Why Do People Hate Drones?

[Zorba]

Oh yeah I would not fly in a national/provincial park. It's illegal in most cases. I was thinking more of a normal forest kinda deal, where there's not really any jurisdiction that governs it. Though even then technically there is still some rules and what not like you can't just go build there.

I did fly mine at the local provincial park though, but I was not even going higher than the trees, and was just like a 5 minute thing, wanted to get a good view of the lake and mostly just messing around. My drone probably qualifies more as a RC toy as it's like the size of my hand. I stopped flying when other people showed up though, as respect. That's the thing, these strict rules would not be in place if people used common sense but there's always idiots that ruin it for everyone. People here are generally more lax about stuff like that though. Like this is pretty cool footage someone took around the city but if you were to go by the rules it would be pretty much illegal flying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5D2BSoivxI But common sense was used in that video, it was not endangering anyone.

Yeah, I was talking about federal designated wilderness in national parks. I don't have any issue with flying them out in the sticks.

Really I don't even have an issue with someone flying it down the beach for a few minutes. The problem is as they become more and more common, it won't be one drone for 5-10 minutes. It will be multiple drones all day long, as everyone wants to get their own shot.

Just imagine how the experience would be different, if all of these people had drones, I've stood there with literally 50 people serious enough to have DSLRs and tripods:

 

[Paratus]

Dumbass pilots are the problem. These things aren't toys. The problem is they are so easy to fly people do dumb things with them.

Like this guy who flew around the Seattle Space Needle and crashed into it. Assuming it was on accident, (which I assume as that was a $3000+ DJI inspire 1) it looks like he lost contact with it and it tried to fly home. Only there was a space needle in the way.

https://www.google.com/amp/paleofut...rone-into-the-space-needle-cou-1791160751/amp

(The guys on top who were almost hit were setting up for New Years fireworks)

The ease of flight lulls you into not planning what happens if something goes wrong.

 

[ninaholic37]

They're not birds. They're not planes. They don't have life inside them. They are like flying smartphones, invading my airspace! Go back in your master's pocket or back yard where you belong. It is our duty to shoot them down and kill them imo.

 

[Elizabethan]

I am an amateur photographer and would consider getting a drone for some spectacular aerial shots. In an ideal situation, no other human would have to see or hear me operate it (I do most of my photography far away from people anyway). If they did, I'd shut down and move somewhere else. (I generally don't like people in my shots anyway.)

Having said that, I have disliked nearly every encounter I have had with a drone handler. I don't think it's ignorance, fear of technology, or paranoia that makes people dislike these things. All my unpleasant experiences have been with people flying the damn things just a few feet from my head. It's invasive to fly them around people. Yes, there is a small privacy concern. I get annoyed with them in the same way I get irked if I see someone pointing a phone in my direction. I may not be the main attraction in the frame but, low resolution or not, I am a private person and prefer not to be in another citizen's video or photo. My main complaint is the buzzing sound! It is very annoying and distracting.

Don't be a selfish or invasive person. Don't fly them around strangers.

 

[Thebobo]

Its simple BECAUSE THEY CANT THERMAL! well not the rotor kind.

 

[sdifox]

Madam President hasn't been here for 35 weeks

 

[Paratus]

I am an amateur photographer and would consider getting a drone for some spectacular aerial shots. In an ideal situation, no other human would have to see or hear me operate it (I do most of my photography far away from people anyway). If they did, I'd shut down and move somewhere else. (I generally don't like people in my shots anyway.)

Having said that, I have disliked nearly every encounter I have had with a drone handler. I don't think it's ignorance, fear of technology, or paranoia that makes people dislike these things. All my unpleasant experiences have been with people flying the damn things just a few feet from my head. It's invasive to fly them around people. Yes, there is a small privacy concern. I get annoyed with them in the same way I get irked if I see someone pointing a phone in my direction. I may not be the main attraction in the frame but, low resolution or not, I am a private person and prefer not to be in another citizen's video or photo. My main complaint is the buzzing sound! It is very annoying and distracting.

Don't be a selfish or invasive person. Don't fly them around strangers.

As a drone pilot I avoid flying directly over people as I have no wish to hurt anyone should it have a failure and fall. I also fly high enough that the sound is attenuated. I do not treat it as a toy and follow all FAA rules. I would agree with you that many drone operators do treat it like a toy and fly in an unsafe manner.

As for being a private person, if you are in public you have no legal expectations of privacy. Now that being said if you live in Texas it is illegal to use a drone for ‘surveillance’ of private people or private property without consent. Heavy fines and civil penalties can be levied on violators if their video causes financial damages.

So if a video from a drone at 390ft viewed 100’s of private houses and businesses the hypothetical fines and penalties could be in the $millions.

The same video taken at 500ft from a plane or helicopter would be perfectly legal. Similarly if I put a GoPro on a stick and took pictures 8ft above the ground that would be legal. If it’s mounted on a drone at 8ft and was deemed ‘surveillance’ that would be illegal.

These rules do not apply to the police, business or within 25 miles of the Mexican border.

Now no one that I’ve heard about has been prosecuted under this law so no court has determined what ‘surveillance’ means. However since I have no desire to be the first I almost never post video online.

The law came about because a meat packing plant was caught by a drone operator illegally dumping blood and offal into a nearby creek. The owners contacted their state representative and warned of PETA and others overflying ranches and the meat industry looking for illegal practices. So we got this law that allows a business to recover any monetary losses from fines due to illegal behavior if they were caught by a drone operator.

 

[Red Squirrel]

What's funny is the drone rules are so restrictive compared to other things. I took a bunch of pictures from inside a helicopter. If I posted that on the Internet and said they were from a drone people would be freaking out about how I broke the law. If a helicopter can safely fly in those places I don't see why a drone can't. Only thing is they should really mandate ADS-B for drones so that other aircraft can see where they are. Maybe keep the current rules, but lift them for any drone that is fitted with a beacon and ADS-B. They should have certain requirements like that and if they are met then some rules no longer apply.

Wonder if an air ship would count as a drone. If you built a RC blimp that is essentially under like 100 grams or whatever that set point is because it's filled with hydrogen it would not fall under the typical drone rules.

 

[sdifox]

What's funny is the drone rules are so restrictive compared to other things. I took a bunch of pictures from inside a helicopter. If I posted that on the Internet and said they were from a drone people would be freaking out about how I broke the law. If a helicopter can safely fly in those places I don't see why a drone can't. Only thing is they should really mandate ADS-B for drones so that other aircraft can see where they are. Maybe keep the current rules, but lift them for any drone that is fitted with a beacon and ADS-B. They should have certain requirements like that and if they are met then some rules no longer apply.

Wonder if an air ship would count as a drone. If you built a RC blimp that is essentially under like 100 grams or whatever that set point is because it's filled with hydrogen it would not fall under the typical drone rules.

A helicopter is a lot more visible than a drone.

 

[mikeymikec]

A helicopter is a lot more visible than a drone.

and I'm pretty sure you have to be qualified and hold a valid licence to fly a helicopter.

 

[Thebobo]

Well not a radio controlled helicopter and they can get pretty big. Although it does take a lot more skill to fly then a 4 rotor.

 

[Darwin333]

The law came about because a meat packing plant was caught by a drone operator illegally dumping blood and offal into a nearby creek. The owners contacted their state representative and warned of PETA and others overflying ranches and the meat industry looking for illegal practices. So we got this law that allows a business to recover any monetary losses from fines due to illegal behavior if they were caught by a drone operator.

What in the everliving name of fuck?

 

[Thebobo]

What in the everliving name of fuck?

yep anti dont see the bad things law if you look you go to jail. Like testing the waters in creeks near power plants is some states is against the law.

 

[Darwin333]

A helicopter is a lot more visible than a drone.

And has a licensed pilot that has undergone extremely expensive and extensive training.

I own and fly a drone and even have a Remote Pilot Certificate (drone license) but drones flying where other aircraft are flying/might be flying is a horrendously bad idea.

 

[Thebobo]

And has a licensed pilot that has undergone extremely expensive and extensive training.

I own and fly a drone and even have a Remote Pilot Certificate (drone license) but drones flying where other aircraft are flying/might be flying is a horrendously bad idea.

lol you mean the certificate from the FAA?

 

[Darwin333]

lol you mean the certificate from the FAA?

Yes, specifically FAA part 107.

 

[Thebobo]

Yes, specifically FAA part 107.

Ah the non-hobbyist ok I get it. I just have the one where you had to register your RC airplanes but I think that stopped now for regular RC hobby aircraft.

 

[Paratus]

What in the everliving name of fuck?

http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/...re-hampering-journalists-and-citizens-9272138

In 2011 someone flew a drone over the Trinity River and spotted a meat packing plant diverting pig blood into the river. The pilot took the footage to Dallas County authorities and, after an investigation, a grand jury returned 18 indictments against Columbia Packing Co. and two vice presidents.

The company beat the charges — county officials trespassed during the initial investigation — but the case became a watershed example of how unmanned aircraft could be used for environmental activism, citizen journalism and media reporting.

Two years later, the Texas Legislature created a law that appears to make all that sort of thing illegal. The 2013 Texas Privacy Act specifically calls out drones for special restrictions. The law includes guidelines for criminal and civil punishments: a Class C misdemeanor “if the person uses an unmanned aircraft to capture an image of an individual or privately owned real property in this state with the intent to conduct surveillance.”

The civil action section is more broad, saying “an owner or tenant of privately owned real property located in this state” can bring legal action against a person who captured an image of the property, owner or tenant. Penalties start at $5,000 for capturing an image, $10,000 for the display or distribution of any images and recovery of “actual damages” if the drone operator “distributes the image with malice.”

The Texas Privacy Act has exemptions that protect specific commercial uses. The exemptions read like a list of preferred Texas industries. Oil and gas companies can use them to inspect pipelines. Energy companies are also allowed to inspect natural gas equipment. Engineers and real estate agents have specific loopholes. Universities can fly drones while conducting research. Other states that passed similar regulations restrict law enforcement’s use of drones, but Texas’ law stipulates that the police can use them without obtaining a warrant.

 

[Darwin333]

Ah the non-hobbyist ok I get it. I just have the one where you had to register your RC airplanes but I think that stopped now for regular RC hobby aircraft.

I wouldn't say that I'm a non-hobbyist but I do make a few bucks on the side with my drone, mostly from people seeking me out from my normal day job after they see the pics/video of my scope of work. I don't advertise or have specialized gear beyond a hobby drone but after looking into it the test was easy really easy and it didn't cost much to get the cert. I figured that was way better than getting on the wrong side of the FAA not to mention the fines they can buttfuck you with.

 

[Darwin333]

http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/...re-hampering-journalists-and-citizens-9272138

So if a drone owner captures a company doing something absurdly illegal and as a result the business is shut down the drone operator can be sued for the entire value of the business and lost income?

 

[Paratus]

So if a drone owner captures a company doing something absurdly illegal and as a result the business is shut down the drone operator can be sued for the entire value of the business and lost income?

That’s the way I read the law. The reporter in that link was worried about it to. He uses the drone to report on some business that takes a financial hit, they sue him and the paper under this law.

They lawyers he talked to think there’s a good chance to overturn the law in court but it would be expensive.

 

[Darwin333]

That’s the way I read the law. The reporter in that link was worried about it to. He uses the drone to report on some business that takes a financial hit, they sue him and the paper under this law.

They lawyers he talked to think there’s a good chance to overturn the law in court but it would be expensive.

Oh yeah, just because you can overturn a law in court doesn't mean that you can afford to.

 

[Paratus]

Oh yeah, just because you can overturn a law in court doesn't mean that you can afford to.

I fly a modded Phantom 1 (3d gimbal, larger Phantom 2 rotors, larger battery, analog transmitter with on screen display), so I can remove the GoPro from the gimbal and fly without the camera if I want.

Between that not flying like an idiot and not posting pics or video I so far haven’t had a problem. I’d like to keep it that way.

What are you flying?

 

[Darwin333]

I fly a modded Phantom 1 (3d gimbal, larger Phantom 2 rotors, larger battery, analog transmitter with on screen display), so I can remove the GoPro from the gimbal and fly without the camera if I want.

Between that not flying like an idiot and not posting pics or video I so far haven’t had a problem. I’d like to keep it that way.

What are you flying?

I was flying a Phantom 3 advanced that I bought some time ago which was perfectly fine for my needs. My folks bought me a nice Phantom 4 Pro package (4 high capacity batteries!) for Xmas, although I didn't ask for it the upgraded camera and new features are pretty cool. It's faster to get flying with the new props, the camera is much improved but for my needs the old one was fine, it flys faster in sport mode, the obstacle avoidance is pretty cool and the absolute best feature by far is that I get 6-7 minutes more flight time off each battery. 6 or 7 minutes doesn't sound like much but as a drone pilot yourself you know how huge that is. I get almost 30 minutes of flight time per battery up from a little over 20 minutes with my 3.

What kind of flight time are you getting?

 

[Paratus]

I was flying a Phantom 3 advanced that I bought some time ago which was perfectly fine for my needs. My folks bought me a nice Phantom 4 Pro package (4 high capacity batteries!) for Xmas, although I didn't ask for it the upgraded camera and new features are pretty cool. It's faster to get flying with the new props, the camera is much improved but for my needs the old one was fine, it flys faster in sport mode, the obstacle avoidance is pretty cool and the absolute best feature by far is that I get 6-7 minutes more flight time off each battery. 6 or 7 minutes doesn't sound like much but as a drone pilot yourself you know how huge that is. I get almost 30 minutes of flight time per battery up from a little over 20 minutes with my 3.

What kind of flight time are you getting?

Piss poor. I can’t even imagine 30 minutes of flight time.

Stock, the Phantom 1 gets 10-15 minutes with no camera or prop guards depending on the wind.

Adding the additional weight and power draw from the camera, gimbal, transmitter and guards knocks it in half. Adding in the larger phantom 2 props and going from the stock 2200mah to a 2800mah battery gets me back around 8-11 minutes.

After snapping off the original battery door. I picked up an extended battery door. My next upgrade will probably be a 4000mah battery.