Alabama Drone Laws

State Drone Laws

In Alabama, the state drone laws come under the jurisdiction of Alabama Department of Transport, and Alabama Legislature. Presently, Alabama does not have any distinct policies for the operations of unmanned aircraft systems. Anyone who wishes to operate an unmanned aircraft system within Alabama must comply with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 107 rules.

Local Drone Laws:

These laws are only applicable within certain areas, cities, regions, counties, or towns in the state of Alabama. Currently, there is only one local drone law in this state.

City of Oxford—Ordinance 2016-28

This law is only applicable in the city Oxford, Alabama. According to this law, a drone pilot must comply with the following rules and regulations:

It is strictly prohibited to operate an unmanned aircraft system within or above any property that is owned by the city. This includes parks, recreational areas, and all other places specified by the city’s police.
If a person wishes to operate in these restricted areas, then they must obtain a written permission slip from the police chief of their city.
The city police has power to ensure that the Federal Aviation Administration’s rules are being followed by all drone operators.

If any person fails to obey these laws, then they can be punished by either $500 fine, up to 6 months in jail, or both.

Federal Drone Laws

The Federal Government and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the US is responsible for enforcing the Federal drone laws. These laws are implementable on all states, including Alabama. These laws can be further be divided into three types. [1]

For commercial use of a drone

If a person wishes to operate a drone for commercial purposes, then they must follow three main rules:

The first thing that that a commercial drone pilot must do is learn the Part 107 rules imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. These rules include all the instructions that must be followed by a commercial drone operator.
The second requirement for commercially operating a drone is getting a remote pilot certification from Federal Aviation Administration. This certification can be obtained by clearing an Aeronautical Knowledge Test which is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Topics like applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc. are included in this exam.
The third requirement for commercially operating a drone is that you must fly a drone that is registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. This registration is valid for three years, and costs around $5. After the registration process is complete, it is advised to display the registration number on the unmanned aerial vehicle, so that it is easier to identify it in case it gets lost or stolen.

For Government operators

There are two options available for Government employees who wish to operate an unmanned aircraft system. They can either follow the FAA’s Part 107 rules, just like the commercial drone operators, or they can obtain a Federal Certificate of Authorization (COA) which is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. The Part 107 rules include the following:

It is essential to pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test and obtain a remote pilot certification.
It is mandatory to operate within Class G airspace. A special permit of authorization is required to operate in any other airspace.
The altitude of the drone should be kept below 400 feet.
It is mandatory to get your unmanned aircraft vehicle registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
It is mandatory to operate a drone only during daytime.

For flying a drone as a recreational hobby

Federal Aviation Administration imposed the “Recreational Model Aircraft” laws on people who wish to operate a drone for recreational purpose. The Reauthorization Act of 2018 passed by the Federal Aviation Administration also mentions all the specifics that drone hobbyists need to know of while operating their unmanned aircraft systems. Some of the recreational flying rules are as follows:

It is prohibited to operate a drone in any airspace other than Class G without a special permit.
It is compulsory to keep the altitude of the unmanned aircraft system below 400 feet at all times.
It is obligatory for the drone pilot to keep their drone within their line of sight at all times.
Flying a drone over a person without their consent is strictly prohibited.
If your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs., then you must get it registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Drone Regulation Compliance Tips

These rules and regulations are globally recognized with regards to operating unmanned aircraft systems:

It is always prohibited to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle near places where emergency operations are underway so that the operation is not disturbed in any way. These emergency operations could include search and rescue missions, police missions, firefighting missions etc.
For the purpose of avoiding accidents, it is always encouraged to have a visual of your drone at all times. Keeping your drone within your line of sight is also a requirement by the civil aviation authorities of most countries.
Flying a drone near airports or manned aircrafts is extremely risky, which is why it is strictly prohibited.
The Civil Aviation Safety Laws of several countries have made it compulsory for a person to operate only one drone at a time to avoid accidents.
It is always encouraged to keep an unmanned aircraft system at a relatively lower altitude (around 400 feet).
Operating an unmanned aircraft systems directly above people or vehicles that are in motion is strictly prohibited in almost all countries.
It is encouraged to operate drones during day time. Due to lack of proper visuals at night, the chances of accidents increase immensely. Drones with proper lighting systems may get a special permit to operate at night time.