Can my 12-year-old fly a drone?

Yes. TRUST has no minimum age. If the drone needs registering and your child is under 13, you register it.

Do they need a license?

Not to fly for fun. To get paid, they need an FAA Part 107 certificate, which they can earn at 16.

Can they fly over our neighbor's house?

Legally the FAA controls the sky, but Texas law bans using drone pictures to surveil people or private property. Teach them to stay over your own yard or open land.

Can my kid fly a drone in Frisco, TX?

Short answer: Yes. Kids can fly for fun in Frisco once they pass the FAA's free TRUST test, register the drone if it's 250 grams or more, and check the airspace before they launch.

Airspace near you

Good news for Frisco families: the FAA's airspace map shows no controlled airspace at ground level at any of the Frisco spots we checked, east, west or central. Most backyards and fields are open up to 400 feet. McKinney National and Addison airports are nearby, so check your exact address on B4UFLY before each new spot.

Where to practice

Start in a simulator, then a big open field with no people underneath and nothing to snag. Ask Frisco Parks & Recreation before flying in a city park; rules vary park by 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 12-year-old fly a drone? Yes. TRUST has no minimum age. If the drone needs registering and your child is under 13, you register it.
Do they need a license? Not to fly for fun. To get paid, they need an FAA Part 107 certificate, which they can earn at 16.
Can they fly over our neighbor's house? Legally the FAA controls the sky, but Texas law bans using drone pictures to surveil people or private property. Teach them to stay over your own yard or open land.

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.

Start flight school tonight

Nearby: Flying in Prosper · Flying in Plano · All DFW cities