EarthArts Loc: Schenectady,NY

An interesting discussion on drones. Let's take a realistic approach. First, who labeled them drones ? I don't know. The FAA ? Some other govt. official ? Perhaps. You can be pretty sure it was someone who wanted to create panic with the general population. After all what is the first thing that comes to mind when you mention drone . . . . Spying ? Something hovering outside your bedroom window ? Or maybe your car or house suddenly blown up. The first ones ( hexacopters, octocopters, or whatever ). Were put together by hobbyists to try to capture images that otherwise required an expensive plane. Of all the articles and ads I have read none mention spying on your neighbors. Instead they show the usefulness of these vehicles as tools for documentation and education. And some just for the joy of flying them the same as any other model airplane. Someone is desperately trying to create a negative public image of these devices . . NSA perhaps ? I see tremendous positive potential for these things. Surveying, wildlife studies, photographing remote areas, emergency searches, unique photographic angles of difficult subjects . . . . . And I am sure there are dozens of uses which could eliminate having to use an expensive aircraft, not to mention photographing areas that conventional aircraft simply cannot safely access.

So what is the down side to this ? The most obvious answer would be IDIOTS.
Common sense should tell you not to fly near an airport or it's approach & take off points. Don't fly it down the highway, causing an unsafe distraction, do not fly near emergency operations i.e. Fire or police operations , do not Hoover outside your neighbors window. Don't be a show off or use it recklessly where you could endanger someone's health. DO NOT invade someone's privacy. Get permission - a little good will goes a long way.

I am all for this technology if used in a positive and responsible manner. It has so much positive potential.

EarthArts Loc: Schenectady,NY

Just don't attach a camera to it.

oberuwe Loc: Willowbrook,IL

Quite simple, if one of those hover over my house my buddy's Smith and Wesson will take take of it!

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Generally speaking disaster areas automatically become restricted airspace. This is done for several obvious reasons, but primarily for safety. Emergency crews need to have unrestricted access to such areas and they do not need to be worried about idiots who have no idea what they are doing in aircraft clogging the skies. In this present age of over-reacting Uncle is assuming the worst concerning drones and their operators. Typically, we see government knee-jerk responses which end up being complete disasters of their own. Anyone remember Hillary's room-mate and his colossal "end of the world Y2K" fiasco?

clicktime Loc: Yucca Valley Ca.

You guys all have a valid point and they all need to be considered. The fact is there will be drone's flying in your air space. The question is, are they going to be government owned or will we be allowed to have one as well. There is a multi Billion dollar industry emerging that will help our economy recover.
Drone law
Drone regulations
Drone repair
Drone deployment
Drone licensing
Drone software
Drone photography
Battery development
Other countries are working hard to develop this technology so they can control the industry. Are we going to let them win the race or will we lead the way? It's up to you. I want to own a very valuable commercial drone license. Maybe I can sell it later and retire in comfort. It's just a cheap way to do what is already done by powerful entities.

kevinbeyer Loc: Houston TX

The sky is falling! Run,hide.

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

Rongnongno,,,,,,, YOU DO NOT OWN THE AIRSPACE ABOVE YOUR HOUSE!!!!!! You couldn't tell me what the differences are in these types of aircraft....... (I'm not talking about flying within 20-30 feet of a private home and hovering in position)

346pak Loc: Texas

Jerry, unfortunately, you aren't too far off in your statement. They only want their drones and the border patrol drones (and a few others of their choosing). We are still privileged in this country in that we can hop in a private airplane and go almost anywhere with little or no contact with the FAA. That is slowly changing. They are slowly taking more control and removing some of the freedoms we once had as private pilots. Before 9/11, I flew my airplane down to big bend national park in the southwest corner of Texas. I flew over the park, flew along the Rio Grande (border of US and Mexico) for more than 50 miles and saw things not possible from the ground. it was one of the coolest things i have ever done. All without any communication or approval from the Feds. If I did that today, I would be forced down by CBP personnel and probably jailed and or fined.

That said, I really don't want someone's drone flying over my house and capturing video of me in my hot tub. You don't want to see that either....

sr71 Loc: In Col. Juan Seguin Land

read the above

Dick Z. Loc: Downers Grove IL

I have two Quad copters. I don't know if their classed as drones as they have no cameras attached. I do fly them for fun at a designated AMA flying field. Other flyers fly them with cameras but only over the Forest Preserve, legally.

Checkmate Loc: Southern California

I guess little brown shirts like yourself enjoy shooting at police and news station helicopters who are flying overhead taking pictures of you toasting your little weenies on the bbq in the nude. Maybe they are checking on your pot garden or maybe you are beating your dogs again.

glblanchard

I want one of those drones.

LEGALDR Loc: Southern California

I like the way you think! I shall dust off the old Remington.

glblanchard

Just wing it.

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

Remember when we used to just fly kites?