A friend decided to purchase a more advanced avionics suite than a combination of what is in an Airbus A380, a Boeing 787, and a Gulfstream G650. In other words, he has a DJI drone.
We went around our local town asking the Millionaires Who Hate Trump if they would mind if we flew the drone near their property. One hundred percent of the people with whom we talked refused to permit the operation. The only people who were polite and accommodating were the Tower controllers at Hanscom Field, one of the busier airports in the U.S. (more than 300 operations per day). These are the folks who actually do own and control the airspace in question.
In addition to being awed by the DJI technology, I learned that folks in Massachusetts seem to hate drones!
Supposedly the FAA, not the states or local authorities, regulates airspace. I wonder if the fix will be to make it an illegal human activity (“no human is illegal,” of course, but humans may still engage in illegal activities?) to control a drone while standing on the ground. This will motivate folks to bring back Google Glass and control the drone without an obvious rig?
Readers: If you have a drone, what have you observed? As the U.S. population expands to densities formerly known only in China, will we have to give up our drones to keep Americans from killing each other? (Second Amendment guarantees that people will have guns, but drones are optional!)
Related:
- “Is Flying a Drone Illegal? A Comprehensive Guide to America’s Drone Laws”
- article on a North Carolina law outlawing flying drones near prisons (how can this be a valid law if the FAA has exclusive authority to regulate airspace? how is it consistent with the First Amendment? What if a news site wants to show a video of life in the American Gulag? The particular law is only for the last 250′ AGL, but it still seems to be in conflict with established doctrine regarding the FAA.)
I own a drone. I’ve only attempted to fly it twice outside, both times it crashed into my neighbors house(no damage to house or drone). Flying is a lot harder than I thought, even a drone.
Apparently at least some Catholics don’t like drones either: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/04/03/parish-criticised-after-flying-blessed-sacrament-from-drone/
Tony:
Perhaps, it would be prudent to learn flying one in a large secluded area ?
It’s initially tricky to control a cheap ($35-40) drone, but I learned to fly one in my backyard without irritating the neighbors by crossing the property line, much less hitting their structures.
A DJI is much easier to fly in comparison, but it’s loss is much harder to bear.
Some people get downright angry over the thought of drones. Usually it’s clear they have no idea what they’re talking about. Some of the most outlandish comments I’ve seen where on the Nextdoor app. It’s baffling that people can get so worked up over something which they’re completely ignorant of. Guns, no problem; drones, no way in hell! Makes one wonder what they’re doing in their house, or what super natural, sci-fi movie powers they believe these drones to have. Missiles, 100x telephoto x-ray lenses? Cities are passing ordinances preemptively to prevent imaginary problems. I’ve been yelled at for landing at a park(I wasn’t even flying within earshot) by someone who was part of a group that was occupying a significant par of the park with many 4-person tents despite no camping signs. Other than that, all the people I’ve encountered while flying have either kept to themselves or been pleasant and curious.
Presumably the intent of the NC law is to ban drone delivery of certain items of interest to the prison inmates.
The trouble with private drones in a residential setting is that there is no upside for the other residents. Your drone can anonymously perv on teenage girls or perhaps check if there is anybody at home who would mind a burglary. Great, for you.
My only encounter with a drone was at a beach, where one roared up from a couple of hundred of meters away, hovered for a few seconds above me, then disappointedly roared away again as the operator realized I’m a saggy old male.
Ivan: It was actually 29.99! I have since taken to practicing in my basement. Fortunately for me the house it hit was not damaged at all and is owned by a single guy who drives a BMW Z8, so not the demographic who would be pissed off by such a thing.
Tony:
I had a Syma X5c which is apparently much easier to handle that an even cheaper variety like Hubsun — my friend’s kid has one, and could barely control it. I could take quite decent pictures of my house faceboards and the chimney structure that had some woodpecker damage — the Syma is equipped with a rudimentary camera.
Hope you won’t hit his Z8. It may have some serious consequences.
If random dude asks if he can fly his drone over my property I will thank him for asking, and then tell him no thanks.
And I’m not even a millionaire!
Jim: They actually don’t need your permission unless it lands on your property. The airspace is owned by the FAA.
Ivan: Luckily the Z8 is in a garage!