Recent content by kshaw

We were considering using drones for water sampling and had the same concerns of an inadvertent landing in water. We are leaning toward installing floats on the bottom as a precaution. Should it land, we can send someone out on the kayak to retrieve it or maybe try to take off again from the...

We need to do some water testing on a lake and considering using floats on a MA2. The idea is to program the missions with Dronelink or Litchi to certain GPS locations and have the drone land, float on the water for a period to permit test strip to record results and then return to home. Has...

FYI, you can build your own ADS-B receiver from a Raspberry Pi for about $130 that will display all the local aircraft on a tablet using one of the free aviation maps (Wing X, Avare, etc.) Details are here: Stratux ADS-B | Stratux ADS-B - DIY/Low-cost Portable ADS-B It will show the aircraft...

What part of Maryland? We are setting up some training programs in Montgomery County using the Tello drones and drone simulators.

The FAA should duke these conflicts out and advocacy organizations such as AMA and AOPA should be proactive in defending our rights to fly there. If you have a clearance from the FAA to 400 feet, then the FAA should defend your right to fly there or threaten to pull funds to the airports or...

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has a drone subgroup and offers their same legal insurance coverage offered to aircraft pilots to drone operators. You will have to be a member to get the insurance. Your Freedom to Fly

I would contact some local ham radio operators in your area. They know how to build the antenna platforms and fine tune the antenna to the required frequency.

Rather than spying, I would discuss search and rescue, police use of infrared technology to see if a building is occupied, mapping, use of drones in agriculture and water sampling (Reign Maker), and wildlife migration monitoring. AOPA may have some videos on their web site.

Check the state law which may preempt any local laws. If you find that it does, then contact your state attorney general and report it and contact AMA and AOPA and see if they will join in to oppose it. Also report it to your state Aeronautics agency. I have seen one of our local parks try to...

It should be similar. The Stratux will work from direct transmissions from surrounding aircraft and if close enough to an ADS-B tower, it will display aircraft that ATC is working as well as weather radar. Key benefit of the Stratux is that you do not need an internet connection. I use it on...

First, at 400 ft. AGL, it is unlikely that you are going to interfere with an aircraft unless you are flying below the flight path of a landing aircraft. You should know where the flight path is before you fly your drone if you are flying around an airport. Aircraft are required to fly an...

The VFR version of Wing-X is now free and there are Apple and Android versions available. It has both Sectional charts and Terminal Area Charts. Your IPad will need a GPS to show your location. Androids and cellular IPads have GPS else you will need a Bad-Elf or a Stratux with GPS module...

Here is one way I have seen to get around our state law preventing county and city restrictions on use of drones: It is a local county park with multiple soccer fields barring drone photography. I think that this approach is based on a belief that the FAA will not defend drone operators right...

If anyone is worried that the Velcro would not hold the strobe, take a look at 3m Dual Lock tape. That stuff is awesome and will hold up in high heat. https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/dual-lock-reclosable-fasteners-us/

I believe that the issuance time is shorter if you previously had a private or commercial plane license because a new applicant will have to go through the TSA check. Prior pilots have already done this. I got mine in about three weeks.