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Wired Cautions Would-Be Drone Photogs on the 4th

Posted by timothy on from the lesson-is-to-just-build-fireworks dept.

Last year's spectacular but unauthorized you-are-there video from the inside of a fireworks display has probably inspired quite a few people to try getting their own bird's-eye view this year. Wired cautions photographers, though, that many municipalities have specifically banned (and some will be looking for) unauthorized airborne visitors, and that the FAA's guidelines for legal flight are tricky to comply with during a fireworks show. This is both because it's hard to maintain visual contact with a drone amid the dark and smoke of a show, and because of the altitude at which many commercial firework shells burst. In addition, even if a drone photo mission goes under the radar vis-a-vis local authorities, if resulting footage appears on an ad-supported site, like YouTube, the FAA may be a bit more interested than the pilot would like.

72 comments

  1. Photogs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Is that like an Apple II GS?

    1. Re:Photogs? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3, Informative

      Is that like an Apple II GS?

      the term has been around a bit longer than that.

      http://www.merriam-webster.com...

      photog
      noun photog \f-täg\
      Definition of PHOTOG

      : one who takes photographs : photographer
      Examples of PHOTOG

      Origin of PHOTOG

      short for photographer
      First Known Use: circa 1906

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  2. I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Jackasses seem to keep ruining it for everyone. For example i was at an art show and it was pretty packed, some jackass drone operation was flying a larger model, around 4kg / 10 lbs or so, up and down the isles probably 15 feet over people's heads. It was large enough that a simple slip up, if not outright killing someone would have caused a few trips to the ER. It's that kind of jackassery that ruins it for everyone. It's finally starting to be a greater danger to be injured by an idiot teenager looking for some hits on his youtube channel than being hit by a stray firework.

    1. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1, Funny

      Jackasses seem to keep ruining it for everyone. For example i was at an art show and it was pretty packed, some jackass drone operation was flying a larger model, around 4kg / 10 lbs or so, up and down the isles probably 15 feet over people's heads. It was large enough that a simple slip up, if not outright killing someone would have caused a few trips to the ER. It's that kind of jackassery that ruins it for everyone.

      It's finally starting to be a greater danger to be injured by an idiot teenager looking for some hits on his youtube channel than being hit by a stray firework.

      it is unlikely to be a teenager because large drones are very expensive. i find it more likely that an overconfident adult is going to hurt someone. but hey... i think there are some kids on your lawn, right over there!

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    2. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How is that "ruining it for everybody"? What does that have to do with the FAA? The art show was private property, and the property owner could have and should have stopped the use of the drone.

      What's "ruining it for everybody" is that knee jerk reactions like yours based on local incidents cause politicians and regulators to pass knee jerk regulations that apply uniformly across the country, regardless of local circumstance, and give police another excuse to stop and hassle people.

    3. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 1

      I can't comment on operator demographics; but it's worth noting that even the fairly small drones(if the propellors are unshrouded or improperly shrouded) can fuck you up surprisingly well.

      I imagine that one or two of us here may have had the misfortune of accidentally sticking a finger into an active case/CPU fan at some point. The zestier 80mm, and most of the 120s, will draw blood and possibly take a nail off without much trouble(though they might throw a blade doing so, and then tear their bearings apart, which can be fun to watch). Observe that those sorts of fans are too feeble to lift off. The same is not true of drone propellors. They can, and will, give you a pretty decent slashing.

      Barring substantial bad luck, it'll mostly be surface soft tissue damage, lots of blood and maybe a little scarring but no serious long-term effects; but still not what you want to have happen.

    4. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      I agree, if a drone is being used inappropriately. The operator should be punished justly for the amount of danger he is causing.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    5. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 1

      It was city property with a permit for the show. It was being done illegally and obviously with little oversight. If you can't understand the danger of flying an upside down lawnmower with no safety guards over a crowd of people, which by the way is against the current FAA regulations, then you are part of the problem.

    6. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1

      Maybe a teenager with a very lenient and accommodating parent. I know one family that can barely pay rent, and they just bought a $2000+ computer so the kid can record his xbox gaming action and put the videos up on youtube. His old computer was doing it, but was 'too slow' for the kid's liking.

      --
      If you think I voted for Trump because of this post, you're wrong. I voted for Dr. Jill Stein of the Green Party. Again.
    7. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 2

      Jackasses seem to keep ruining it for everyone. For example i was at an art show and it was pretty packed, some jackass drone operation was flying a larger model, around 4kg / 10 lbs or so, up and down the isles probably 15 feet over people's heads. It was large enough that a simple slip up, if not outright killing someone would have caused a few trips to the ER. It's that kind of jackassery that ruins it for everyone.

      It's finally starting to be a greater danger to be injured by an idiot teenager looking for some hits on his youtube channel than being hit by a stray firework.

      it is unlikely to be a teenager because large drones are very expensive. i find it more likely that an overconfident adult is going to hurt someone. but hey... i think there are some kids on your lawn, right over there!

      It depends in where you live. Not far from here there are plenty of idiot teenagers that have affluenza. Although it is rather redundant to say idiot and teenager. Certainly I was an idiot at that age it's to be expected.

    8. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by russotto · · Score: 2

      It's an art show. The drone was probably part of a performance art piece.

    9. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Jackasses seem to keep ruining it for everyone.

      yes, just like slashdot. when I clicked on the title to read this story, it just collapsed the summary. I literally had no way to get into this story without middle-clicking the title to open it in a new tab.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    10. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Observe that those sorts of fans are too feeble to lift off. The same is not true of drone propellors. They can, and will, give you a pretty decent slashing.

      The reason that 120mm fans are more dangerous than 80mm fans even though they tend to rotate more slowly is their rotating mass. The mass of quadcopter props tends to be minuscule, so I doubt they're any more dangerous than cooling fans.

      I'm more worried about taking a drone moving at full speed to the face, or the neck.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    11. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      And that is the problem. You dont have to have any IQ at all to own and operate a quadracopter like that. Only need a checkbook or credit card.

      Honestly, I think they need undercover cops to walk around and just taze the hell out of drone owners that do that crap. No warning, just a tazer to the balls for 5 minutes and then say, "Stop being an asshole, have a nice day."

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    12. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      Considering teens around here have their parents buy them $15,000 to $50,000 cars for their 16th birthday, a dirt cheap $3000 toy is nothing.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    13. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sweet, come over and put your finger in my quadcopters blades. You are not worried, the 1hp motors turning the 260mm carbon fiber blades wont hurt you.

      you seem to know absolutely nothing at all about them, so your ignorance will protect you.

    14. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      you seem to know absolutely nothing at all about them, so your ignorance will protect you.

      I'm talking about average models, not massive ones. That one would hurt someone if it just fell on them, so there's already plenty of reason not to permit you to operate it in crowded areas even if it didn't have big fans on it.

      you seem to know absolutely nothing at all about them, so your ignorance will protect you.

      You seem to be a coward, so I will not bother insulting you. You already know what you are.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    15. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by plover · · Score: 2

      How about handing a friend a video camera, and you with a fishing net on a long pole. Show it flying unsafely, take it down on video, and hand the footage to the cops telling them you feared for your family's safety.

      --
      John
    16. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by plover · · Score: 1

      The posting specifically mentions a 4kg model flying 15 feet over a crowd. That's not a "toy" sized device, that's an untethered Cuisinart.

      --
      John
    17. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by geoskd · · Score: 1

      If you can't understand the danger of flying an upside down lawnmower with no safety guards

      You were doing all right until that piece of incendiary bullshit. Having actually designed and built a quad copter, There are several things you should understand before you start making sensationalist claims. First, Even the largest of these are only about 5 - 6 Lbs. From a height of 15 feet, it will cause some minor injuries but poses zero threat to life from falling alone. Second, the propellers on these devices are extremely light weight plastic, or sometimes even wood. They are designed to have strength in the lifting direction only. In the direction of rotation, they have very little strength. At 10,000 RPM, they will not even break skin. I can speak to this first hand. The first one I designed had guards, but they were useless and unnecessary. Since then, I have only seen a rare few that still bother with the guards.

      --
      I wish I had a good sig, but all the good ones are copyrighted
    18. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by geoskd · · Score: 1

      I'm talking about average models, not massive ones. That one would hurt someone if it just fell on them, so there's already plenty of reason not to permit you to operate it in crowded areas even if it didn't have big fans on it.

      Having actually built a large quad copter (15Lbs, 3 foot span), I can tell you the propellers are purpose designed to avoid damage to people. They have tremendous axial strength, but almost none in the direction of rotation. I have gotten fingers and limbs clipped by 14" blades, and didn't even draw blood for my trouble. A finger will smart a bit afterwards, but a limb wont even get a bruise for the trouble,

      --
      I wish I had a good sig, but all the good ones are copyrighted
    19. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I was at an art show and some jackass was driving his car up and down 15ft away from the crowd, if he'd slipped up there could have been a few trips to the ER"

      Ok, lets ban cars.

      Your average non-toy drone is pretty much in charge of flying itself with some suggestions about orientation / speed etc from the guy "controlling" it. Short of intentionally dive bombing the crowd they aren't going to crash it in to anyone.

    20. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 1

      Ok drop a 5-6 pound / 2.2-2.5kg weight from 15 feet or 5 meters on to average people and see what happens. Chances are you will injure people pretty badly even with light weight crumple style construction. Get an unlucky toss at someone with a pre existing condition and it can cause death.

      Further its bullshit that larger propellers cannot cause substantial lacerations. You don't need nearly any strength when the blade tips are traveling at full speeds which can be several hundred miles per hour. All it would take is an idiot running it into the neck of some unlucky person to kill them.

      but please, mr drone expert, post a video of your high tech neck massager throwing blades from your neck like popcorn while you try to stop lauging because it just tickles. I'm sure the ad revenue would make it worth your while.

    21. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RC model aircraft need to be restricted to strictly defined public areas. Drones whose only purpose is to take photos/video need to be outlawed altogether. Commercial or private use does not matter at all. I have the right NOT to be photographed in my own back yard. By anyone! Problem solved.

    22. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by raftpeople · · Score: 2

      I think you're understating the reality of the situation. Drones come in many sizes with different attributes regarding prop blades, I think you'll agree that as the size/power of drones increases, the danger of an injury like a cut increases (see examples of cuts in news: Enrigue Iglesias cut hand, TGI Friday's drone chopped tip of reporters nose off). Furthermore, even on the low end the ability to damage an eye is significant and should not be discounted.

      Now, let's talk about a 6lb object falling 15 feet and stopping in a quarter inch (normal flex for skin and bone): the force is 4,320lbs (force times travel distance divided by stopping distance), compare that to an Olympic boxer's punch which maxes out around 1,000lbs.

    23. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shall we also outlaw cameras, someone could use one to photograph you in you back yard. Maybe binoculars and telescopes too, and ladders, periscopes, mirrors, windows in other peoples houses, imaging satellites, light aircraft, tall people and trampolines.

      I'm sure I missed a few things, but you'll be much safer in your backyard if we get all that stuff banned.

    24. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seems to me you guys are saying the same thing, though. You can do shitty, obnoxious, potentially dangerous stuff with those things that isn't, "get you in trouble" bad, but sure makes people want to make it so. That ruins it for everyone.

      I want to play with rc planes and quadcopters. I don't want people ruining it for me.

    25. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by NostalgiaForInfinity · · Score: 1

      If you can't understand the danger of flying an upside down lawnmower with no safety guards over a crowd of people, which by the way is against the current FAA regulations

      I didn't say that it wasn't dangerous nor that drones should be permitted to fly anytime anywhere.

      I pointed out that your your statement of "jackasses seem to keep ruining it for everyone" makes no sense. That phrase implies that an activity becomes illegal even for people who would use it responsibly because a few people are doing something irresponsible. But, as you point out yourself, it didn't take jackasses doing anything, these activities were "ruined for everybody" long before.

      then you are part of the problem.

      And you seem just the kind of person who is itching to implement the final solution.

    26. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by NewtonsLaw · · Score: 1

      Well that's a load of mis-information for a start.

      An increasing number of multirotors are using carbon-fiber propellers which are quite strong in all directions and even the small plastic ones can draw blood. Check out this video at 4:26... and we're talking about very small (just over 1lb) craft with tiny (5-inch) plastic propellers.

    27. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now, let's talk about a 6lb object falling 15 feet and stopping in a quarter inch (normal flex for skin and bone): the force is 4,320lbs (force times travel distance divided by stopping distance), compare that to an Olympic boxer's punch which maxes out around 1,000lbs

      You make the math sound pretty scary. But let's consider that you're talking about 6 lbs of plastic (which will also have its own give) at 22 mph. Your quarter inch of give represents pretty naive modeling. You're treating a human being as if it's a statue. As if the skin and bone you're talking about is mounted on some completely rigid frame. Also as if the impact is necessarily going to be a dead-on collision releasing all the force of the falling object rather than the far more likely tumbling.

    28. Re: I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      what a great idea.

      do you reckon I'll make much from the YouTube hits? sounds like easy money.

    29. Re: I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've kind of had enough of the winging baby girl types this week.

      they're the problem. want to eliminate all risk. wrap us up in cotton wool.

      then charge us for the priveldge of living in the lovely prison they built for us.

      no thanks. I'd rather purposely fly the drone into your think skull just to see what sound it makes.

    30. Re: I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      try dropping a brick on your finger like a real man.

    31. Re: I'm all for recreational drone use but... by vpness · · Score: 1

      This is sooo easy to solve. Why don't you, who claim no issues with a quad copter, let someone else drop one on one of your family members that you care about. Around 8 years old - or 80- would be good. No need for all this maths n stuff. Let me know how that works out.

    32. Re: I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree this was illegal, but as far as safety goes it was launched from a safe location at the edge of the water and flown over water. Illegal yes but I would not call this one dangerous or irresponsible.

    33. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by KGIII · · Score: 3, Funny

      You carry odd stuff to an art show.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    34. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 1

      Yes it is quite common to ban cars from public gatherings. Has been since the invention of cars. Since you can't drive cars among people in crowds legally you get rightfully branded a jackass for doing it. Try driving one 15 feet over people's heads and you will get that banned too

      Further operating a drone in a crowded public area right over people's heads is already illegal. And it should be as you can easily injure people, same as with a car.

    35. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 1

      The answer to problems like this is a realistic way to respond that's already achieved mainstream acceptance. The fact that you would have to take matters into your own hands it more than depressing it can cause situations to escalate and then even more crackdowns and restrictive laws could put in place. Or you could even find yourself in trouble for doing nothing wrong. It would be nice if all you had to do was call police and they had the wherewithal to do something rather than be totally incompetent.

    36. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by burtosis · · Score: 1

      Shall we also outlaw cameras, someone could use one to photograph you in you back yard. Maybe binoculars and telescopes too, and ladders, periscopes, mirrors, windows in other peoples houses, imaging satellites, light aircraft, tall people and trampolines.

      I'm sure I missed a few things, but you'll be much safer in your backyard if we get all that stuff banned.

      Actually unless you work for the government using those things to view people who have an expectation of privacy is already banned and can get you a prison sentence. Sorry to burst your bubble of fun.

    37. Re: I'm all for recreational drone use but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think you are paying sufficient respect to an internet user who is willing to let "priveldge" come out of his keyboard. You JUST CAN'T MESS with power like that.

    38. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by plover · · Score: 2

      Apparently you've never been to the Uptown Art Fair. A fishing net and a long pole would barely make the top third of the "weird shit you'll see in Uptown" list. :-)

      --
      John
    39. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by plover · · Score: 1

      Realistically, yes, I'd call the cops quickly if someone was buzzing the crowd unsafely with a quadcopter. And cops are not totally incompetent - it's usually not that hard to spot an R/C operator (presuming the operator is flying within line-of-sight.)

      But if the opportunity presented itself, I'd probably throw a jacket or other object at the stupid thing, and if by some random chance it actually came down, I'd probably stomp the shit out of it. I have no tolerance or respect for people threatening my safety with their stupidity.

      --
      John
    40. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I have not. However, I now want to go to an art fest and carry a giant net. I do think it is a bit unreasonable to need to carry one around because people will not behave civilly with their RCs. It is a shame, really. A lot of innocent people are going to have their hobby trashed by people who do not care. It is not my hobby but I would hate to see draconian restrictions in place because people can not obey the current regulations or be civil.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    41. Re:I'm all for recreational drone use but... by rioki · · Score: 1

      Actually the FAA has something to say about it, since airspace starts at ground level. If you happen to live "in" B, C or D airspace, you would not be allowed to fly a drone in your back yard hovering at eye level. B, C or D airspace normally extends 4 nautical miles around a towered airport, from surface to 1500 above ground. You can check your airspace at http://skyvector.com/; everywhere where there is a blue or purple circle with SFC as the lower number, no drone flying.

  3. Know your place peasants! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All your drones are belong to us.

  4. simple solution by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

    And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
    Gave proof through the night that our drone was still there.

    seems simple enough to me. :)

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  5. Fuck Wired by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Wired is an anti-gamer, anti-geek, anti-free-speech piece of shit that has jumped the shark. Fuck them.

    1. Re:Fuck Wired by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'll sure be glad when the dust-up at reddit settles down and all the assholes go back where they belong.

  6. What? by zAPPzAPP · · Score: 1

    These headlines get harder to decipher all the time.

    Maybe drop the all caps, or something? There are at least 5 ways I can read this and none of them make sense to me.

    1. Re:What? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      These headlines get harder to decipher all the time.

      Maybe drop the all caps, or something?

      i have some bad news about newspaper titles and proper noun for you.

      There are at least 5 ways I can read this and none of them make sense to me.

      you should ask someone to drive you to the hospital because you have suffered a serious head injury. nobody can be that stupid and not be suffering from a head injury.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    2. Re:What? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

      i have some bad news about newspaper titles and proper noun for you.

      The bad news is that it's a stupid idea and no-one should be doing it. "Everyone else does it" is not a decent justification for continuing the out-dated and pointless tradition of title case headlines. The good news is that more and more people seem to be eschewing it these days.

      Putting the names of publications like Wired in italics would also have been a great help in this case, but knowing Slashdot that kind of thing would take six months of behind-the-scenes testing, followed by a day of actual use during which at least eighty cross-scripting vulnerabilities would be discovered because they implemented it with Javascript.

      Also, "photogs"? Has management handed down an arbitrary word-length limit to go with the arbitrary video-length limit that means they have to resort to slang?

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    3. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      These headlines get harder to decipher all the time.

      Maybe drop the all caps, or something?

      i have some bad news about newspaper titles and proper noun for you.

      What is a 'newspaper'?

  7. Daytime only operations by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The article misses the first restriction.

    No flying after official sunset.

    Last time I checked, freworks are generally done when it's dark.

    1. Re:Daytime only operations by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      Last time I checked, freworks are generally done when it's dark.

      preposterous! if they waited until it was dark how would you see the fireworks?!

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  8. They won't catch me by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    They won't catch me; I run my drone via seven proxies and Tor too. Damn MPFAA!

  9. Back when we called them "model airplanes" by Hasaf · · Score: 1

    Operators seemed to be much more polite. It is possible that the military co-opting of the word, "drone," followed by civilian adoption of it has led to a change in operational attitudes.

    1. Re:Back when we called them "model airplanes" by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Back when you called them model airplanes they were expensive and you usually had to build them. These days everything's RTR and moreover usually quite inexpensive, at least by comparison.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Back when we called them "model airplanes" by Hasaf · · Score: 1

      Of course there is some truth to that. I had to take my Amateur radio exam to get a transmitter license (yes, there were low powered unlicensed transmitters).

      Further, it was a club activity with very strong social norms, those norms evaporate, or fail to get instilled, with the solitary use of the "drones."

      Possibly it is time to start looking at licensing fly-toys. With the rash of irresponsible behaviour it is coming, it is just a matter of when.

    3. Re:Back when we called them "model airplanes" by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Possibly it is time to start looking at licensing fly-toys.

      I've suggested before that models capable of illegal flight (basically anything with 500' or more range) should carry a transponder. That would let people keep their kiddy-grade drones that represent little threat to anyone, and also help provide a framework within which more serious hobbyists could operate their drones outside of current legal limits.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:Back when we called them "model airplanes" by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Operators seemed to be much more polite. It is possible that the military co-opting of the word, "drone," followed by civilian adoption of it has led to a change in operational attitudes.

      Did you hover your model airplanes over big crowds of people?

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re: Back when we called them "model airplanes" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Transponder, and pilot's license for the operator. The usa is silly to accept anything less.

    6. Re:Back when we called them "model airplanes" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some of us want to enjoy nerdy hobbies like flying model aircraft, but not have to spend time around nerds. Fuck your 'social norms'.

    7. Re:Back when we called them "model airplanes" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you hover your model airplanes over ...

      Yes, but it only worked once.

      ... over big crowds of people?

      Yes again, but in my defense it wasn't a "big crowd" of people for too long by that point.

      (PS: I'm only joking!)

    8. Re:Back when we called them "model airplanes" by Hasaf · · Score: 1

      Yep, it is all the special snowflakes like the poster above that make for a society that needs an overabundance of laws. Instead of learning how to be polite the special snowflakes demand people with guns to enforce codified social norms which are, ultimately, less flexible than un-codified norms. But, make no mistake, they are still social norms.

  10. This is one case ... by PPH · · Score: 2

    ... where, given a few precautions, I'd say, "Go ahead. Fly your drone." Sure, I don't want drone parts falling on spectators. But our public fireworks display is held over a lake.

    Drones will give me an opportunity to test my proximity-fused skyrocket.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:This is one case ... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      Drones will give me an opportunity to test my proximity-fused skyrocket.

      Drones will give me an opportunity to test my flechette minigun.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  11. No "commercial use" but YES avoid the TFRs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The OP linked to a yro.slashdot story that linked to a story that had no letter from the FAA.

    Here is the letter: http://www.scribd.com/doc/258492727/FAA-YouTube

    Here is an article debunking the whole "you can fly a UAS and you can take a video and that's all legal but if one day you post it to youtube then retroactively that's commercial flying" bs: http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/03/faa_is_confused_about_what_constitutes_commercial_drone_use.html
    ---
    Now the bad news. The FAA really does finally have agreement of the judiciary that they can regulate UAS. http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/11/18/365023143/faa-can-regulate-small-drones-ntsb-reverses-judges-ruling

    This means that their various rules DO apply. This includes
    - no flying at night (most fireworks shows are at night except in Alaska)
    - no flying out of the visual control of the pilot [note this does NOT mean "I can see it" but more like "I can see it and where it's heading and what is directly in front and next to it"] ...all those things are rules that will get you a letter... but:
    - no flying in a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR). TFRs are regularly obtained by fireworks show organizers for their airspace. Check http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html for TFRs in your area. Violating a TFR is a LARGE FEDERAL OFFENSE that can lead to JAIL TIME.

    Finally just a note of caution. Fireworks uses shells to send up explosives. They go up, they spread out, they come down. However, if one of those pieces of shrapnel bounces off a rotor going 2500RPM it could be shot at the viewing audience or unintended recipient area.

    Ehud Gavron
    commercial pilot - rotorcraft

    1. Re: No "commercial use" but YES avoid the TFRs... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously you are worried about a quad copter prop spitting shrapnel at the crowed. Stfu there is zero chance of that.

      While I agree we need to ban all drones to keep the children safe there is no chance of that. The sensless deaths from quad copter must end...... Errr wait I'm sorry it's sensless deaths from real aircraft. All of you real pilots that bitch and cry about drones are the real hazard to the kids. A Google search will turn up all kinds of fatal accidents that could have been avoided if you had stayed home in your panic room.

      Ummm how many Hobby drones have killed people?????

  12. Line of sight at night by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    There is so much dis-information here I do not know where to begin.

    Most small quads and UAVs (drones are things that use Hellfire missiles to kill enemy combatants, and I do NOT fly one of those) have very bright LED lights on them. It is easier to see them at night because of the lights that in daytime very often, so the comment that is it harder to maintain line of sight at night is completely, 100% in error. Speaking from experience, which i think, the author of the original article does not have.

    Also, most regulations around the world anymore forbid you from flying INTO fireworks, not from videoing them, just flying into them. If you are staying back, and NOT flying into them, no problem.

    The comment about "the altitude at which fireworks burst" is completely causing issues is also completely false. Most small quads & UAVs use a GoPro or something very similar. These small cameras have very wide angle lenses on them, in some cases, depending on the brand and / or type, almost a fisheye lens. 140 to 170 degree field of view. How can you not capture a fireworks burst on that?

    Last, the quote that : "FAA's guidelines for legal flight are tricky to comply with during a fireworks show." is complete and utter BS. I repeat, that quote is complete and utter BS. It is very easy to comply with, if you know what you are doing. Maybe that is the problem, people buy these things and do not take the time to actually learn how to use them.

    1. Re:Line of sight at night by burtosis · · Score: 1

      Yes exactly. And there is no system that actually regulates the existing rules well and that causes many many problems.

  13. Filming bans by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

    Increasing numbers of places - sports stadia, school plays and the like - ban video recording of the action. Sometimes the excuse is "don't you dare think of the children". Other times the more honest line is "we are filming it ourselves and you can buy the video for $ XXX." But in either case, finding a video of the event on YouTube is likely to result in a phone call to the land sharks.

    --
    Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"