JD750 Loc: SoCal

I don't know the details of that event. I do know what was stated in the class.

The big wheels turn slow so it may take a while to filter down but since DoI is a federal agency a federal ban will ultimately apply. As I said usually public institutions, States, Counties, Fire Departments and Police departments usually follow the government on these matters.

quick search on-line turned up these articles:

https://pilotinstitute.com/dji-blacklist-2/

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/07/09/chinese-drone-dominance-dji-defense-florida/

https://www.suasnews.com/2023/03/dji-ban-timeline-chinese-drone-ban-benefits-american-drone-company-skyfish/#:~:text=However%2C%20DJI%20is%20now%20considered,drones%20within%20the%20federal%20sector.

Smoky Loc: Knoxville,TN

My DJI Magic Pro has forward and rear sensors. Only having one good eye I’m depth perception challenged. The sensors have come in handy. I spend a lot of time in the woods stalking waterfalls. Apparently the downward sensors give a false reading over running water so the drone drifts left, right, back, forward, and up and down. Really hard to control. Just discovered this can be corrected using tape over the sensors. Can’t wait to finally get a shot.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

We lived in Washington for several years, and I was an Amateur Radio volunteer with a medical services team and for the King County Emergency Operations Center. Both organizations used specialized two-way radio equipment purchased from Motorola for their personnel. As volunteers, we used whatever equipment we had that was compatible and met our ARES (Amateur Radio Emergency Service) basic operational and requirements.

Support for search and rescue missions was one of our key functions. Those missions typically involved substantially more volunteers in all areas than it did professional law enforcement, firefighting, or field medical personnel. Each of those volunteers brought all of his/her own equipment and provisions. Other than probitions against alcohol and limitations on weapons, folks faced no prohibitions or limitations on equipment providers. This was very different from the situation with contractors.

The fact that a DJI drone found the lost person cannot validly be used to argue against a governmental ban on their products unless we know more about the circumstances.

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

My tiny,"toy" drone is strictly for my fun/pleasure, and I have no need, or desire to do commercial work, so no testing for me....😁

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Not exactly. But it's a much easier test.

As of June 2021, recreational flyers are required to get a Trust Certificate. ;)

"The law requires that all recreational flyers pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test and provide proof of passage if asked by law enforcement or FAA personnel. The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) was developed to meet this requirement. "
Source: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers/knowledge_test_updates

To get that you can go here:
https://trust.pilotinstitute.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwib2mBhDWARIsAPZUn_kGJWw9aAWb_FHYFzyOzYPhLPtMKZJNfSXiezNfbkdvecLev8IOShkaAq5-EALw_wcB

Or type "Drone Trust Certificate" into Google.

Red6

Here are a couple of pieces of information concerning drones. I am a CFI (Flight Instructor), so I have a commercial pilot's certificate and got my drone license to do a little real estate photography on the side. However, I soon found out that this was a bad idea.

I was talking to an FAA official from the FSDO (regional FAA office) at a local pilot's meeting and he told me that they treated drone violations more severely if the operator also had a regular pilot's certificate. In some cases, the FAA even suspended the operator's pilot certificate in addition to the drone operator's certificate. His words were "since you were a pilot, you should have known better." Those words sent a chill down my spine.

In addition to the FAA issues, the first time I photographed a house several neighbors came out and loudly complained about the drone flight. One even threatened to call the police claiming I was violating their privacy and that I was a threat to safety. That was my first and last real estate photography session with a drone. I talked to another very prominent real estate photographer and he had a similar experience. He stopped using his drone and now used a long extension pole to mount his camera. After that, I started to read about many cities and counties passing laws and other restrictions concerning when and where one could fly drones. Drones pilots were being threatened and intimidated daily throughout the country just about everywhere. And something many do not know is that drones cannot be flown in many of the more beautiful places like federal, state, and local parks. Many local municipalities now have drone ordinances restricting drone use.

That was enough for me I sold my drone and have not flown in a few years. I had too much money invested in my regular pilot's certificates and ratings to risk losing them. Also, I had no interest in having the police called on me for flying my drone.

Do your homework and make sure you know where you can fly your drone. When I first started out there were many people flying drones. However, today I see very few and they are usually way out in the country away from towns, cities, airports, lakes, and crowds. Even if you think you will help by finding a lost hiker or lost person, only recognized rescue or law enforcement units are usually allowed to fly in these areas and sometimes even those are limited.

Some things to think about BEFORE you spend a bundle on a drone. Good Luck!

Smoky Loc: Knoxville,TN

A great reference for drone issues is 51 Drones on YouTube. He answers nearly every question you can come up with.

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

Was the drone named "Wiley Coyote"?

goldstar46 Loc: Tampa, Fl

====================================================
FYI: This is a "general" post and is NOT directed to any one poster...

AND... This is my 2¢, and I would like to offer the following on this thread...

In one post here, the following was said:
.... "After that, I started to read about many cities and counties passing laws and other restrictions concerning when and where one could fly drones. ... Many local municipalities now have drone ordinances restricting drone use..."

My first response is "NO"... locals and/or states can not "restrict drone actual use"...
...... and, local and/or state authorities can NOT "restrict" where drones can be flown.

Some laws can be enforced... but not where and when...
.... ALSO... local laws and/or state laws can NOT supersede FAA regulations... and local governments and/or state governments can NOT pass laws which "Blanket Regulate" the use of drones in their jurisdiction....... I invite you to visit the below site and below information:

Michael Singer v. City of Newton (City Drone Ordinance Nullified!)
Below is a "Pod Cast" from an organization known as "Drone U" ... a well-respected group on "Drone Education"
https://www.thedroneu.com/bonus-episode-michael-singer-v-city-newton-city-drone-ordinance-nullified/

There are many other examples such as the above which could be cited...

Another comment which was posted was the following:
.... "And something many do not know is that drones cannot be flown in many of the more beautiful places like federal, state, and local parks...."

The above is also not accurate in that... "Only the FAA" regulates the "air space" over all locations... and therefore, drones may "fly over" "beautiful ... federal, state, and local parks"......

BUT, what one must consider is that the owners of these lands (federal, state, and local park) can and do regulate the activities on the actual 'lands' (not the airspace) of these locations... therefore, they can prohibit the actual takeoff from such locations... but they cannot regulation the actual flights themself if they flight actually travels over such lands... However..... they can NOT stop anyone from 'flying over' such a location, for this is considered to be "federal airspace" and it is the FAA who regulates who can "fly over" a given location...

Now, with the above said........ and me being a retired law enforcement officer... I will tell you that there are "tons of people" in the public and in the area of "enforcement" who do NOT really know and/or understand these laws... because they are not trained in "Federal Regulations"

AND...... YES, they will give you a hard time, and will have the upper hand on "threats" and "legal" enforcement behaviors (although it may be wrong)... it could be a losing battle...

Moral of this story... Be Educated, Be informed, Have Documentation, Offer "polite information" and then "back off" to "fight your battle" at a "higher level" at a later time, with a higher authority... such as Dr. Michel Singer did in the above listing...

The bottom line....... is to have fun, be safe, and be polite, but know the system and/or laws


Cheers
Goldstar46
George Veazey
####

JD750 Loc: SoCal

😂😅

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Thank you for that information.

goldstar46 Loc: Tampa, Fl

==================

dbrugger25 Loc: Raleigh, NC

This is not a reply, but it is another consideration.

I have a DJI Mavic Air 2 which is licensed. After September, it will not be legal unless I install a location transmitter/transponder under new FAA rules.

There is a possibility that DJI might issue a firmware upgrade. The drone does communcate with its hand controller so there is some possibility that it can be upgraded. The issue is that DJI and the retailers can make a lot more money selling attachable transmitters or new drones.

The FAA has indicated that older drones will not be grandfathered and be allowed to continue operating. If you have a drone that is over a year old you need to look into this matter. It might also be worth writing to your congressional representatives to get this policy recinded.

There are attachable transmitter kits on the market but it might be wise to follow this issue for a while before buying one.

marine73 Loc: Modesto California

On the Faa website and look for far part 107. Actually go to Faasafety.gov and it should be in the upper left corner. If I remember correctly it has to be renewed every year. I took it once just for the hell of it and to see how difficult it would be to take.

Red6

I made the statement in a previous post that municipalities can sometimes restrict when and where drones can be flown. This is a true statement as some local rules do not permit drone or even remote control aircraft operations on certain days and times. I consider this a restriction on their use. Even if you can legally fly over, there can be restrictions on their launch and recovery within their boundaries.

Singer vs The City of Newton was a case where the city tried to stop drones from flying over the city. In other words, they tried to regulate the airspace above the city. This is a case where the FAA has clear authority. The city overstepped its authority in trying to regulate the airspace. However, the ability of a local government to regulate where a drone can be launched and recovered is intact. Local authorities have done this and it has been upheld. Even the FAA has conceded this fact. See the link below from the FAA.

https://www.airsight.com/en/news/faa-press-release-clarifies-federal-vs-local-drone-authority#:~:text=State%20and%20Local%20authorities%20may,privacy%2C%20and%20law%20enforcement%20operations.

The statement is true that the FAA has jurisdiction over the drone IN THE AIR. But the local governments can and do have a say in whether or not you can land and take off within their boundaries. Remember, drone operations encompass both GROUND and AIR operations. The FAA regulates the AIR operations, not the ground.

Since you must keep a drone within visual sight at all times this effectively limits where you can launch a drone around an area of interest that have restrictions on take-off and landing. So if an area of interest is within an area that has these restrictions it will have to be very close to the city limits or boundary so that you can maintain visual control of the zone while flying over the area. Of course, if something happens and you have to land the drone, you have just broken a law or violated an ordinance. There is also the possibility that you have flown over a crowd or something else that is restricted.

Here is an example. Our city has several city parks where drone operations are not permitted. Signs are posted at the park with the appropriate warnings and ordinances. Most of these parks are within the city at least a mile or more from the city limits. Yes, you could launch a drone from outside the city limits, fly to the park and take photos or video. However, the drone would be outside your visual sight for much of the trip thus violating FAA rules of keeping the drone in sight.

Also, drone operations, including flight, are prohibited over national parks.