Drones

[MadMonkey]

And registration is only required if the drone is over 250 grams. The Mavic mini comes in a 249 grams.

But don't you still have to comply with the airspace and altitude rules? And how do you know those if you're flying an unlicensed drone.

As a pilot, I'm concerned about ignorant drone flyers causing a hazard if they fly too high or get in the wrong airspace. There have been reported incidents of near misses and possibly even a few collisions.

My Mavic firmware updates constantly, and the app identifies flying zones by color code and warnings, and I believe in some areas will limit operation in no-fly zones (never been in those zones). Still, I have helicopters fly over at well below my elevation limit (35 miles from airport). Sometimes, a local crop duster does his turnarounds over my property. You typically get enough visual warning in those cases.

That's good to know, thanks. I assume your software then restricts your altitude, etc.

WRT helicopters, they do not have the same altitude restrictions as fixed wing, and over "sparsely populated areas", any aircraft can fly as low as it wants, as long as it stays at least 500 ft from any person or thing. Not smart, but legal.

My DJI is restricted to 500 meters by the software. I am looking into hacking my drone so I can use it to it’s full potential. Videos I’ve seen they will go 12k-13k ft before loosing connection and returning to home. I see the restrictions as buying a Ferrari and the factory limiting it to 80mph. I want the training wheels off.

Yet, isn't that illegal (and irresponsible) - unless you can find a building 12.000 ft tall.

Pfft. I'm flying one at 6,500 feet as we speak.

[oohrah]

Then you must be in the mountains at an elevation of 6,100 ft.

[jmorris]

.......

Pfft. I'm flying one at 6,500 feet as we speak.

Legally?

[jmorris]

As a drone hobbyists and Texas LEO, no you cannot shoot down a drone. You own the property not the airspace above it. Now if someone is flying 15ft above your backyard looking around your property, call the police. If I’m flying 200ft above I assure you my camera zoom isn’t like that of a military predator drone even though my DJI Mavic is a $1k drone.

I know drones have to be registered with the FAA. Do you also have to have a Part 107 license, or is that just for commercial?

You only need a 107 if you’re using your drone to make money as in areal mapping for a surveyor. I fly under the “Hobbyist“ classification. You just need to register your drone with the FAA and have fun.

Hmm, can't find it at the moment but I know I've read that any use that appears commercial, even if not compensated for it, is forbidden for a recreational user. Example given was taking a video for your own business's web site.

[srothstein]

Hmm, can't find it at the moment but I know I've read that any use that appears commercial, even if not compensated for it, is forbidden for a recreational user. Example given was taking a video for your own business's web site.

As I understand it, it is not activity that appears commercial, but activity that is commercially related whether compensate or not. So taking a video for use on a business web site is commercially related even if you are not being directly compensated for it. Taking a video for you own personal use is hobbyist. And the gray area but presumably will be commercial is if you take a video for you personal youtube channel, especially if you get ad revenue from the channel.

[MadMonkey]

Then you must be in the mountains at an elevation of 6,100 ft.

Closer to 5,000

[G.A. Heath]

Then you must be in the mountains at an elevation of 6,100 ft.

Closer to 5,000

If you are flying aa UAS around 6,500 feet ASL with an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet you must be flying illegally, with a waiver of some sort, flying a high end government bird, or something else is going on.

[Keith B]

Then you must be in the mountains at an elevation of 6,100 ft.

Closer to 5,000

If you are flying aa UAS around 6,500 feet ASL with an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet you must be flying illegally, with a waiver of some sort, flying a high end government bird, or something else is going on.

Simulator?

[oohrah]

Then you must be in the mountains at an elevation of 6,100 ft.

Closer to 5,000

Lemme guess - you're TDY at Creech AFB.

[MadMonkey]

Close. I'm contracting in Afghanistan right now

[philip964]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/ ... ter-286905

Man arrested, pled guilty and now ordered to take classes in Florida to make his criminal record go away.

Fired his 9mm pistol at a drone hovering at 75 ft in front of his home. Hit it causing more than $1000 damage. Owned by Walmart. Testing drone delivery.

Talked to police. “ well I must be a good shot”

Told police “ I can’t breathe “ when hand cuffed.

Now that his criminal case is finished, I would be filing a big civil suit against Walmart. Didn’t notify affected neighbors of planned experiment in their area. I’m sure lawyers have all ready contacted him. Much better chance of a big check, than father of NYC subway guy who harassed riders and died. Father abandoned him at two and hidden seen him in years.

[Grayling813]

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/ ... ter-286905

Man arrested, pled guilty and now ordered to take classes in Florida to make his criminal record go away.

Fired his 9mm pistol at a drone hovering at 75 ft in front of his home. Hit it causing more than $1000 damage. Owned by Walmart. Testing drone delivery.

Talked to police. “ well I must be a good shot”

Told police “ I can’t breathe “ when hand cuffed.

Now that his criminal case is finished, I would be filing a big civil suit against Walmart. Didn’t notify affected neighbors of planned experiment in their area. I’m sure lawyers have all ready contacted him. Much better chance of a big check, than father of NYC subway guy who harassed riders and died. Father abandoned him at two and hidden seen him in years.

He's a moron...same as the other morons who fire their weapons up in the air for "celebrating New Year" or whatever stupid reason.

A civil suit against Walmart is a non-starter. Walmart, and any other legal drone operator such as myself, has no duty to notify people whose houses the drone might flyover. As bad as it sounds, the US government (FAA) "owns" the airspace over your head/house/car and does not require such notification. Shooting at a drone is a federal offense. If he's lucky, the feds won't come after him once the state is through with him.

[puma guy]

The guy would lose his mind over this!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1YD2qqKtqo/

[philip964]

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/nj- ... ellian-law

This makes the most sense of all the theories on the New Jersey drones.

FAA reauthorization bill is up.

https://apple.news/AGpRt6OktTLarga3aBsgqWA

New York State has to close an airport due to drones. Dems in NY and NJ demanding Brandon do something.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/15/us-news/j ... sightings/

Joe Rogan worried about radiation sniffer drones and govt keeping it quiet to avoid panic.

White House says not a threat. Kinda like the balloons that didn’t exist.

[Grayling813]

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/nj- ... ellian-law

This makes the most sense of all the theories on the New Jersey drones.

FAA reauthorization bill is up.

https://apple.news/AGpRt6OktTLarga3aBsgqWA

New York State has to close an airport due to drones. Dems in NY and NJ demanding Brandon do something.

https://nypost.com/2024/12/15/us-news/j ... sightings/

Joe Rogan worried about radiation sniffer drones and govt keeping it quiet to avoid panic.

White House says not a threat. Kinda like the balloons that didn’t exist.

CONgress is attempting to ban Chinese drones, specifically DJI, from being sold and operated in the US. My conspiracy theorist says no doubt this is a US Gov't op to gin up the support for Chinese drone ban.