Can I fly my drone over people?

On Today's podcast, we discuss all about flying over people. Over the years we all have seen several drone shots of flying over people, most commonly during events such as wedding, and sporting telecasts. Our question for today is from Tom, about carrying out flights over wedding asking us about what are the best drones for flying over people and in reality if the regulations actually allow such flights.
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Timestamps:
01:18 Learn more about upcoming construction themed Drone U experience training
03:55 Today's question on flying over people regulations
06:33 Changes to rules about flying over people and FAA updates
07:43 DJI minis and the point of going over the limits of category 1
09:23 DJI reporting of weight of drone going over the specified weight limits
12:07 Category 2 and 3 eligibilities for drone pilots and compliance to Remote ID
16:52 Flights in an open air assembly
20:10 Practical solutions to flying over considering existing regulations and using the right drone for carrying flights over people

[@Jack__________]

I think he said “weddings.”

[@foellerd]

Regardless of whether or not it’s legal, you gotta always gotta consider what will happen if your drone suddenly drops out of the sky. Use common sense and plan for the worst so even then you’ll be fine and so will everybody else.

[@Joe-wk9ow]

also if you can use a drone that doesn't weigh too much. like use the Mini 4 pro.

[@harleyfolgado]

Can't always be worried about whether your drone randomly crashes. That's like you not ever driving on the freeway vs side street's because your car could crash

[@foellerd]

@@harleyfolgado I think that’s true for commercial drone pilots but nobody should be putting other people and their property at risk if there are safer low risk places to do that. That’s selfish behavior.

[@peacefulthrillseeker]

If your hovering over a covered structure( a building or a similar type of structure/enclosure) then your fine. So you can maneuver within the rules especially flying over people

[@CraigKraemer-cr9sg]

Hi guys, first time viewer here. You understood the rule about sustained flight over people regarding Remote ID compliant the same way I did. Have you heard any other news about this rule? So, if I am transmitting a remote ID I can have sustained flight over people. I guess that includes hovering? Any more thoughts on the topic. Good work! Thanks.

[@LZRFPV]

@9:10 If the FAA is there and unsure if your drone is under .55lbs, they will absolutely weigh your drone. Had it happen to a friend.

[@Virus1024x]

Transitioning and sustained flight are all considered operations over people and need a categorized drone. The definition of transitioning in the faa site is not an exemption, its just a definition. You need a categorized drone any time you are flying over people under any circumstance.

[@peacefulthrillseeker]

Find a covered structure like a building and hover over it so your in compliance. Also, Drone U is correct that the FAA goes after your hovering people because I personally spoke to an FAA inspector and he said the same thing 👍🏽

[@Virus1024x]

@@peacefulthrillseeker my point exactly. People seem to confuse the definition of transitioning as an exception but its just the way its worded on the faa site. Any time you fly over anyone under any circumstance requires a categorized drone. I was just clarifying so theres no confusion.

[@JoseArrom]

I think there may be some confusion about DJI reporting over the legal limit (they would have to bubpoenaed), but the extra weight battery is reported to turn on the RID unit.

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

Traverse Not transverse. While 'traverse' refers to the act of moving across a distance, 'transverse' refers to a direction that is perpendicular or at a right angle to another direction.

[@DronePulse]

Avata 2 good to go then? It is class 1. I have two events coming up that they want drone video of but both are larger gatherings one with fewer than 100 another with greater than 100 people. My whole issue is if I have to notify everyone at the event- do i need to worry about that? (one is a ticketless free public event)

[@ugpfpv361]

I thought the Avata 2 was way over 250g

[@DronePulse]

@@ugpfpv361 i think you are right. it does say class 1 right on the side as well.

[@daze158]

Does sustain flying apply for mini drones that are less 250 grams?

[@ugpfpv361]

They need prop guards

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

The caller explicitly said over or AROUND people. Note that in the operations over people regulations they never use the word "around". That's because over means over. The regulation does say that we should account for the momentum of the drone so that if we're flying towards somebody and the drone suddenly falls, its momentum shouldn't carry it into a person. Other than that (According to the faa) you can fly around people as much as you want, just not OVER them. Your concern for people's safety and your insurance companies outlook might be more conservative than the regulation, so I would suggest that you're careful when flying around people but it's not illegal to do so.

[@MystikSquash]

Class 1 all day

[@FlyingJay117]

Rotor guards. No chunks.

[@UltraVegas76]

Some really bad misinformation in this video. OOP is very clear in Part 107... it says nothing about transiting, that part is limited to categorized drones: § 107.39 Operation over human beings. No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft over a human being unless- (a) That human being is directly participating in the operation of the small unmanned aircraft; (b) That human being is located under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection from a falling small unmanned aircraft; or (c) The operation meets the requirements of at least one of the operational categories specified in subpart D of this part. As far as Visual Line of Sight Being Defined, with subsection (a)2 making it very clear: 107.31 Visual line of sight aircraft operation. (a) With vision that is unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, the remote pilot in command, the visual observer (if one is used), and the person manipulating the flight control of the small unmanned aircraft system must be able to see the unmanned aircraft throughout the entire flight in order to: (1) Know the unmanned aircraft's location; (2) Determine the unmanned aircraft's attitude, altitude, and direction of flight; (3) Observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards; and (4) Determine that the unmanned aircraft does not endanger the life or property of another.

[@SFbayArea94121]

Meh, doing it anyways 😂

[@AI_Phantom_Files]

Ergt ?

[@jeff.pitts.]

Yeah no Google results for me either. I've tried ergot, argot, ergt, argt, etc etc. Nothing

[@Poophead1]

I believe there are two separate terms we should use. "Drone Police " are the ones spouting off on people's posts... the ones that call faa to report people, are Snitches. Just my thoughts.