Kentucky Drone Laws

State Drone Laws

These laws are applicable on the entire state of Kentucky. Currently, there is only one state drone law in Kentucky.

HB 540 // 2017

The following points are included in this law:

Commercial airports have the authority to create maps for facilitating unmanned aircraft systems
UAS can only take off and land from certain designated areas in commercial airports
Recklessly operating an unmanned aircraft system and putting others in harm’s way is strictly prohibited

Violating any of these laws can be considered as either a Class A misdemeanor, or a Class D felony, depending on the amount of damage the person has caused.

Local Drone Laws

These laws are only applicable in certain cities, counties, areas, or towns. They are created by the local authorities of that area. Currently, there are no local drone laws in Kentucky.

Federal Drone Laws

The Federal drone laws for the US are formed and implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Federal Government of the US. These laws are applicable on all 50 states, including Kentucky. These laws are categorized into three main groups based on the purpose of the drone operations.

For Government Operators

There are two choices available for government operators who wish to operate an unmanned aircraft system in the US. They can either follow FAA’s Part 107 rules or they can obtain a Federal Certificate of Authorization (COA) which is issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. The following rules are included in FAA’s Part 107:

Passing the Aeronautical Knowledge Test and obtaining a remote pilot certification from the Federal Aviation Administration is a key requirement for operating an unmanned aircraft system.
Exceeding the altitude of 400 feet is strictly prohibited.
Getting your unmanned aircraft system registered with the Federal Aviation Administration is compulsory.
To avoid the risk of accidents, drone operations are restricted during nighttime.
The only airspace available for operating a drone freely is Class G airspace. A special permit is required for operating in any other airspace.

For Flying a Drone as a Recreational Hobby

It is necessary to follow all the “Recreational Model Aircraft” laws for the commercial operations of unmanned aircraft systems in Kentucky, USA. Other than that, the Reauthorization Act of the Federal Aviation Administration is also available for drone hobbyists. This act provides the rules and regulations that must be followed for operating a drone recreationally. The rules specified by the Federal Aviation Authority are:

It is necessary to get your unmanned aircraft system registered with the Federal Aviation Administration if the device weighs more than 0.55 lbs.
Operating an unmanned aerial vehicle directly above any person without their prior consent is strictly prohibited.
It is compulsory to operate an unmanned aircraft system only within Class G airspace.
A special permit must be obtained for operating an unmanned aircraft system in any airspace other than Class G
The altitude of the unmanned aircraft system should be kept below 400 feet.
The drone operators are liable to have a constant visual on their unmanned aircraft system while it is airborne.

For Commercial Purposes of a Drone

The following three requirements must be followed if a person wants to operate an unmanned aircraft system for commercial purposes:

The first requirement for commercially operating a drone is to understand and learn all of the Part 107 rules enforced by the Federal Aviation Administration. These rules provide all the dos and don’ts of commercially operating a drone.
Secondly, it is essential to obtain a remote pilot certification for commercially operating a drone. For obtaining this certification, an Aeronautical Knowledge Test which is conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration has to be passed. In this test, a person is tested on topics like applicable regulations for unmanned aircraft systems, impact of weather on UAS, loading and performance, radio communication, emergency operation, maintenance etc.
The third requirement for commercially operating your drone is to get your drone registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. This registration costs around $5 and it remains valid for up to 3 years. It is encouraged to display the registration number on your unmanned aircraft system so that it is easier to identify in case it gets stolen or lost.

Drone Regulation Compliance Tips

These rules and regulations are globally recognized for the operations of unmanned aircraft systems.

Never operate multiple drones at a given time

Flying a single unmanned aerial vehicle at a given time reduces the risk of accidents. This is why the rule is included in the civil aviation safety laws of several countries.

Never operate a drones near an airport or aero planes

It is strictly prohibited to operate an unmanned aircraft system near an airport or any manned aerial vehicle. This is because unmanned aircraft systems can disturb the visuals of a manned aircraft which can result in the occurrence of very catastrophic accidents.

Never operate an unmanned aircraft system near places where emergency operations are being conducted

It is strictly banned to operate your drone in places where the safety of the public can be compromised, or near places where emergency operations like police operations, firefighter operations, bushfires, search and rescue operations, etc. are being conducted

Be aware of the Airspace Restrictions

It is extremely important to be aware of the airspace restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration while operating a drone in the US. Drone operations are completely restricted in several airspaces (3).

Never fly an unmanned aircraft system behind buildings or trees

While operating an unmanned aircraft system, it is compulsory for the drone operators to have a visual on the drone at all times in order to reduce the chance of accidents. This is why it is prohibited to operate an unmanned aircraft system behind a tree or building, as they obstruct the visual of the drone operator.