What safety distances should be maintained from people and property during UAS operations?

What safety distances should be maintained from people and property during UAS operations?

• A. There is no required distance if you have a permit.
• B. Maintain minimum standoff from bystanders; follow local rules for minimum distance from people, vehicles, and structures; use barriers if needed.
• C. Stay within 5 meters of people.
• D. Fly over crowds as long as you have a spotter.

Answer: (B)

Maintaining safe distances from people and property is about protecting bystanders and reducing risk during UAS operations. The best practice is to keep a minimum standoff from bystanders, and to follow local rules for the minimum distance from people, vehicles, and structures; if needed, use barriers to create a controlled area. This approach aligns with how drone safety is managed in many places: you plan to keep distance from people not part of the operation, and you set up barriers or exclusion zones to prevent entry into the flight area. A permit does not waive these safety requirements, flying over crowds is generally not allowed or requires special authorization, and a spotter does not by itself make it acceptable to operate over people.

Maintaining safe distances from people and property is about protecting bystanders and reducing risk during UAS operations. The best practice is to keep a minimum standoff from bystanders, and to follow local rules for the minimum distance from people, vehicles, and structures; if needed, use barriers to create a controlled area. This approach aligns with how drone safety is managed in many places: you plan to keep distance from people not part of the operation, and you set up barriers or exclusion zones to prevent entry into the flight area. A permit does not waive these safety requirements, flying over crowds is generally not allowed or requires special authorization, and a spotter does not by itself make it acceptable to operate over people.