What's Happening in Raleigh, NC…

With their use increasing, the City of Raleigh has recently devised a policy to establish where users can launch and land their drones or unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the city's parks.

Pilots of recreational drones must comply with the city's policy, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) flight rules.

Drones that weigh 400 grams (about 14 ounces) or less can be launched and landed in almost any park in the City of Raleigh, although it is not permitted to fly them from cemeteries, wetland centers, lakes, or nature preserves.

Drones that weigh over 400 grams can only be flown in six of Raleigh's parks, and only in specific areas within these parks. These areas are: an open space in Bailiwick Park, from dawn to dusk; a multipurpose field in Eastgate Park, from noon to dusk; a multipurpose field in Spring Forest Park, from noon to dusk; a multipurpose field in Marsh Creek Park, from dawn to dusk; the large field only in Dorothea Dix Park, from dawn to dusk; and a multipurpose field in Southgate Park, from noon to dusk.

The city has also provided guidelines for those who would like to launch model rockets in the parks. In order to make sure people understand such policies, officials can work with a poster printing company to create informative materials to share.