Drone video of Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 under FAA investigation

[MavicPilots News]

A drone video of the Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 is allegedly under investigation by a number of government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Drone video of Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 under investigation​

Two days ago this video was uploaded to the Internet by Scout UAS. The video is almost 10-minutes long and shows footage of the Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 recorded with a drone.

The airshow took place on June 5th and 6th, 2021 at Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Early on in the video, the creator points out that:

“All FAA and Airport Permissions, Waivers, and Submissions were completed, received, and approved for this documentation. Pilot maintained low elevation at all times.”

However, we have been informed by a very reliable source who is close to the FAA that this video is currently under investigation by multiple government agencies, including the FAA.

As you can see in the drone video, various fighter jets fly close by at high speeds and seemingly at the same altitude as the drone and at times even lower.

As per the FAA drone rules, unmanned aircraft need to give way to manned aviation, and cannot be flown in a reckless manner. Based on the footage in the video it appears that some of the FAA rules might indeed have been broken.

 

[Thomas B]

What video?

 

[Tomk_]

 

[icecoldgin]

Love the shot of the F-35s escorting a WWII turbo prop plane (looks like a Hellcat or a Corsair).

Reminds me of the movie "The Final Countdown" which starred Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen.

 

[brett8883]

I assume there was a TFR in effect?

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

Love the shot of the F-35s escorting a WWII turbo prop plane (looks like a Hellcat or a Corsair).

If it was one or the other, I think Hellcat.

Terrible video in any case, how would one think they can get anywhere near enough to such aircraft, and get better footage than you would on the ground with a decent camera and tripod.

 

[JackL]

I wanted to fly my drone at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show a few weeks ago bad!! No way I was going to try it there though. Did better with my camera anyway.




I wanted to drone this ship bad way before the show started but seaplanes, banner planes and helicopters were way low were everywhere!!!

 

[Bxr532001]

I wanted to fly my drone at the Fort Lauderdale Air Show a few weeks ago bad!! No way I was going to try it there though. Did better with my camera anyway.

View attachment 130457View attachment 130458View attachment 130456
View attachment 130460

I wanted to drone this ship bad way before the show started but seaplanes, banner planes and helicopters were way low were everywhere!!!

View attachment 130459

Excellent shots.I think your choice of camera vs drone was a good one

 

[Prop Wash]

I'll leave it to those agencies to make their call - but...yes, UAVs are supposed to make way for manned aircraft. On the other hand, do the rules 'specify' @ want distance? Example: You happen to be in your backyard and a police helicopter is flying two blocks over, does that mean you have to drop down? I don't know that's why I'm asking.

In the video above, to me, it didn't "appear" he was that close, but I'm sure they'll look @ that. I hope he has proof of the disclaimers post in the OPs post.

 

[fguthrie]

It is interesting, the phrase "unmanned aircraft need to give way to manned aviation" is all good and well, but when you have a fighter jet coming at your drone at at the speed of sound, good luck with that! Unfortunately, the best solution is probably not to fly during that time.

 

[Drone_Pilot]

A drone video of the Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 is allegedly under investigation by a number of government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Drone video of Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 under investigation​

Two days ago this video was uploaded to the Internet by Scout UAS. The video is almost 10-minutes long and shows footage of the Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 recorded with a drone.

The airshow took place on June 5th and 6th, 2021 at Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Early on in the video, the creator points out that:



However, we have been informed by a very reliable source who is close to the FAA that this video is currently under investigation by multiple government agencies, including the FAA.

As you can see in the drone video, various fighter jets fly close by at high speeds and seemingly at the same altitude as the drone and at times even lower.

As per the FAA drone rules, unmanned aircraft need to give way to manned aviation, and cannot be flown in a reckless manner. Based on the footage in the video it appears that some of the FAA rules might indeed have been broken.

We just had the south Florida Air show in South Beach and there was a TFR in place. As I saw this video it kind of scares me that that drone was almost at the altitude of the fighters. And also of questioning the pilot

 

[Drbobk]

Example: You happen to be in your backyard and a police helicopter is flying two blocks over, does that mean you have to drop down? I don't know that's why I'm asking.

Of course it does! Do you know where the helicopter is going? Are you sure your drone is not going to impede the helicopter? Are you sure that if a wasp lands on your hand that you’re not going to react in a way that might cause the drone to suddenly fly off in the helicopter’s direction? I’d change your question to “Why wouldn’t you drop down?”

The probability of that kind of event is probably low, the but magnitude of the potential outcome is so large that any prudent flier would get down, even if the FAA didn’t mandate it.

 

[Prop Wash]

Of course it does! Do you know where the helicopter is going? Are you sure your drone is not going to impede the helicopter? Are you sure that if a wasp lands on your hand that you’re not going to react in a way that might cause the drone to suddenly fly off in the helicopter’s direction? I’d change your question to “Why wouldn’t you drop down?”

That's a fair point and I agree with it. For the record, I would drop down and I have in a similar situation. I guess my question was geared more toward the 'Specific-ness' (if that's a word) of the rule.

 

[JackL]

I'll leave it to those agencies to make their call - but...yes, UAVs are supposed to make way for manned aircraft. On the other hand, do the rules 'specify' @ want distance? Example: You happen to be in your backyard and a police helicopter is flying two blocks over, does that mean you have to drop down? I don't know that's why I'm asking.

In the video above, to me, it didn't "appear" he was that close, but I'm sure they'll look @ that. I hope he has proof of the disclaimers post in the OPs post.

I had the helicopter situation recently. I dropped down to 3' over a roof about 3 blocks away and filmed it with zoom. It looks like I am right next to it enough there is no way I would ever post the video.

I am in the approach of FLL at my house, outside of any restricted zones, and when I am at 200' it sometimes looks like approaching aircraft at 1500' are going to hit me in the camera.

Where I fly in the FL Keys I have to deal with seaplanes that sometimes land on the water right in front of me, low flying gyrocopters and a bunch of light aircraft that don't use a transponder so I keep my ears wide open and maintain very good VLOS so I can give them a wide berth. I'm not sure how close you are allowed to go but personally I get as far away as possible and am always ready to drop into the ocean if necessary.

 

[JackL]

We just had the south Florida Air show in South Beach and there was a TFR in place. As I saw this video it kind of scares me that that drone was almost at the altitude of the fighters. And also of questioning the pilot

The view of aircraft through the camera can be deceptive. My first thought was he was pretty far away. But considering you have aircraft traveling near the speed of sound all over the place during an airshow there is no way I would put a drone up during one!

 

[B52-D]

That's a fair point and I agree with it. For the record, I would drop down and I have in a similar situation. I guess my question was geared more toward the 'Specific-ness' (if that's a word) of the rule.

You can teach rules and regulations, but you can’t teach common sense.

 

[spsphotos]

From the footage, it seems the flights were all following the same path, downward leg around to over the airfield. If he had proper waivers and FAA permissions don't see how he can be fined. Does not appear he in any way impeded the flights of the aircraft. I personally would not have done it

 

[Drone_Pilot]

A drone video of the Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 is allegedly under investigation by a number of government agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Drone video of Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 under investigation​

Two days ago this video was uploaded to the Internet by Scout UAS. The video is almost 10-minutes long and shows footage of the Great Tennessee Airshow 2021 recorded with a drone.

The airshow took place on June 5th and 6th, 2021 at Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Early on in the video, the creator points out that:



However, we have been informed by a very reliable source who is close to the FAA that this video is currently under investigation by multiple government agencies, including the FAA.

As you can see in the drone video, various fighter jets fly close by at high speeds and seemingly at the same altitude as the drone and at times even lower.

As per the FAA drone rules, unmanned aircraft need to give way to manned aviation, and cannot be flown in a reckless manner. Based on the footage in the video it appears that some of the FAA rules might indeed have been broken.

We just had the south Florida Air show in South Beach and there was a TFR in place. As I saw this video it kind of scares me that that drone was almost at the altitude of the fighters. And also of questioning the pilot pilot

From the footage, it seems the flights were all following the same path, downward leg around to over the airfield. If he had proper waivers and FAA permissions don't see how he can be fined. Does not appear he in any way impeded the flights of the aircraft. I personally would not have done it

When this air shows happen there is a 5-mile TFR we just had one down here in South Florida and there was a five mile TFR and that will apply to all states.

 

[GFields]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[WildDoktor]

If he had the proper auths and/or waivers, and all the stakeholders approved it, and he was supposed to be there doing that, then I see zero issues with this. (Of course, that's a lot of "ifs".)

Of course, you know that even if all was in order, the FAA certainly got a zillion calls about it anyway...and so did the mayor, and the Governor, and the airport tower, and the news outlets. Even though there were no collisions, damage, or dead people. Haters gonna hate. :-(