Short answer: Yes. Pass TRUST, register a 250-gram-plus drone, check the airspace and fly where you can see it.
Airspace near you
Allen has no airport of its own, and none of the Allen spots we checked on the FAA's map sit in controlled airspace at ground level. Most of the city is open up to 400 feet. McKinney National is close to the northeast, so still check B4UFLY at each new location.
Where to practice
Simulator first, then an open field with no people underneath. Check with Allen Parks and Recreation before flying in a city park.
Before the first flight, anywhere in DFW
- Pass the TRUST test. It's free, online, and required by law for every recreational flyer. Carry proof when you fly. (FAA)
- Register it if it weighs 250 grams or more. $5, good for three years. Owners must be 13 or older; if your child is under 13, a parent registers it. (FAA)
- Stay at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, and keep the drone where you can see it. (FAA)
- Near an airport? Get permission first. Controlled airspace needs FAA authorization through LAANC before takeoff. The free B4UFLY app shows what's around you. (FAA)
- Know the Texas extras. Texas law bans flying under 400 feet over critical infrastructure, correctional facilities and stadiums with 30,000+ seats, and taking pictures of people or private property to surveil them. (Tex. Gov't Code ch. 423)
FAQ
- Can my kid fly at a school field? Only with the school's permission. It's their property, and kids and staff may be outside.
- What's TRUST? The FAA's free online safety test for recreational flyers. It takes under an hour and never expires.
- Does their drone need Remote ID? If it needs registering, yes. Most new drones broadcast it automatically.
Learn it before they fly it.
The Liftoff Academy teaches kids 12–18 the FAA rules, how to read the airspace map and how to pass TRUST, before their first real flight. 10 self-paced modules, $69.
Nearby: Flying in Plano · Flying in McKinney · All DFW cities