Let’s Get the Rules Out of the Way
I know this is not the part anybody gets excited about. You bought an airplane because you want to fly it, not because you wanted another list of government acronyms. Still, it is much easier to enjoy the hobby when you know where you can fly and what needs to be done first.
This lesson is about recreational flying in the United States. Rules change, so use this as a starting point and check the FAA recreational-flyer page for the current wording.
Take the TRUST Test
TRUST stands for The Recreational UAS Safety Test. If you fly recreationally, you are required to take it and carry proof that you passed. It is free, online, and it is meant to teach the basics—not trick you.
Save the certificate somewhere you can find it and keep a copy with you when you fly. The FAA does not keep a copy that it can simply send back later.
Does the Airplane Need to Be Registered?
If the airplane weighs 250 grams, or 0.55 pounds, or more, it generally needs to be registered. The current recreational registration costs $5, covers the aircraft in your recreational inventory, and lasts three years.
The registration number needs to be marked on the outside of each registered airplane. It is not enough to hide it inside the battery hatch. Carry proof of registration when you fly.
Remote ID and FRIAs
This is where people understandably get confused. If an airplane has to be registered, it generally also has to comply with Remote ID. That might be built into the aircraft, handled by a broadcast module, or avoided by flying within a Federally Recognized Identification Area—a FRIA—when the rules allow it.
Many established club fields are FRIAs, but do not assume. Ask the club and check the current FAA information for your airplane and flying location.
Airspace Still Matters
In uncontrolled Class G airspace, recreational flyers can fly at or below 400 feet above ground level. In Class B, C, D, or surface Class E airspace designated for an airport, you need prior FAA authorization through LAANC or DroneZone and must stay at or below the altitude you are given.
The old “within five miles of an airport” advice is outdated. You cannot figure this out by distance alone. Lesson 9 shows you how to check the location before you fly.
Where AMA Fits
AMA membership is not an FAA license, and it does not replace TRUST, registration, or airspace authorization. Many clubs require it, and it can provide useful membership benefits. Those benefits and prices can change, so check the current AMA information and the requirements of the club you want to visit.
Next Up
Now we can get back to airplanes. Lesson 3 sorts out trainers, sport airplanes, warbirds, gliders, and the other names you will see while you are shopping.