Drone collides AND grounds a firefighting Super Scooper in LA...

[Bad Santa]

The other difference, of course was that there was a crapton of fire that (this isn't a debate) burned hot enough to weaken the steel girders holding up the massive weight above.

 

[Blue Thunder Pilot]

Apparently, Ben Afflick may have been involved

 

[rgarjr]

https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/man-56-pleads-guilty-in-drone-crash-that-disabled-palisades-fire-super-scooper/

 

[mavic3usa]

https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/man-56-pleads-guilty-in-drone-crash-that-disabled-palisades-fire-super-scooper/

Thanks for posting.

it's a slap on the wrist. the government is never going to get serious about preventing these collisions and now it sounds like they can be serious about prosecuting American citizens violators.

So I guess this problem is never going to go away.

 

[Bad Santa]

Thanks for posting.

it's a slap on the wrist. the government is never going to get serious about preventing these collisions and now it sounds like they can be serious about prosecuting American citizens violators.

So I guess this problem is never going to go away.

I don't think it's what you think.
There's degree of infraction to take into consideration.

When the scale of law breaking ranges from stealing a candy bar to, say, first degree murder, where does "flying a drone in an unsafe manner" fall? I'd say it's pretty close to the candy bar. I don't add in arguments like "what could have happened". It's a bogus argument.

Yes, damage happened. That involves liability but shouldn't factor into the actual infraction. Now, if someone had died as a result, I might have a different opinion.

 

[Photo Booth]

https://ktla.com/news/california/wildfires/man-56-pleads-guilty-in-drone-crash-that-disabled-palisades-fire-super-scooper/

Akemann got off too light, IMHO. I hope the judge imposes the full one year in prison.

Mark

 

[Bad Santa]

Restitution and 150 hours of community service seems appropriate.
Put the emotions aside. No reason for pitchforks and torches.

 

[AZDave]

In a bid for leniency his lawyers claim that DJI's geofencing failed, but I'd bet that he had previously intentionally defeated it. He was within 1.5 miles of the impact and I can't imagine he would have even been able to take off if the geofencing on the drone had been intact.

 

[Photo Booth]

In a bid for leniency his lawyers claim that DJI's geofencing failed, but I'd bet that he had previously intentionally defeated it. He was within 1.5 miles of the impact and I can't imagine he would have even been able to take off if the geofencing on the drone had been intact.

Sounds pretty akin to "the dog ate my homework" defense.

The drone was 1.5 miles away from Akemann at the time of the collision, WELL beyond visual line of sight.

The more severe the penalty the better it is for drone enthusiasts who truly care about retaining the privilege to fly a drone in U.S. airspace.

Mark