS stands for Unmanned Aircraft Systems). Unless you are flying a really small drone strictly indoors, you will need to take some kind of test (the basic test is pretty easy) and register your drone.
There is sometimes confusion about what it means to maintain visual line of sight (VLOS) as required for all drone pilots. Two sources of clarification are Advisory Circular 91-57B (recreational fliers) or Advisory Circular 107-2A (part 107 certified pilots). Basically, you, or another person acting as a visual observer, must be able to clearly see your drone at all times. You should be aware of its orientation, etc. Most importantly you need to be sure you aren't going to hit anything, especially manned aircraft. You can briefly look away, for example to check your battery level, but unless you have a visual observer you can not take your eyes off your drone for an extended period of time.
One of the first things you will notice is that the airspace around Lexington is complicated. This is due to our proximity to Hanscom Field in Bedford (class D airspace). To fly in controlled airspace you need clearance, which fortunately has recently become easier with the implementation of LAANC. Note: Previous rules required that you call the controlling facility (in our case Hanscom Tower) in order to operate within 5 miles of an airport. That is no longer the case, and the FAA does not want drone pilots calling towers directly. Getting clearance through LAANC is free and easy through Aloft or one of the other apps listed on the FAA's LAANC website.
The FAA controls all airspace in the US, so local jurisdictions generally can't limit where you fly. But there are some local restrictions on where you, as an operator on the ground, can be. The following document some local restrictions in Lexington and Massachusetts:
It is also best to be courteous to those around you, for example, avoiding your neighbor's yard unless they have given you permission.
This still leaves lots of great places to fly in and around Lexington, so enjoy!
Page last updated: 5 February 2024