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Thoughts and prayers for California
- Thread starter Basil
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I know at least one BCF member who is in the mandatory evacuation zone.
OP
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I'm sure there are many. Very sad circumstances.
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Some ways to help:
abc7.com
SoCal Wildfires: How You Can Help
As Southern California marks the first anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires, we continue to track ways people can help those impacted by these disasters.
abc7.com
OP
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Thanks Tom. PS: Be wary of unsolicited calls for donation via text or email. If you are going to donate to anyone, do it via their official web site.Some ways to help:
SoCal Wildfires: How You Can Help
As Southern California marks the first anniversary of the Eaton and Palisades fires, we continue to track ways people can help those impacted by these disasters.
OP
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There's an idiot born every minute:
mikephillips
Yoda
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And the owner of the drone is probably complaining to friends about this airplane that ran down his toy.
OP
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My son is a professional drone pilot besides being a 737 driver for Southwest. He has his own drone company and he is just outraged about this.
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Basil - bravo on your son's work. Question: I see drones on ebay, craigslist, etc. Is ownership of those automatically registered in a database somewhere? Or does the owner have to register it? FAA requires ownership to be registered - but I figure bazillions of those thing bought online aren't registered at all.
OP
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I'm pretty sure the Drone is registered, but you're supposed to go on line and change ownership. Also, for hobbyists, you go on line and have to take some sort of FAA test (it's free)/
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There’s also defined airspace that drones can operate. I believe it’s a federal offense to operate a drone in a disaster area just like it is to operate within proximity to airports.
Just because you buy a drone that doesn’t give you the right to operate in any airspace.
Just because you buy a drone that doesn’t give you the right to operate in any airspace.
Popeye
Obi Wan
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As a model airplane pilot (or routine crasher of said model airplanes 
), low cost / easy to fly drones have made regulation of the hobby difficult. From a legal perspective, drones and remote-controlled airplanes are the same thing.
The FAA has (recently - 2020??) required all flying "toys" to be registered ($5 for three years), stopping short of requiring transponders, and requires pilots to pass an exam.
RC airplanes and drones can be flown in one of two ways: at a "designated flying site" (i.e. model airplane clubs registered with the FAA), or you can request permission to fly "anywhere", using an FAA app to clear your flight. In essence, you state your intentions and the app says "OK TO FLY" or "NOT OK".
Traditional fixed-wing airplanes (what I fly / aka crash) and helicopters generally fly at designated sites for the long runway and sufficient airspace. They are not easy to fly, requiring a good bit of training (learning to fly a real airplane was easier). Pilots think long and hard before taking to the skies (and occasionally crash...). Regulating these is easy and laws have changed little since way back when.
Modern drones, on the other hand, can be flown by anyone and anywhere. They can provide a valuable service, for example, real estate agents, landscapers, farmers, law enforcement, etc. The ease of piloting and low cost means there are a lot of drones. My daughters received a drone from grandparents last Christmas. Nowhere on the packaging were FAA regulations mentioned. (!?!)
Bottom line, there are stupid folks who illegally fly at airports and fire-fighting operations. But there are also a lot of folks who inadvertently do stupid things, not realizing the bigger picture or the laws. And of course, like speeding just a little ("but officer, I'm only 5 over!"), there is a middle ground of intentional lawlessness assuming it is OK. I expect more regulation, much to the chagrin of "old timers" like me. (As much as I don't like the new laws, I support the regulation, given the potential for wrong doing.)
), low cost / easy to fly drones have made regulation of the hobby difficult. From a legal perspective, drones and remote-controlled airplanes are the same thing.The FAA has (recently - 2020??) required all flying "toys" to be registered ($5 for three years), stopping short of requiring transponders, and requires pilots to pass an exam.
RC airplanes and drones can be flown in one of two ways: at a "designated flying site" (i.e. model airplane clubs registered with the FAA), or you can request permission to fly "anywhere", using an FAA app to clear your flight. In essence, you state your intentions and the app says "OK TO FLY" or "NOT OK".
Traditional fixed-wing airplanes (what I fly / aka crash) and helicopters generally fly at designated sites for the long runway and sufficient airspace. They are not easy to fly, requiring a good bit of training (learning to fly a real airplane was easier). Pilots think long and hard before taking to the skies (and occasionally crash...
). Regulating these is easy and laws have changed little since way back when.Modern drones, on the other hand, can be flown by anyone and anywhere. They can provide a valuable service, for example, real estate agents, landscapers, farmers, law enforcement, etc. The ease of piloting and low cost means there are a lot of drones. My daughters received a drone from grandparents last Christmas. Nowhere on the packaging were FAA regulations mentioned. (!?!)
Bottom line, there are stupid folks who illegally fly at airports and fire-fighting operations. But there are also a lot of folks who inadvertently do stupid things, not realizing the bigger picture or the laws. And of course, like speeding just a little ("but officer, I'm only 5 over!"), there is a middle ground of intentional lawlessness assuming it is OK. I expect more regulation, much to the chagrin of "old timers" like me. (As much as I don't like the new laws, I support the regulation, given the potential for wrong doing.)
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Thanks gents. I figured there are already many "regulations", but I also figured that with relatively inexpensive drones on the market, more and more folks just disregard the rules and "have their fun".
Seems there should be a way for responsible people (e.g. airport tower personnel, etc.) to electronically "take over" drones flying in restricted areas, so they could be controlled to fly away from the area.
Just sayin'
TM
Seems there should be a way for responsible people (e.g. airport tower personnel, etc.) to electronically "take over" drones flying in restricted areas, so they could be controlled to fly away from the area.
Just sayin'
TM
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Or, a high-tech piñata
mikephillips
Yoda
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Or grab them and chase the "owners" around the ground....
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Fires are terrible they take all the really prescious things like photos of those no longer with us and daft keepsakes like the little models and artwork the kids made.
All very sad.
All very sad.
Popeye
Obi Wan
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There is a lot of interest in such technology from the US DoD (and probably every DoD in the world!). Witness the extensive use of drones in the UK - and the unfortunate ability for bad actors anywhere. There is significant funding - and huge obstacles to overcome. Neat stuff: > Counter Drone Technology and Systems from QinetiQ <