sporte77
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2017
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- 54
Hi Ross,
The video looks amazing. Good job on that. Now for the legality part... I've got some special insight on this particular airspace & the "barge".
I fly for an airline locally. From the point of view of your video - it looks like you were well outside of 5 miles of Sea-Tac. Boeing Field (KBFI) may be close to 5 miles - depending on where you were over the bay. It looked like you were outside of the 5 mile ring though to me. I'm sure you are using AirMap or something. Everyone at least does that mostly.
From an airline pilot perspective, we fly over the west end of the bay at 3,000' and descend to about 1,900' over the shoreline of the bay when we go into Sea-Tac. My concern would be the aircraft on approach to KBFI - Boeing Field. They are a lot lower than we are... So maybe call KBFI's phone number/controllers and ask about that.
I saw a WA State Ferry in the video. I saw a merchant vessel (cargo ship). I know TSA has some interest in ferries due to their public transport role. I doubt the cargo ship is an issue. And to me it looked like you remained a reasonable distance from the ferry. I think overall, we drone pilots just have to use common sense and not be like flies to people and they will remain calm and not report us (all while staying within the law of course).
I did find some links to issues that may interest you about your specific flight:
Rules about WA State Ferries... WSDOT - Security at Washington State Ferries
Phantom Forum regarding a drone & ferry encounter.. Drone operator faces federal charges for flying too close to ferry
Inspire Forum regarding 500' separation rule.. USA - 500' rule and documentation
Private aircraft under FAA Part 91 are not allowed any closer than 500' to any person, vessel, etc. - but the drone rules are still evolving. I've spoken extensively with controllers, local FAA sUAS reps & when I ask a question, there's usually only one question that is concisely answered: You have to contact the airport/ATC if you are in 5 miles range so they have the opportunity to "deny" your proposed flight (hobby only - of course your commercial job needs a waiver). Any other questions were met with something like this.... "Well, generally, if you are following the known written rules/guidelines & not bothering anyone - your pretty safe".
Your video was awesome & it didn't look to me like you got real close to the ferry. The cargo ship was pretty close - but you weren't impeding his forward progress.
