Flying over people?

fguthrie · Jun 26, 2020

I could be trying to take a rule that is black and white and make it grey - but here goes ...

I photographed a family in my neighborhood using my M2P. The daughter created a very special father's day gift for her Dad in their driveway and you really needed a drone to capture it fully. After I took some shots, I thought I would do an Asteroid video for them. However, in doing so I would briefly pass over some kids that were on the other side of the street watching and playing. Would that be considered "Flying over people"?

I found this on the FAA website: The term "over" refers to the flight of the small unmanned aircraft directly over any part of a person. For example, a small UAS that hovers directly over a person's head, shoulders, or extended arms or legs would be an operation over people.

In my case, I would not have been "hovering" .. but "passing over". It also seems likely a UAS could be in flying over a populated area and be over people and based on how high up the UAS is, you might not even be aware. This makes me wonder how black and white this rule really is.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Phantomrain.org · Jun 26, 2020

fguthrie said:
I could be trying to take a rule that is black and white and make it grey - but here goes ...

I photographed a family in my neighborhood using my M2P. The daughter created a very special father's day gift for her Dad in their driveway and you really needed a drone to capture it fully. After I took some shots, I thought I would do an Asteroid video for them. However, in doing so I would briefly pass over some kids that were on the other side of the street watching and playing. Would that be considered "Flying over people"?

I found this on the FAA website: The term "over" refers to the flight of the small unmanned aircraft directly over any part of a person. For example, a small UAS that hovers directly over a person's head, shoulders, or extended arms or legs would be an operation over people.

In my case, I would not have been "hovering" .. but "passing over". It also seems likely a UAS could be in flying over a populated area and be over people and based on how high up the UAS is, you might not even be aware. This makes me wonder how black and white this rule really is.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

Its simply about Minimizing Risk: Laws our Gray to assert Common Sense. To leave some room open for judgement.
But when accidents happen say a woman pushing a stroller get struck and her baby dies. This is when the same Laws that were Gray become Black and White
and will be enforced , engaged and processed to the fullest extent of the law. The commons sense you applied is no longer valid.

The idea is to Fly and Minimize your Risk, make good decisions.
I recently posted a Video of me taking a Risk by flying from inside the Car and being aware of the people and cars.
and the Stop /Go that was needed to get over to the lake.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Mavic in the Rain.
Coal

lannes · Jun 26, 2020

Even with a "fly over" you could still crash into them
I would have asked them to shift a bit to avoid the path of the drone
Blades can still take an eye out

bushie · Jun 27, 2020

Very clear here. You must not fly within 30m of anyone not directly involved in the flight. This 30m is a cylinder, not a sphere so no matter what height you are at it applies. People cannot provide a waiver so an actor cannot allow you to fly near them.

fguthrie · Jun 27, 2020

I'm not sure if the 30m rule is an FAA rule here in the US, but I like it. Thank you.

lannes · Jun 27, 2020

fguthrie said:
I'm not sure if the 30m rule is an FAA rule here in the US, but I like it. Thank you.

The FAA rule regarding flying near people is pretty straight forward

Point 8 - "Never fly over any person or moving vehicle."

theDRONEranger · Jun 27, 2020

And if you were 107 and the people were all designated as VOs . . . . .

JohnChap · Jun 27, 2020

Its a pretty crazy law IMO. Drones are not that unreliable. The probability of your drone losing power and hitting your neighbours across the street is near nil. Flying over crowds is another matter.

SkyeHigh · Jun 27, 2020

JohnChap said:
Its a pretty crazy law IMO. Drones are not that unreliable. The probability of your drone losing power and hitting your neighbours across the street is near nil. Flying over crowds is another matter.

The drones may not be but the people often are.

We’ve had over 100-years to make full-size aircraft ‘safe’ but we still have accidents, we still have aircraft falling on houses and we still have them failing. By comparison we’ve only just got in the air with UAVs, being piloted by largely inexperienced people, without full situational awareness and software that is still developing.

Still think it’s crazy?

Lets Fly · Jun 28, 2020

All aircraft private and commercial, take off and land (which is the most dangerous time) over houses cars people every day, and accidents do happen.
I was wondering, has there been any reported incidents of a privately owned drone falling from the sky injuring a person on the ground?

lannes · Jun 28, 2020

Lets Fly said:
All aircraft private and commercial, take off and land (which is the most dangerous time) over houses cars people every day, and accidents do happen.
I was wondering, has there been any reported incidents of a privately owned drone falling from the sky injuring a person on the ground?

Toddler, 18 months, left blind in one eye by drone propeller

Doctors tried to save Oscar Webb's eye after the accident in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, seven weeks ago. He will need several operations before he can have a prosthetic one fitted.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Lets Fly · Jun 28, 2020

lannes said:
Toddler, 18 months, left blind in one eye by drone propeller

Doctors tried to save Oscar Webb's eye after the accident in Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire, seven weeks ago. He will need several operations before he can have a prosthetic one fitted.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Yes that was a bad one. Pilot error in landing and hitting a tree. I was thinking more of a drone falling while in flight no pilot error.