Short answer: Yes. Pass TRUST, register a 250-gram-plus drone and check the airspace before launch.
Airspace near you
Central and west Keller are inside Fort Worth Alliance Airport's controlled airspace, with LAANC approvals of 300–400 feet. East Keller showed no controlled airspace at ground level in our checks. Check your address on B4UFLY.
Where to practice
Simulator first, then an open field with no people underneath. Ask Keller 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
- Why does Alliance matter? It handles big cargo jets, and its controlled airspace needs FAA authorization before your child flies inside it.
- What does a beginner drone need? Under 250 grams, prop guards and altitude hold.
- Can they fly at night? Start in daylight. Seeing the drone at all times is the rule, and that's far easier before sunset.
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 Southlake · Flying in Fort Worth · All DFW cities