Drones

[GaryP1007]

Report out of Boston that a United flight on final approach had a drone pass them with 100 feet of separation.  Strikes me that the "freedom" of drones has gotten ahead of how to control the airspace.  Hopefully we are not waiting for a mid-air to address this issue.  Thoughts?

[bonal]

It's an accident waiting to happen. The ones that can be programmed to fly a GPS route need to have provisions so if they program violates an airspace it should not accept the route. Nothing to stop a stupid opperator from flying manually into a bad situation

[flyboy0681]

Thankfully we haven't found out, but can a drone bring down an airliner? Would it be the equivalent of hitting a bird or a 1972 Ford Pinto?

[Marauder]

I encountered this bad boy a couple of weeks ago. I saw it from about 20 miles away and finally found this picture of it on the Internet. A drone hunter!

[carusoam]

Picture Sully landing in the Hudson...

OK, flock of large birds and two jet engines.

Model rockets have seen some eduction of their users.

Laser light users have made the headlines.

Anyone that gets a drone is now a responsible adult...???

What happened to the guy who flew one over the White House?

Best regards,

-a-

[Tmack1]

I think if a goose can take out and airliner a drone probably can

[ryoder]

I found this site while looking for the Boston info.

http://dronelawjournal.com

I like his discussion about the NTSB never getting involved in paper airplane crashes.

[aviatoreb]

These "toys" range from maybe 3 ounces to several pounds.  I got my son a 3 ounce variety.  It is amazing how much electronics and how stable the little quadcopter thing is.

 

I feel confident that even a one pound metal toy is worse than the same weight in bird - it is more solid and often metals so it would do more damage to an engine, or more easily go through a wind screen.

 

I would hate to see what a 5 lb "toy" would do if it hit a jet.  I fear it would be capable of breachine a wing and causing an instant fire - ie nothing like a bird strike.

[flyboy0681]

So assuming a two pounder can take down a 757, what's to be done? Now that the cat is out of the bag, can they be banned?

[ryoder]

I read a lot of that drone law site and it looks like the faa has no authority over model aircraft. That is a little scary.

[carusoam]

The FAA will have strong interest in somebody violating class B airspace...

More for the stupid human tricks...

Ever see kids tie a piece of string across a street?

Could have been back in the days before the Internet and ABS brakes...

Kids are capable of some pretty stupid things. They just have less money to do them with...

-a-

[scottfromiowa]

I read the opposite. The FAA did litigate and does own ALL the airspace. Guidelines and standards need to be inacted. I personally think there is a very real threat to GA, privacy, falling "stuff" as well as terrorism from drone mis-use. Check out Paul B. (Aviation Consumer). He has written some good stuff on the subject.

I am not holding my breath for the FAA to get out some clarification..beyond their little circular. They are trying to get local police to enforce....Right. That will work.

[scottfromiowa]

More for the stupid human tricks...

Ever see kids tie a piece of string across a street?

Could have been back in the days before the Internet and ABS brakes...

-a-

Yep...On the "where was the parental supervision front"...We used to strip the covers off of golf balls and unwind the rubber bands. Create one "ghost" and levitate it across the street in front of cars. What could go wrong? No curbs, laying in ditch, at night...A+ for creativity. F for "Think you might get run over boys?"....

Then there was the tomato throwing from the deck...another tale for another time..."Hey guys, I think that was my dad"...is part of that story. Morale? Don't throw tomatoes at your former Marine dad's car...Gulp...

[bonal]

I think the FAA is looking into commercial application of the drones not so much recreational use non pilots don't know anything about airspace or TFRs as for stupid kid tricks I could tell some tales that would take the cake

[GaryP1007]

http://www.wcvb.com/news/drone-sighted-by-pilot-landing-at-logan-airport-in-boston/31030600

[schule]

All aerospace operations over U.S. territory follow the same rules. Drones/model aircraft below 300' outside controlled airspace or in specifically allowed airspace are generally allowed for non-commercial operations. Have any of these HATR incidents occurred outside of controlled airspace? All of them I have heard of are on short final or the D.C. prohibited area. Or are the operators failing to know the law?

Problem is too many of these dangerous items are on the street without proper government control and knowledge about the end users. Those users likely need to have proper training, background checks, and a mental health assessments before the government may issue a permit to even purchase/own the device. A good 5 day waiting period should suffice to keep wayward children from forcing mom or dad to buy one in the heat of childish passion. Possession of these devices without proper government drone control should be banned from all except good government employees in the name of public good.

Whoa the day we rely upon an educated free citizenry to make good choices respecting others.

[ryoder]

The FAA doesn't own the airspace ten feet above my lawn or even fifty feet. And they don't regulate or control any state, federal, or local government operated aircraft. So they are not almighty. There are no FARs covering model aircraft. Only advisory circulars.

[N201MKTurbo]

A kid at work built up a quad copter that has 4 2 HP electric motors swinging 32inch carbon props. This thing could kill you! It is a scary beast. Walking up to this thing while it is hovering is frightening. You can push on it while it is hovering and it is like pushing on a solid object.

He came in one day and showed me a GoPro of it loosing control at 3000 AGL! It recovered itself before it took out someone's house. I told him to NEVER EVER do that again and to keep his flights below 100feet and away from people places and things. I told him how much trouble he could get into doing that and how much damage he could cause with that thing. I think he got the message.

The point is this technology is available to anybody and sooner or later something bad is going to happen.

[cliffy]

Back in the day when I flew model aircraft we flew free flight models (no radios or wires) to 300' to 500' agl. Occasionally one would get to 1000' or more in a thermal and this was right on the center line of KVNY about 1 1/2 miles south of the airport. No one ever had an issue. The big problem now is that the quads and some airplanes have stability autopilots so anyone can fly them. Some people are smart some are idiots.

[schule]

14 CFR Part 91.1

Even DOD adheres to the CFRs unless there is a waiver. Do what you will, but please play wisely.

It will be interesting to see how the courts handle a pilot crashing his drone inside the D.C. prohibited area, specifically the front lawn of a particular residence. I would guess any defense based on launching within his personal airspace before losing control will hold merit.

[GaryP1007]

This was at 7,000 feet....

[Guest]

I read the opposite. The FAA did litigate and does own ALL the airspace. Guidelines and standards need to be inacted. I personally think there is a very real threat to GA, privacy, falling "stuff" as well as terrorism from drone mis-use. Check out Paul B. (Aviation Consumer). He has written some good stuff on the subject.

I am not holding my breath for the FAA to get out some clarification..beyond their little circular. They are trying to get local police to enforce....Right. That will work.

I see a whole new department of the FAA to deal with these, sadly there will have to be a budget increase to go with it.

Clarence

[cliffy]

Money spent on something "more important" that 3rd class medical reform or a Part 23 rewrite. Maybe someones buddy needs a new department to run before retirement.

If we all remember TSA right after 911 when they were formed it was explicit in the legislation that they would never have badges (badges, badges they don't need no stinkin badges) AND they would never be unionized. Both lies!

Now not only can't young kids even get onto most airports like us old farts did BUT now they will have to have Federal papers to build and fly model airplanes - I see this coming

[scottfromiowa]

I am talking commercial use with regard to airspace...Taking photos/video for money, Ag etc. Personal use? We shall see. Paul suggests letting FAA off the hook for any and all enforcement/developing of guidelines for operations below 250 feet AGL. We shall see...

You know there are going to be kids/perv's flying them outside of peoples windows "seeing what they can see"....

Brave new world. The way cell phone etiquette is can you imagine drone's? Have you heard how loud one of the copters is? Like a swarm of angry bee's...

One person's "fun"...

[Joe Zuffoletto]

I'm skeptical it was a drone at 7,000'. There are lots of idiots posting long distance and high altitude drone flights, but I've not seen anyone get above 3,000' on YouTube. Maybe someone has and I missed it.

 

I have a Phantom Vision 2+ and not only is 7,000' beyond the range of the controller, but the battery would die before you could get that high.