Can my kid fly in our backyard?

Maybe, with LAANC authorization and at the altitude it allows, often well under 400 feet near the airport.

Is it worth starting here?

Yes. Learning to read the map is the most useful skill a young pilot can have, and Southlake kids learn it first.

What happens if they fly without authorization?

It's a federal violation, and it puts real aircraft at risk. That's why we teach the map before the sticks.

Can my kid fly a drone in Southlake, TX?

Short answer: Often only with permission. Southlake borders DFW Airport, so a lot of the city is in controlled airspace.

Airspace near you

Central Southlake is inside DFW Airport's controlled airspace, with LAANC approvals up to 400 feet. On the east side, closest to the airport, the FAA map allows 0 feet through LAANC: don't fly there. Far west Southlake showed no controlled airspace at ground level. B4UFLY shows the exact line for your address.

Where to practice

Simulator at home, then a field outside DFW's controlled airspace, or an authorized flight with you there. Ask Southlake's parks department 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 in our backyard? Maybe, with LAANC authorization and at the altitude it allows, often well under 400 feet near the airport.
Is it worth starting here? Yes. Learning to read the map is the most useful skill a young pilot can have, and Southlake kids learn it first.
What happens if they fly without authorization? It's a federal violation, and it puts real aircraft at risk. That's why we teach the map before the sticks.

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 Grapevine · Flying in Keller · All DFW cities