"Drones" and the law
2For background, over a decade ago I was flying digital cameras on small electric planes. Back then RC aerial photography was pretty much considered playing with toys.
Now, technology has advanced tremendously, and any yahoo with a few hundred bucks can get a device they can pretty much fly without practice and often do. It suddenly becomes a good idea for someone who's not thinking to try to get footage of the White House, or pull some other stunt that gets bad press. "Drones" are a hot button topic with the media, and have drawn the attention of federal agencies and law enforcement.
There's no unopening that Pandora's box. For better or worse, this hobby has the attention of many people who could, if they so desired, shut it down almost completely. If people don't exercise common sense when flying, it's not unforeseeable that "drones" could be banned.
What are your thoughts on the laws and restrictions related to our hobby? Do you comply completely? Ignore the rules? Or fall somewhere in the middle?
- 5 comments, 18 replies
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I'd say that we're headed in that inevitable direction. One of the reasons this hobby has a compelling interest to me is that in future years it won't exists as fully as is does right now.
Maybe I'm a pessimist but I don't think that responsible pilots being upset at idiot pilots is worth the energy. Restricted airspace, drone identification, registration or even licensing is surely coming. Idiot pilots will not be stopped by stern words.
Texas has a fairly expansive set of laws on the books already - this article is 6 months old but still a good read http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2014/09/25/state-legislation-governing-private-drone-use/
Fortunately the FAA's recent ruling has left much of the hobby unaffected. Well, at least less affected than expected. I find it unfortunate that national parks are now off limits.
As of now, the state in which I live has not done much to limit UAV use in state parks so I feel like I need to make as many opportunities as I can to explore and document my state parks aerially while I still can.
My city has taken a different approach, banning UAV use in all city parts except for designated areas in a very limited number of parks (2 parks in a city with an area of 539 square miles). The closest designated area to me is about a 45 minute drive. So for the time being I fly in school yards and sports fields (typically adjoining a city park).
In general I try not to push the envelope of common sense. Just because the law permits me to fly out in front of my house doesn't mean my neighbors will appreciate it. I am only one person, but I do my best to minimize the waves in my community and hopefully avoid accelerating future restrictions.
In general, the law isn't difficult to obey. Despite my desire to push the Tali up to 1000 feet or more and have a look around, I resist the temptation and have added an alt limit of 400 feet on all my smart craft that are capable, lest I get carried away one day and lose track of altitude.
Much of the rest of FCC's recent rulings had to do with commercial use. I admit it was my intention when I first entered this hobby to partially finance the fun by doing RE aerials and such. I suppose it's not that difficult to get a waiver if I ever decide to pursue it. But for the time being it's not hard to color within the lines of the law. Motivated by my desire to keep flying more than my fear of the man. People being stupid is exactly what's going to get us all grounded.
When the word "drone" is said, the media think of military predator drones. But really what we mean is just small RC quadcopters. :)
@Hawkward agreed - I contemplated a topic discussing the difficulty in terms. There's backlash in drone but it's clearly winning. Quad / Quadcopter isn't broad enough and Multirotor tries too hard. UAV takes explanation too often and sucks verbally.
@snapster Years ago if someone were to make a copy on a copy machine they were making a xerox. The Xerox company needed to protect their brand so they launched a campaign to push the generic word copy to replace the word (small x hence not the brand) xerox. The point is as you said the word drone is clearly winning. But the manufacturers, retailers, and end users could still turn it around by using some word other than drone. UAV sounds like something to avoid so you don't get skin cancer and iPad (Individual Personal Aero Device) is taken. A new thread looking for suggestions may be in order.
@Mehrocco_Mole Hoverfun. Spinamajig. Propellercross. Flygadget. Gravitylaugher.
@brhfl I'm in for one Spinamajig
@brhfl think about this; years ago if you went bowling you went to the bowling alley. But alley had a negative reputation so families stayed away. Today you take your kids to the bowling lanes. The power of one word can be amazing. If the industry were to start using the word QUAD instead of Drone within a few years everyone will be calling them quads.
The power of one. Somewhere someone raised their tankard of ale and said, "You know guys, we ought to tell those British Redcoats to get outta here."
@Mehrocco_Mole right, the problem with Quads is it doesn't describe 5+ rotors or other flying robot configurations. I'm suggesting the problem here is that there is no one in charge and no name obvious enough to bet on. Drone it is.
@Hawkward Yep. This entire comment chain goes on in my head every time i write the word. Don't like it, don't have a clearly better choice. So i put it in quotes.
@snapster Oh this is too easy. Multi-Engine Helocraft or Meh for short. If you want to apply the RAS syndrome than it would be Meh Helocraft. Done and done. You're welcome. (What do you mean someone owns that? Who can own a common word?)
(And RAS syndrome makes it into Googles top 10 inquiries for its brief but glorious moment in history)
@Mehrocco_Mole oh it would be easy for us to rename drones here alright. But anyone externally would ask us if we were just talking about drones.
@snapster Aaaaand Mehrocco_Mole puts his tankard of ale back down on the table.
BTW: Heres another good read from the Wall Street Journal. http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324110404578625803736954968
@Mehrocco_Mole Don't drone me, bro!
Slacker, did you see the local dummy that got in trouble for taking pics of the va?
@nltownsend843 Why would someone get in trouble for taking pics of Virginia? * blink * * blink *
@Mehrocco_Mole
Veterans hospital lol, its a federal building. They took his memory card and fined him $50 per picture.
@nltownsend843 sure didn't, I'll have to look it up.
@nltownsend843 It says he keeps up with the laws, them quotes him: “The law says it can't be over 55 pounds, can't lose sight of it, and you can't go over 700 feet,” said Cougar.
Oops. Also, good thing he wasn't filming, at 30 frames per second that per-image fine would rack up quickly.
Also, way to tempt fate by bringing it back to the same spot he probably flew from for the news crew to film him flying. They're at the park right next to the VA hospital.
I also wonder how political this may be since he was taking photos for a news story critical of the $6 million solar panel installation there.
But to be safe, I'd assume the best bet is that droning only works one way with the feds - they can drone us, but we can't drone them.