No drones allowed signs

[mobilehomer]

Why is it illegal?

FYI, ALL National Parks are off limits for UAS. Unless you can get a very expensive almost impossible permit.

 

[mavic3usa]

Love this document: Voluntary Best Practices for Uas Privacy, Transparency, and Accountability - Know Before You Fly

 

[Laggard]

FYI, ALL National Parks are off limits for UAS. Unless you can get a very expensive almost impossible permit.

This is such a straightforward, simple law. I don't understand why its lost on so many people.

 

[landmark orbiter]

This is such a straightforward, simple law. I don't understand why its lost on so many people.

Because it’s a colossal blanket ban. I don’t Iive in the US and it irks me. I’m on holiday in the Lake District, one of the UK’s national parks, and it’s a fantastic and safe place to fly a drone.

Admittedly, just 2% of the USA is national parks so that does leave 98%.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Because it’s a colossal blanket ban. I don’t Iive in the US and it irks me. I’m on holiday in the Lake District, one of the UK’s national parks, and it’s a fantastic and safe place to fly a drone.

Admittedly, just 2% of the USA is national parks so that does leave 98%.

The difficult reality is that 43,652,248 (number is approximate) people visit the parks every year that do not want any drones flying around at all disturbing their enjoyment of these unique environments.

6 people plus uncle Joe and cousin Jacko want to fly their drone there. Guess who wins?

While the numbers are humor, the point stands. The ratio of those that do not want drones there makes those that do look like a rounding error. So they prevail.

All arguments about ridiculousness, overbroadness, working out accommodation on the calendar, permit process, etc. fall on deaf ears. Ban them entirely, everyone's happy except a tiny rounding error.

While I don't like it, from a public policy perspective authorities are doing the right thing.

 

[mavic3usa]

The difficult reality is that 43,652,248 (number is approximate) people visit the parks every year that do not want any drones flying around at all disturbing their enjoyment of these unique environments.

6 people plus uncle Joe and cousin Jacko want to fly their drone there. Guess who wins?

While the numbers are humor, the point stands. The ratio of those that do not want drones there makes those that do look like a rounding error. So they prevail.

All arguments about ridiculousness, overbroadness, working out accommodation on the calendar, permit process, etc. fall on deaf ears. Ban them entirely, everyone's happy except a tiny rounding error.

While I don't like it, from a public policy perspective authorities are doing the right thing.

We will work to open up a few more National Parks, BLM Wilderness areas, etc. to allowing drones to fly and when we get a few more National Parks (or other areas with blanket bans) to lift the restrictions and allow limited drone flights in smaller areas that make sense, will you pledge to refrain from flying your drones in these locations because you believe the majority of the people don't want drone and they "win" and you will respect this misguided wishes over those of us who are "rounding errors?" Or will you be the first one to fly your drone in a National Park the very next day after others have worked hard to convince the government that the National Park belongs to everybody (including those who have a tiny voice) and not "majority rule" even though you thought it was the right thing to do?

Blanket bans are unAmerica and majority rules is tyranny whether we are talking about rights or privileges. Imagine if we allow that socialist concept to prevail across this free land where the people with the most and loudest and strongest voices could drown out the rest of everybody else to the point where they have no say? We've been there before and it wasn't freedom.

 

[Sparc343]

While those two clips, of the GGB and the GC may have been "bad" ~ I don't think they hold a candle to this one:

 

[mavic3usa]

Also may I suggest, anyone who is interesting in seeing what I believe are reasonable rules and regulations for operating UAVs on otherwise restricted Federal lands, take a look at the guidelines for they tiny few drone flyers who happen to visit a special place like Red Rock and would like to fly as a hobbyist on the land they own and pay for. Other Parks should maybe adopt similar (if possible) with all the necessary and required tweaks that are expected based on time, place, and manner. You can find more information here (some info may be dated): Frequently Asked Questions | Red Rock Canyon Las Vegas

Is flying a drone allowed at Red Rock Canyon?
Yes, visitors can fly drones for recreational purposes at Red Rock Canyon. Please do not disturb wildlife or visitors while flying your drone.

Visitors are prohibited from launching and landing drones and other unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in Red Rock Canyon's Wilderness Areas (La Madre Mountain Wilderness Area & Rainbow Mountain Wilderness Area).

The Las Vegas Soaring Club also has flying space nearby. To find out more information, please visit www.lvsoaringclub.org

Can You Fly a Drone in Red Rock Canyon?

If you want to learn more about flying a drone in Red Rock Canyon, this article will tell you everything you need to know.

www.droneblog.com

 

[Ty Pilot]

Here is a gem from a few years back. This took place in the Florida Everglades which is a national park.

Unmanned Flight of drones, piloted by tourists and/or hobbyists; is never going to be allowed in US National Parks because they have neither the training necessary for the flight and certainly not the experience with the environment.

The girl that flew this drone put it right in the Gator's strike zone. Later she said "I didn't know they could move like that" Yeah, we know - you don't know.

 

[mavic3usa]

Another one:

 

[Ty Pilot]

Another one:

Yeah, it's astonishing how many folks like to taunt gators with drones.

SO. . . . . that begs the question. How many times should we see a clueless hobbyist do stuff like this before something like a ban from flying near them is done?

Unfortunately, this is just one of hundreds of examples as to why we can't fly in National Parks.

 

[kiley]

Honestly? I would take the risk of flying near these areas. I wouldn't fly too close to something like the golden gate bridge. I would just use the telephoto and digital zoom.

A place like grand canyon is so large, it would be easy to fly in and then out without getting caught. Just don't fly from a populated park where someone could report you. It's easy to stay hidden.

If I considered RID, I would take off from one point and drive away while watching my drone fly ahead, then stop somewhere away from my launch point and then fly in to shoot video. I certainly wouldn't then post the videos I took. I would just keep them safely on my hard drive as a personal memento.

 

[kiley]

You mean like this?
Sounds like it's easy at the bridge but not something I would do:

Maybe remoteID will help to deter these illegal flights: San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is a hot spot for illegal drone activity

That second golden gate video is definitely out of bounds. Talking about breaking the rules. This pilot did a pretty good job of that. Drone failure or crash might cause a pretty bad scene on that bridge, if a car were hit. Would I do it too? Maybe. No excuses, I know it would be wrong, but stupid adrenaline junkies will do what they do.

 

[mavic3usa]

That second golden gate video is definitely out of bounds. Talking about breaking the rules. This pilot did a pretty good job of that. Drone failure or crash might cause a pretty bad scene on that bridge, if a car were hit. Would I do it too? Maybe. No excuses, I know it would be wrong, but stupid adrenaline junkies will do what they do.

Here's another kid doing the same thing, looks like he is using a Mini drone so it is likely he has no RID/not registered and if it hits something, it probably wouldn't cause a bad scene. Still, not something I would do, especially with a non-FPV drone.

 

[kiley]

Here's another kid doing the same thing, looks like he is using a Mini drone so it is likely he has no RID/not registered and if it hits something, it probably wouldn't cause a bad scene. Still, not something I would do, especially with a non-FPV drone.

Your right. If the mini crashed and fell into traffic and hit a car, it would have probably just bounced off the car and got crushed by oncoming traffic. If it hit a car windshield, the owner of car windshield would probable have a nice crack in the window to fix.

 

[Droning on and on...]

We will work to open up a few more National Parks, BLM Wilderness areas, etc. to allowing drones to fly and when we get a few more National Parks (or other areas with blanket bans) to lift the restrictions and allow limited drone flights in smaller areas that make sense, will you pledge to refrain from flying your drones...

Why would I pledge such a stupid thing to you? Did you ever have any education in critical thinking? What a bizarre thing to say.

Seriously. I simply can't believe an adult in the US doesn't understand democracy. Hmmmmm...

You see, with the exception of Constitutional Rights, what the majority want defines our law. Again, democracy.

It has nothing to do with respect. It's about law-abiding. Something I do. If the law changes, I'll be among the first to put my aircraft up in the sky at Yosemite.

 

[mavic3usa]

If the law changes, I'll be among the first to put my aircraft up in the sky at Yosemite.

Awesome!

 

[Droning on and on...]

Your right. If the mini crashed and fell into traffic and hit a car, it would have probably just bounced off the car and got crushed by oncoming traffic. If it hit a car windshield, the owner of car windshield would probable have a nice crack in the window to fix.

Yes, that's a good analysis. There's no chance at all the driver might panic and lose control of their car. Even if they were startled momentarily and weaved back and forth into the other lanes, it's nearly guaranteed the other drivers would react calmly and in complete control of their vehicles.

It's silly to think being on a bridge might increase the risk of drivers reacting badly to something dropping on their car. The ban certainly should be lifted, as well as the general prohibition flying over moving cars. At least with those under 250g drones, which at worst, it seems, may crack a windshield.

Then we can use the new Mini 4 to Focus Track us driving around town.

(the entirety of this post is sarcasm just in case it eludes anyone)

 

[kiley]

We will work to open up a few more National Parks, BLM Wilderness areas, etc. to allowing drones to fly and when we get a few more National Parks (or other areas with blanket bans) to lift the restrictions and allow limited drone flights in smaller areas that make sense, will you pledge to refrain from flying your drones in these locations because you believe the majority of the people don't want drone and they "win" and you will respect this misguided wishes over those of us who are "rounding errors?" Or will you be the first one to fly your drone in a National Park the very next day after others have worked hard to convince the government that the National Park belongs to everybody (including those who have a tiny voice) and not "majority rule" even though you thought it was the right thing to do?

Blanket bans are unAmerica and majority rules is tyranny whether we are talking about rights or privileges. Imagine if we allow that socialist concept to prevail across this free land where the people with the most and loudest and strongest voices could drown out the rest of everybody else to the point where they have no say? We've been there before and it wasn't freedom.

Empower the minority. Majority rule is destructive.