Visiting the VT Drone Park
Why fly at the VT Drone Park?
The Virginia Tech Drone Park is a football sized enclosed space where students, researchers, and members of the community are given the opportunity to explore UAS operations. Because the space is enclosed by netting, it is not considered FAA designated airspace, meaning drone users do not need special certification to fly within the cage. The main requirement to fly at the Drone Park is making a reservation by emailing us at VTDronePark@vt.edu.
To fly in other locations on campus, Virginia Tech Drone Policy requires drone operators to complete an online flight approval with completion of the Virginia Tech UAS Training Course and FAA Part 107 certification. In the drone park, these requirements are not needed. The Virginia Tech UAS Training Course is not required to fly in the Drone Park.
Drone Park Features
The Drone Park consists of the fully enclosed, netted flight area and a small, adjacent building. The enclosed cage has a footprint of 300' x 120' (~91.5m x ~36.5m) and is 85' (~26m) tall. The flight area has eduroam WiFi, multiple power access points, a weather station, and lighting. The building includes a lab, classroom, restroom, and office. The lab is open for Drone Park users to work on their sUAS and includes soldering stations, tools, a battery charging station, 3D printer, and laptop with flight simulator, and programs such as Agisoft Metashape for students to explore. The lab also houses many of the Virginia Tech library drones available for rent by VT students or faculty with a Part 107 certificate. The building also contains fire extinguishers and first-aid kits.
Scheduling use at the VT Drone Park
To schedule a time to use the Virginia Tech Drone Park, follow the steps below:
- Check for an open time on the Drone Park on our calendar on the Canvas home page or below.
- Email vtdronepark@vt.edu with your name, organization, number participating, and requested date/time.
- Arrive at the drone park on time for your scheduled appointment or let the staff know if your plans change ASAP. Check the weather forecast beforehand in case that impacts your planned activity.
- Check in with Drone Park staff for a safety briefing prior to beginning operations. We can provide you with folding tables, power cords, helipads, safety glasses, a shade canopy, and more as-needed.
- Have fun and be safe!
Location and Parking
The drone park is located at 2143 Oak Lane. The map below shows the location of the drone park.
Drone Park users can park at the Duck Pond Overflow Lot, or on the gravel access road directly in front of the flight area. A VT parking pass is required. After parking at the Drone Park, please stop in the lab to inform staff of your arrival.
Blacksburg Transit buses also have a stop at the Duck Pond Overflow Lot. Information about bus schedules can be found here: getaround.vt.edu/getting-around-vt/blacksburg-transit.html
WeatherSTEM
Be aware of any weather conditions that may impact your ability to fly. It is not safe to operate drones under certain weather conditions such as precipitation or high winds. If the weather is not suitable during your scheduled time, email us at vtdronepark@vt.edu to reschedule another time to fly, or to cancel. To check the weather at the drone park, use WeatherSTEM Links to an external site..
Events and Tours
In addition to research and classes, the VT Drone Park hosts multiple tours, camps, events, and competitions each year for groups of any size. Due to the nature of the facility, most activities here are weather-dependent. Contact us at VTDronePark@vt.edu for more details.
Calendar