On the heels of stories that some U.S. lawmakers need to ban DJI drones, there was no scarcity of DJI drones within the air this weekend. That’s as a result of Saturday, April 27 marked the sixth 12 months in a row of Drone Security Day 2024.
The nationwide ‘drone vacation’ of kinds is orchestrated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It’s all a approach to encourage native drone pilots, companies, first responders utilizing drones, colleges and extra to return collectively and fly drones — all with security in thoughts.
Teams throughout the nation placed on their very own stay occasions to localize the FAA’s promotional marketing campaign. As for me, I headed to my nearest Drone Security Occasion, which was a Drone Security Day & Swap Meet at Treasure Island in San Francisco, California.
Right here’s a video recap of the Treasure Island Drone Security Day 2024 festivities:
The occasion befell on the GAA Fields on Treasure Island. These mark probably the greatest locations to fly drones in San Francisco for one key purpose: they’re a FAA-approved FRIA website. FRIA is brief for FAA-Acknowledged Identification Areas, which implies no Distant ID is required to fly over the GAA fields.
My trusty DJI Avata 2 got here alongside for the journey with me on Drone Security Day 2024. Past capturing some epic footage of the colourful ambiance, I additionally discovered some methods from the professionals. Drone occasions like this are all the time useful to select up suggestions and methods. Particular due to the parents from UAV911 who helped me get comfy flying with the DJI RC Movement 3. I had sort of been avoiding utilizing it in favor of the DJI FPV Distant Controller 3 on my new Avata 2 drone. I’m simply a lot extra comfy on the sticks, so I didn’t need to be taught the movement controller capabilities. Seems, you can be taught new methods!
And it’s completely nice to be taught new methods from drone pilots of all backgrounds, which you’ll completely do right here! That included first responders, photographers, skilled pilots, academics and drone racers. With such a variety of drone pilots got here a variety of drones, from the DJI Spark (fairly a throwback) to DJI Matrice drones to the brand new Skydio X10D. Yep, this weekend was truly my first time seeing the American-made Skydio X10 in individual).
Seems, my Avata 2 wasn’t the one certainly one of its sort there. Regardless of having launched just a few weeks in the past, different San Francisco drone pilots are on high of the newest and biggest, too!
Right here’s among the footage I caught on my Avata 2 drone:
The Avata 2 begins at $999.
The whole day was a improbable mix of schooling, connection, and pure drone-loving enjoyable. A giant shoutout to the sponsors. That features SF Drone Faculty, Drone of San Francisco, Uncrewed Professional, and Distant Optix, who made this occasion doable.
In the event you’re a drone fanatic within the Bay Space and also you missed the Drone Security Day 2024 shindig, properly, let’s simply say you’ll have main FOMO (worry of lacking out) subsequent 12 months. Belief me, mark your calendars early as a result of that is one occasion you gained’t need to miss in 2025!
And should you’re not within the Bay Space, it’s doubtless there was a Drone Security Day 2024 occasion occurring close to you. Observe together with the FAA’s web site to see what you may plan forward for subsequent 12 months. Can’t wait till subsequent 12 months? Take a look at my information to all kinds of different drone occasions in 2024 occurring around the globe.
Effectively, assuming we will fly DJI drones subsequent 12 months. Alas!