With the regulations, is a drone even worth it?

[benhasajeep]

Selling prints is editorial, not commercial.

The FAA does not see it that way! If your using a drone for pay. No matter if you take a picture or not. Or make a print or give a digital file. It requires a commercial drone license! It's the act of using the drone itself and money exchaning hands.

It doesn't even have to be money. Bartering for something is considered commercial (including 'recognition'). Even if you receive a handful of belly button lint for a drone image, you're considered 'paid'.

Actually, yea bartering goods, for a service would be considered commercial by the FAA. And they are very strict with rules for private pilots and commercial like flights. But they do allow sharing of expenses on a "private" flight. Many have pushed that leeway a little too far. But it happens all the tme. The private pilot has to have an actual reason to be going to the destination. And the passenger who would like to go there can "share" in the expenses of the trip. They will let that go as long as the "share" is not too obvious like 30/70 pilot / pax. Can probably get away with 40/60. Some push it, and got their tail feathers trimmed some.

 

[darkblue-x]

Have you ever thought of low tech. Helium filled balloons, attached to the monofiliment line of a fishing rod. No restrictions that I know of. Low cosr

lolsy, but could potentially work.
if the balloon malfunctions though, RIP to your cam.

 

[480sparky]

Have you ever thought of low tech. Helium filled balloons, attached to the monofiliment line of a fishing rod. No restrictions that I know of. Low cosr

lolsy, but could potentially work.
if the balloon malfunctions though, RIP to your cam.

And drones malfunction as well. RIP the drone AND the camera.

 

[NancyMoranG]

I have been thinking of getting one too...back to original question...
Is it worth getting one with restrictions on using them?

 

[CharlzO2k]

It all depends on what you want to do and where at. If you want to use them primarily to do things and get shots in areas that are known to be harder on them, then maybe it wouldn't be. But there are a LOT of places out there to fly that are perfectly fine.

 

[fmw]

Regulations? Meh.

 

[ac12]

Regulations? Meh.

Ignoring regulations is how regulations and laws get tighter.

There has already been cases of drone/quad and airplane/helicopter mid-air collision, do a Google search.
Sooner or later there will be a serious mid-air collision with fatalities.

There are already privacy issues being raised about drone spying/peeking into homes and properties.
What would you do if you saw one of those drones outside your bedroom window, looking into your bedroom?
I recall one where someone used a shotgun to bring down one of those peeking drones. It has gotten that bad.

 

[ac12]

I have been thinking of getting one too...back to original question...
Is it worth getting one with restrictions on using them?

Yes it is, just understand the regulations and work within them.

 

[smoke665]

What would you do if you saw one of those drones outside your bedroom window, looking into your bedroom?

12 ga, Buckshot, works quite well.

 

[lynxear]

Have you ever thought of low tech. Helium filled balloons, attached to the monofiliment line of a fishing rod. No restrictions that I know of. Low cosr

lolsy, but could potentially work.
if the balloon malfunctions though, RIP to your cam.

It is no different than losing control of your drone and crashing it.

 

[ac12]

I just did a short study for the yearbook advisor, cuz some of kids wanted a drone to take pictures. Yeah kids want their toys.
Well the two major issues I found were:

• I could not see a way that the intended school use was "hobby or recreational."
  
  • Which then leads to a MUCH more difficult set of FAA rules, which has a rule that the "pilot" has to be certified, which effectively means an adult, NOT a student.
• Cannot fly over people. So they can't shoot school events. So what will they shoot, the empty school ?

So I could not see a justification for the use of a drone for the school.

 

[Destin]

I just did a short study for the yearbook advisor, cuz some of kids wanted a drone to take pictures. Yeah kids want their toys.
Well the two major issues I found were:

• I could not see a way that the intended school use was "hobby or recreational."
  • Which then leads to a MUCH more difficult set of FAA rules, which has a rule that the "pilot" has to be certified, which effectively means an adult, NOT a student.
• Cannot fly over people. So they can't shoot school events. So what will they shoot, the empty school ?

So I could not see a justification for the use of a drone for the school.

Yeah, there are a ton of rules. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd trust students with a drone anyway.

That being said, it seems like almost every drone owner I know and follow online pretty much just blatantly disregards most of the rules with the exception of altitude. Until the FAA decides to make an example out of someone, it doesn't seem that they enforce much. I'm not encouraging breaking the rules, and I try my best to follow them. Just making an observation after my first 6-8 months of drone ownership.

 

[ac12]

I just did a short study for the yearbook advisor, cuz some of kids wanted a drone to take pictures. Yeah kids want their toys.
Well the two major issues I found were:

• I could not see a way that the intended school use was "hobby or recreational."
  • Which then leads to a MUCH more difficult set of FAA rules, which has a rule that the "pilot" has to be certified, which effectively means an adult, NOT a student.
• Cannot fly over people. So they can't shoot school events. So what will they shoot, the empty school ?

So I could not see a justification for the use of a drone for the school.

Yeah, there are a ton of rules. Honestly, I'm not sure I'd trust students with a drone anyway.

That being said, it seems like almost every drone owner I know and follow online pretty much just blatantly disregards most of the rules with the exception of altitude. Until the FAA decides to make an example out of someone, it doesn't seem that they enforce much. I'm not encouraging breaking the rules, and I try my best to follow them. Just making an observation after my first 6-8 months of drone ownership.

Yes, agree with your point.
The responsibility factor goes up significantly. And many high school kids can't handle it, as evidenced by the insurance rates for teen age male drivers.

The problem is that there are too many drones out there for the FAA to crack down on. And they are easy and inexpensive to buy.
But that will change when the first drone/aircraft collision happens where there are fatalities.
Then the FAA will have to crack down on the industry and users. But congress won't change the laws and give the FAA the $$$ and authority, until a fatal collision happens, which is typical after the fact action.

Problem is, they can't just disable/crash the drone, because it may cause injury when it crashes.
The only mechanism that I can think of is for them to somehow take over control over the offending drone, and bring it down safely. And that has to be done without affecting the avionics of the aircraft in the area, which might be tough to do around an airport.
I can see it now, anti-drone device emplacements around the airport, like AA batteries in WW-II.
But the danger is in the entire landing and take off flight path, when the plane is low and slow. And that stretches for miles.

As for flying drones, I agree with you.
Breaking the rules is slowly asking for more rules and tougher rules.

But like in California. When I come to a 4 way stop, I have to expect the other guy to not stop. Because odds are they won't stop. Even on a red light, people will continue through the red light. Not enough cops and traffic cameras to catch them.

 

[HigherViews]

Back to the original question, "Is it really as bad as it seems?" I don't think so, but each person must answer that for them self. I've had a UAV for almost 3 years and been certified under 14 CFR Part 107 for almost 2 years. There are more places to fly legally - commercial or not - than you might think, and there are apps that help you determine where it is safe to fly, in addition to your common sense. The bottom line for me is that I absolutely love the stunning video I can get with my DJI Phantom 4 Pro - I enjoy the whole process of flying and producing the video, and that makes it worth the 30-40 hours (and $150) I had to study for the cert test. At first I was nervous about spending a lot of money for a drone with a good camera, but I'm glad I did! For business or pleasure, learn the rules that apply to you, fly responsibly, and have fun!!