About our Drone Program

What We Are About

IWLAR started its drone program in April 2021. Drones have proven to be useful tools for a number of industries including conservation, agriculture, forestry, real estate, construction, and search and rescue. Drones are also a lot of fun to fly recreationally. Our program provides an opportunity for new users to learn how to fly drones using either our indoor drones or our drone simulator and practice flying their drones recreationally at our lake. Our program is available to our members and Scouts affiliated with our chapter. We encourage more seasoned users to obtain a drone license and we provide a seminar on how to do that, complete with study tips. To obtain a license, you have to be at least 16 years old, able to speak and understand English, physically and mentally capable of safely flying drones, and pass the aeronautical knowledge exam: “Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG).”

Safety

We encourage our drone pilots to fly safely and in accordance with all IWLAR, State, and FAA rules. All of our members and Scouts who wish to fly drones on IWLAR property have to complete our Drone Safety Seminar and understand the IWLAR rules. All drones over .55 lbs. [250 grams] have to be registered with the FAA. The FAA now requires that all drone pilots complete The Recreational UAG Safety Test (TRUST).

Resources

Drone photograph of IWLA-R Jim Berrier Memorial Lake

Learn How to Fly a Drone

We provide training on how to fly a drone every Tuesday night during the summer from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Training is provided via our flight simulator or our Tellos indoor drones. You choose that path you wish to pursue. You need no prior training with drones

Recreational Flying

Recreational flights at the lake are available most Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to noon, weather permitting. On non-windy days, members that do not own their own drone can use the Chapter-owned Tellos drones. Participation is open to members and Scouts affiliated with our chapter.

Prerequisites

  • Completion of our Drone Safety Seminar
  • Drones weighting over .55 lbs. (250 grams) are registered with the FAA
  • You have completed the FAA Trust training