France is so restrictive :(

[Mogs]

Not sure there's any point in taking my newly acquired mini 4 pro to France. Got a tour arranged for end of August into September. Will be visiting some beautiful places ie Rocamadour, Millau, Tan Gorge, Ardeche, Verdon, Mercantour mountains etc etc. But I can't fly in any of these places according to the drone maps provided by the French aviation guys. Properly pissed off

 

[GadgetGuy]

But I can't fly in any of these places according to the drone maps provided by the French aviation guys. Properly pissed off

You likely can, but you may not. Bandit flying is now a thing. Just don't get caught! LOL! If RID is being broadcast, they will catch you! Opt for a Mini 4 Pro with a regular battery, which does not transmit RID, meaning your location will not be able to be determined until you land, leaving time to escape!

 

[Felix le Chat]

Not sure there's any point in taking my newly acquired mini 4 pro to France. Got a tour arranged for end of August into September. Will be visiting some beautiful places ie Rocamadour, Millau, Tan Gorge, Ardeche, Verdon, Mercantour mountains etc etc. But I can't fly in any of these places according to the drone maps provided by the French aviation guys. Properly pissed off

The general attitude fascinates me.... On the one hand: they'll happily sit and watch a bunch of pirates load illegal immigrants into rubber dinghies... but be stoked and proactive about some joker wanting to take a few pictures of rocks and trees.

 

[KB9Radio]

There's many areas in the US where you can't fly as well. Usually state and federal parks, stadiums, and so on not to mention wherever anybody sticks a sign up.
Usually when traveling in any country those are the tourist sites you go to. They don't just take the tour group out in countryside. So I guess it wouldn't be surprising to me that you wouldn't have much use for a drone on a trip, regardless of destination.

 

[spsphotos]

There's many areas in the US where you can't fly as well. Usually state and federal parks, stadiums, and so on not to mention wherever anybody sticks a sign up.
Usually when traveling in any country those are the tourist sites you go to. They don't just take the tour group out in countryside. So I guess it wouldn't be surprising to me that you wouldn't have much use for a drone on a trip, regardless of destination.

First of all, that's not accurate at all. You can fly in State and Federal parks with permits. You can fly over stadiums, just not an hour before or after a game and only if the stadium is of a specific size. And as for signs, not worth the material they are printed on. The ONLY thing that a state or town can regulate is where you can or cannot take off and operate from when it comes to public property.

 

[spsphotos]

You likely can, but you may not. Bandit flying is now a thing. Just don't get caught! LOL! If RID is being broadcast, they will catch you! Opt for a Mini 4 Pro with a regular battery, which does not transmit RID, meaning your location will not be able to be determined until you land, leaving time to escape!

I strongly encourage you NOT to do this. You do not want to be caught up in a foreign countries legal system. Can end up being way more expensive then you think and ruin your vacation.

 

[spsphotos]

Not sure there's any point in taking my newly acquired mini 4 pro to France. Got a tour arranged for end of August into September. Will be visiting some beautiful places ie Rocamadour, Millau, Tan Gorge, Ardeche, Verdon, Mercantour mountains etc etc. But I can't fly in any of these places according to the drone maps provided by the French aviation guys. Properly pissed off

Had the same issue when I went to Aruba. They make it extremely hard to fly legally. You need to file when, where, time and distance for EVERY flight 48 hours in advance. That's why I didn't take my drone.

 

[KB9Radio]

First of all, that's not accurate at all. You can fly in State and Federal parks with permits. You can fly over stadiums, just not an hour before or after a game and only if the stadium is of a specific size. And as for signs, not worth the material they are printed on. The ONLY thing that a state or town can regulate is where you can or cannot take off and operate from when it comes to public property.

Ok, you try to get a permit to fly in a national park and let me know how that works. The only thing that help is they fired everyone and you have a less chance of getting caught.

 

[wco81]

You can't fly in most urban areas and national parks.

But I've flown near some smaller towns or villages in France.

I don't think they prioritize drones, at least no signs of it.

Once had cops on bikes come up to me when I was flying my drone in Menton, over the water, not over people. They asked me to land it, didn't cite me.

They claimed I would have to get permission from the city and the province but I found no such requirement.

The drone map is here:

Géoportail

Accédez à l'information géographique de référence : cartes, photographies aériennes, données géographiques

www.geoportail.gouv.fr

You do have to register with them or an EU country, pass a quiz to get a Pilot number and register your drone.

 

[MS Coast]

The general attitude fascinates me.... On the one hand: they'll happily sit and watch a bunch of pirates load illegal immigrants into rubber dinghies... but be stoked and proactive about some joker wanting to take a few pictures of rocks and trees.

Have you witnessed that in France? I spent some time in the southern part of the country last year but saw nothing regarding drone enforcement, stoked and proactive, or otherwise. And I didn't see or hear about anyone condoning illegal smuggling of people into the country. Where did you see that happening?

I left my drones at home in part because of the flight restrictions in areas we visited. Yes, that was a disappointment. But, it's their country and they make the rules.

 

[Bad Santa]

FWIW, a lot of laws are written, and exist, to simply have a "just in case" law. They only use the law to enforce something that's harder to control.

A made up scenario is as follows.
Peeping on people's bedrooms is illegal. If someone were using a drone to peep in on people, then they couldn't prove that the person was actually peeping in on people so if they have a law saying no drone flying, then they (might) have cause to look at the video if the drone were confiscated (as would happen if the law allows and the person was suspected of peeping). However, if someone were flying a drone over a countryside, even though the law exists, there would be absolutely nothing done about it.

 

[spsphotos]

Ok, you try to get a permit to fly in a national park and let me know how that works. The only thing that help is they fired everyone and you have a less chance of getting caught.

Never said it was easy, but it can be done.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Have you witnessed that in France? I spent some time in the southern part of the country last year but saw nothing regarding drone enforcement, stoked and proactive, or otherwise. And I didn't see or hear about anyone condoning illegal smuggling of people into the country. Where did you see that happening?

I left my drones at home in part because of the flight restrictions in areas we visited. Yes, that was a disappointment. But, it's their country and they make the rules.

Well.... For starters: this comment has nothing to do with southern France, where, incidentally, people have been run across the Med from north Africa to the south of France in their thousands on NGO dinghies since the mid 1990's... Which is one of the main reasons why France now has such a massive illegal immigrant problem. Maybe you'd like a bit of white-knuckle holidaying next year? If so, try going to the Gare du Nord in Paris (where I have seen it first hand) and you'll have evidence of that for yourself.

Where do I get my information? For starters: three different investigative journalists reports in the last 12 months on the pirate gangs operating around the coastlines of NORTHERN France finding that the French enforcement agencies were sitting on their thumbs despite Britain providing substantial funding for active legal enforcement BY the French authorities.

 

[MS Coast]

Well.... For starters: this comment has nothing to do with southern France, where, incidentally, people have been run across the Med from north Africa to the south of France in their thousands on NGO dinghies since the mid 1990's... Which is one of the main reasons why France now has such a massive illegal immigrant problem. Maybe you'd like a bit of white-knuckle holidaying next year? If so, try going to the Gare du Nord in Paris (where I have seen it first hand) and you'll have evidence of that for yourself.

Where do I get my information? For starters: three different investigative journalists reports in the last 12 months on the pirate gangs operating around the coastlines of NORTHERN France finding that the French enforcement agencies were sitting on their thumbs despite Britain providing substantial funding for active legal enforcement BY the French authorities.

Illegal immigration is an issue in France, as it is in most developed countries. But it's nowhere near the problem that some politicians preach about. That's what I've observed here on the southern edge of the US and on the southern edge of France.

As for investigative journalists, I rely on reputable ones for good information. But it's possible to find investigative journalists who support the opposite of almost any issue, including space alien invasions and 500-mpg carburetors. Hyperbole and sensationalism sell.

I'll opt out of more on this topic, unless it relates to drones. I'll be headed to the UK in May, with a drone. I'll be alert for "stoked and proactive" drone regs enforcement there.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Illegal immigration is an issue in France, as it is in most developed countries. But it's nowhere near the problem that some politicians preach about. That's what I've observed here on the southern edge of the US and on the southern edge of France.

As for investigative journalists, I rely on reputable ones for good information. But it's possible to find investigative journalists who support the opposite of almost any issue, including space alien invasions and 500-mpg carburetors. Hyperbole and sensationalism sell.

I'll opt out of more on this topic, unless it relates to drones. I'll be headed to the UK in May, with a drone. I'll be alert for "stoked and proactive" drone regs enforcement there.

Look me up. I'm sure we could have a fine old time over a couple of warm beers.

 

[MS Coast]

Look me up. I'm sure we could have a fine old time over a couple of warm beers.

I'm definitely looking forward to chewing a few glasses of Guinness. Are there others I should try? We'll be in northwest Scotland and the Outer Hebrides.

 

[Felix le Chat]

I'm definitely looking forward to chewing a few glasses of Guinness. Are there others I should try? We'll be in northwest Scotland and the Outer Hebrides.

If you want draught Guinness: go to Dublin - St. James gate, anywhere else it's just varying shades of bad... Guinness doesn't travel well.

Proper 'put hair on yer chest' ales? Bottled Guinness brewed in Nigeria (I kid ye not) or Guinness West Indies Porter... over twice the strength of draught. Theakestones Old Peculier. Black Sheep. Riggwelter. Old Crafty Hen. With the Scottish Islands and a really good single malt: Jura Origin... makes Glenmorangie taste like mouthwash.

Want something impressive to photograph? Find Mousa Broch - the original Scottish high-rise and don't forget Scatness.

 

[MS Coast]

If you want draught Guinness: go to Dublin - St. James gate, anywhere else it's just varying shades of bad... Guinness doesn't travel well.

Proper 'put hair on yer chest' ales? Bottled Guinness brewed in Nigeria (I kid ye not) or Guinness West Indies Porter... over twice the strength of draught. Theakestones Old Peculier. Black Sheep. Riggwelter. Old Crafty Hen. With the Scottish Islands and a really good single malt: Jura Origin... makes Glenmorangie taste like mouthwash.

Want something impressive to photograph? Find Mousa Broch - the original Scottish high-rise and don't forget Scatness.

Thanks very much for the recommendations. We won't be going as far as Shetland, but we'll be on Islay, Mull, and Jura. I'll add those beers and that single malt to my target list.

 

[Felix le Chat]

Thanks very much for the recommendations. We won't be going as far as Shetland, but we'll be on Islay, Mull, and Jura. I'll add those beers and that single malt to my target list.

If you like Ale as opposed to beer... I doubt you'll be disappointed. As far as Jura is concerned: Slange.

Postscript.
If you visit the distillery (well worth the effort) insist on trying 10/12 year Origin at cask strength (varies between 110 and 112 degrees proof)

 

[GadgetGuy]

I strongly encourage you NOT to do this. You do not want to be caught up in a foreign countries legal system. Can end up being way more expensive then you think and ruin your vacation.

Agreed. Perhaps you missed the tongue in cheek humor and the semantics lesson. It was an opportunity to point out the difference between can and may, and how to legally avoid transmitting RID, primarily to avoid Karens and criminals from finding the pilot when flying legally, which can potentially be just as dangerous, even domestically!