Iowa Drone Laws

State Drone Laws

These laws are applicable to the entire state of Iowa. These laws fall under the jurisdiction of Iowa Department of transport and Iowa General Assembly. Currently, there is only one state law in Iowa.

HB 2289 // 2014

The following points are included in this law (1):

It is strictly prohibited for the state agencies to use an unmanned aircraft system for the purpose of enforcing traffic laws.
A proper warrant is required to use information which is collected using an unmanned aerial vehicle for various court cases including criminal cases.

Local Drone Laws

These laws are applicable only on certain areas, cities, counties, towns etc. within a state. Presently, there are no local drone laws in Iowa.

Federal Drone Laws

The federal drone laws of the United States of America are enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Government. They are implemented on all states in the country, including Iowa. These laws are divided into three main groups on the basis of purpose of the drone operations.

For Commercially Flying an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The people who wish to operate unmanned aircraft systems for any commercial activities must follow these three steps:

The first step for commercial drone operations is understanding all the Part 107 rules enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. These rules act like a guide for drone operators as they provide them with understanding about how they can legally operate their drones in the US.
The commercial drone operators need to obtain a remote pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. They must pass an Aeronautical Knowledge Test that is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration in order to obtain the remote pilot certification. The following topics are included in this test: applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc.
Operators need to get their unmanned aircraft systems registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The registration is valid for three years and costs around $5. It is encouraged to display the registration number on the unmanned aircraft system. This helps identify the unmanned aircraft system in case it gets stolen or lost.

For Government Operators

Government employees who wish to operate an unmanned aircraft system in the US can opt for one of two routes. They can either follow FAA’s Part 107 rules, or they can obtain a Federal Certificate of Authorization (COA) which is provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. Some of the rules included in FAA’s Part 107 are as follows:

A remote pilot certification must be obtained by drone operators after passing the Aeronautical Knowledge Test conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
If a drone operator wishes to operate their unmanned aircraft system in any airspace other than Class G, then they must obtain a special permission.
The altitude of the unmanned aircraft system should not exceed more than 400 feet.
It is compulsory to get your unmanned aircraft system registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
It is prohibited to operate an unmanned aircraft system at night so that the risk of accidents can be reduced.
A special permit is required for operating unmanned aircraft systems during nighttime, along with proper lights on the UAS.

For Flying a Drone as a Recreational Hobby

In order to operate an unmanned aircraft system as a recreational hobby, Federal Aviation Administration’s “Recreational Model Aircraft” laws must be obeyed. They can also follow the “FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018” which is a guide for drone hobbyists. It informs them about how they can conduct the recreational operations of their unmanned aircraft systems. Some of the recreational drone rules are as follows:

If your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs. you must get it registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Operating an unmanned aircraft system directly above a person without their prior permission is strictly prohibited.
Drone operators are only allowed to operate their drone within Class G airspace.
A special permit is required if a person wishes to operate their unmanned aircraft system in any airspace other than Class G.
Exceeding the altitude of 400 feet is strictly prohibited.
It is compulsory for drone operators to constantly have a visual of their drone while it is airborne.

Drone Regulation Compliance Tips

Here are some drone regulation compliance tips that are universally accepted.

Operating more than one drone at a time is strictly prohibited.

The civil aviation rules of many countries state that it is prohibited to operate more than one drone at a time. This rule helps reduce the chances of accidents.

Operating an unmanned aircraft system behind buildings and trees is strongly discouraged.

Buildings and trees usually obstruct the visual of the drone operators and can increase the risk of accidents. This is why flying a drone behind them is discouraged.

Operating an unmanned aircraft system near aero planes or airports is prohibited.

Flying an unmanned aerial vehicle near a manned aircraft is extremely risky as it disrupts the visuals of the manned aircraft and increases the chance of accidents. Therefore, operations involving unmanned aircraft systems near manned aircraft systems are strictly prohibited.

Operating unmanned aircraft systems near places where emergency operations are underway is prohibited.

It is prohibited to operate unmanned aircraft systems near places in places where public safety can be compromised. This includes places where emergency operations like police operations, firefighter operations, bushfires, and search and rescue operations are underway.

Awareness about the Airspace Restrictions is essential

While operating an unmanned aircraft system in the US, it is extremely important to be aware of the airspace restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Drone operations are restricted in several airspaces. The violation of these restrictions is illegal. (3)