On the heels of reports that some U.S. lawmakers wish 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 yr 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 strategy to encourage native drone pilots, companies, first responders utilizing drones, faculties 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 came about on the GAA Fields on Treasure Island. These mark top-of-the-line locations to fly drones in San Francisco for one key motive: 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 experience with me on Drone Security Day 2024. Past capturing some epic footage of the colourful environment, I additionally discovered some tips from the professionals. Drone occasions like this are at all times useful to select up ideas and tips. Particular because of the parents from UAV911 who helped me get snug 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 snug on the sticks, so I didn’t wish to study the movement controller capabilities. Seems, you can study new tips!
And it’s completely nice to study new tips 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 spread of drone pilots got here a spread of drones, from the DJI Spark (fairly a throwback) to DJI Matrice drones to the brand new Skydio X10D. Yep, this weekend was really my first time seeing the American-made Skydio X10 in individual).
Seems, my Avata 2 wasn’t the one one among its sort there. Regardless of having launched only some weeks in the past, different San Francisco drone pilots are on prime of the most recent and best, too!
Right here’s a number of the footage I caught on my Avata 2 drone:
The Avata 2 begins at $999.
All the 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.
For those who’re a drone fanatic within the Bay Space and also you missed the Drone Security Day 2024 shindig, effectively, let’s simply say you’ll have main FOMO (worry of lacking out) subsequent yr. Belief me, mark your calendars early as a result of that is one occasion you gained’t wish to miss in 2025!
And in the event you’re not within the Bay Space, it’s possible there was a Drone Security Day 2024 occasion taking place close to you. Observe together with the FAA’s web site to see what you’ll be able to plan forward for subsequent yr. Can’t wait till subsequent yr? Try my information to all kinds of different drone occasions in 2024 taking place around the globe.
Properly, assuming we will fly DJI drones subsequent yr. Alas!
