NorCal has fires going on - A couple of yutzes put up their drones at one.
Drones near a Wild-Fire
People need to get it right.
Drones near a Wild-Fire
People need to get it right.
I think the same way - SOMETHING need to be done.I am not a fan of the everyone shutting down rescue operations do to a drone in the sky, they need to come up with something better.
I can tell you right now that if i am in that fire in the forest < my drone is going straight up to find a way out.
Meanwhile all rescue operations will be shut down, UGH .
I realize that this is not the case , but I would love to know how many drones are responsible for finding Fires in the first place.
Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain.
I remember the story of when they found a scuba diver about a mile out inland and they wondered how he got there, turns out he accidentally got picked up by a helo scooping water for a fire ,Not really drone related but years ago we had a helicopter dipping water out of one of my ponds to fight a fire, was kinds cool to watch up close.
LOL, I remember the story too. Was back in the late 80's when it first appeared. Fortunately it turned out to be a myth.I remember the story of when they found a scuba diver about a mile out inland and they wondered how he got there, turns out he accidentally got picked up by a helo scooping water for a fire ,
Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain.
If there is a TFR up a DJI drone will land. DJI puts up a area larger than the actual TFR that you have to get a release to fly in. The problem is a fire where a TFR hasn't yet been issued. Most pilots report smoke plumes to ATC and a lot of times they have already been reported but occasionally there is a fire that bombers are working and even Flight Service has no knowledge off.1 could be throwing up a TFR for non-firefighting aircraft
Just to clarify - a TFR is a DJI Geo blue authorization zone, and so you can simply self-authorize to fly without any formal authorization from the TFR owner.If there is a TFR up a DJI drone will land. DJI puts up a area larger than the actual TFR that you have to get a release to fly in. The problem is a fire where a TFR hasn't yet been issued. Most pilots report smoke plumes to ATC and a lot of times they have already been reported but occasionally there is a fire that bombers are working and even Flight Service has no knowledge off.
I fly out of a tanker base and needless to say anytime there is a smoke plume I know there is probably going to be heavy tanker traffic in between the fire and the airport and one has to be super alert for traffic as for all traffic but as hectic as it sometimes gets there has never been a need to stop general aviation or commercial air traffic out side of the TFR.
As I said earlier if a TFR is in place it's been my experience that a DJI drone won't take off. I have an APP, Foreflight, that shows the actual TFR and many time's DJI's blue area covers my house even though I am several miles from the actual TFR I can easily get a release to fly but I always get warnings that my drone will land if I enter the TFR.
I say all this because I don't think anyone could fly a straight up reconnaissance flight within the TFR with a DJI drone even though I can see the need for a homeowner to want to do so. Within the smoke area it could be useless anyway. you probably wouldn't be able to outclimb the smoke.
I find I can see about as far as I want 75 feet above ground. NO fixed wing/helicopter should be or ever would be flying at that altitude unless they are crashing. I think we and the FAA need to use a little common sense. I’m not endangering any other aircraft by flying 75 feet above the ground.NorCal has fires going on - A couple of yutzes put up their drones at one.
Drones near a Wild-Fire
People need to get it right.
I'm not so sure about that Sar. The blue area is much larger than the actual TFR or has been in my experience. I have Foreflight that shows the actual TFR and naturally I haven't actually ever dared to get really close to it because of all the warnings I get even though I'm flying with authorization which allowed me to take off. I think in the case of a fire TFR DJI makes the blue area so large because the TFR is probably going to move or expand. It has been my belief that if I accidently entered the the actual TFR my drone would land. ....I'm not about to try and find out ?Just to clarify - a TFR is a DJI Geo blue authorization zone, and so you can simply self-authorize to fly without any formal authorization from the TFR owner.
I remember the story of when they found a scuba diver about a mile out inland and they wondered how he got there, turns out he accidentally got picked up by a helo scooping water for a fire ,
Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain.
While I understand your point, we do know the FAA has to two rules that currently apply here:I find I can see about as far as I want 75 feet above ground. NO fixed wing/helicopter should be or ever would be flying at that altitude unless they are crashing. I think we and the FAA need to use a little common sense. I’m not endangering any other aircraft by flying 75 feet above the ground.
I understand your point and believe you are sincere about staying below 75 feet, but the pilots in the aircraft don't know that. It's their lives at stake, not yours. Also, tankers that scoop from lakes and dump their loads on fires are definitely going to be flying below 75 feet at certain times, and not in the process of crashing, hopefully.I find I can see about as far as I want 75 feet above ground. NO fixed wing/helicopter should be or ever would be flying at that altitude unless they are crashing. I think we and the FAA need to use a little common sense. I’m not endangering any other aircraft by flying 75 feet above the ground.
I find I can see about as far as I want 75 feet above ground. NO fixed wing/helicopter should be or ever would be flying at that altitude unless they are crashing. I think we and the FAA need to use a little common sense. I’m not endangering any other aircraft by flying 75 feet above the ground.