Small UAS (At or above 0.55 lbs and less than 55 lbs)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days (UAS) 6; Flight Crew Total (UAS) 50; Flight Crew Type (UAS) 6
Training / Qualification
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Unauthorized Flight Operations (UAS)
General None Reported / Taken
Chart Or Publication; Human Factors; Procedure
On Date at approximately XA:00 Hrs; I was in Olympia; WA for an unrelated event and decided to see if I could fly my drone on the Capitol complex to take videos or photos of the legislative building for recreational purposes. I checked the airspace using the ALOFT B4UFLY app; and could see that the airspace near the Capitol was Class G; but very close to Class E airspace for OLM to the south. I saw no signs or warnings of NO DRONE flying Zones. The areas for which I would take off and land were either flat; mowed grass; or empty concrete sidewalks. The temperature was in the high XA's; low XB's; and the skies were clear with a light breeze out of the south. There were very few vehicles or people in the area because the State Legislature is not in session currently. I parked on N Diagonal road and took off from the sidewalk area there. I completed 4 flights. I maintained VLOS for all my flights. The first I took off from the sidewalk near where I parked; and I elevated to 200 feet AGL; and then flew a path to the Winged Victory Monument and circled it before I returned to the area I took off from. I also walked down to the area in between the Legislative Building and the Temple of Justice and took off from the flag pole area directly in between. I elevated to approximately 330 feet AGL and completed about a 100 degree panning video to the north side around the dome of the Legislative building and then centered the drone and landed in the same spot I took off from. I did this twice for video purposes. Again; I landed safely back where I started. I then took off from mostly the same spot in between the buildings facing towards the Temple of Justice. My focus was on taking a video of the Temple of Justice from the south side of the building while I placed the drone at the same height as the tallest flag pole on the building; then scanning down the front. My last flight I walked back to where I originally parked my vehicle on N Diagonal; then I took off again from the sidewalk area and flew around the Tivoli fountain over the grassy areas; never going higher than approximately 150 feet AGL. I had no problems or concerns at the time during these flights. Now; 5 days later; I am speaking to a friend who is also a drone operator; but also a commercial pilot about my recent drone flights. After discussing these flights; he stated that it was not authorized to fly a drone on the Capitol complex. I said I checked the B4UFLY app; and did not see any signs or postings while on the grounds of the campus. Following our conversation; I then went and did more research now looking at non-aviation sites; as well as searching Sectional Aeronautical Charts on a commercial website and found that it is indeed not authorized to fly on the Capitol grounds and apparently numerous areas around there. I also then went an checked an aeronautical section chart (learning to read them) and do now see that there is airspace restrictions over the Capitol complex. My friend advised me I should report this incident to help ensure others like me potentially won't make this same mistake. As a recreational pilot; who is working on getting my Part 107 certification; I have been attending training using the FAASafetey.gov site; and am operating under the understanding that any airspace restrictions; would be listed on the B4UFLY app. This is obviously NOT accurate. Following my friends notification that I may have violated airspace; I checked again on the B4UFLY app and again found no Special Use Restrictions; no TFR's; or any indication of not being able to fly on the Capitol grounds in the areas I flew. It was an open area and clear weather. The Class E restrictions appear to start to the south of the building. I would have never even considered flying if the Legislature was in session due to the amount of people on the ground and in the area. I will continue learning where to best get information about the areas for which I am permitted to fly and abide by the restrictions I am aware of; or should be aware of. I think this can be avoided for others in the future if the training for recreational or Part 107 pilots via the FAA; included ALL the locations to gather flight data prior to flight. Additionally training on the clear expectation that flying a drone requires you to know; use and understand Sectional Aeronautical Charts; as well as placing that information in the most accessible place to Recreational pilots. I have downloaded and used all the apps for flying a drone that have been pushed to use by the FAA on their websites. In my course of attempting to earn my Part 107 certification; I have taken the classes through the FAA websites to prepare me; and I feel very unprepared given this mistake I apparently made. I of course want to do the right thing; fly safely; and abide by the rules. I will continue to make efforts to learn and improve.
Recreational/Hobbyist pilot was flying UAS in an area restricted by state law.