Flying a drone is a fun hobby all year round, even at Christmas time. With these tips from Henri Hohtari, senior inspector at the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom, you can fly your drone safely without disrupting traffic or disturbing your neighbours.
“When you are flying a drone, you should remember two important things: flight safety and privacy. You need to be able to see your drone at all times and only fly it in permitted areas,” says Senior Inspector Henri Hohtari.
Here is how you can fly your drone safely while being mindful of other people:
1. Make sure: Always keep your drone within your line of sight. Take weather conditions into account: strong winds can carry your drone farther than intended. Also remember the permitted flight altitude.
2. Be mindful: Remember to respect everyone’s privacy and domestic peace. Make sure not to fly your drone over people or near homes in a disruptive way. Also remember that rules concerning photographing and filming in public places apply to drones, too.
3. Check: Check safe flying zones. Be especially mindful of the distance to any airports. For information on flight restrictions, check droneinfo.fi (External link) and the Droneinfo application.
Legislation concerning drones will be gradually amended starting 1 July 2020. Drone pilots will need to take a test and register themselves. At the same time, the distinction between recreational drone use and aerial work will be removed. Read more in the Traficom newsletter (External link) (in Finnish).
Enquiries
Henri Hohtari
Senior Inspector
rpas(at)traficom.fi
tel. +358 29 534 6230