THIS will only make it worse in the US

[WaltBen]

No matter how many pilots fly only by the rules, just a few will manage to ruin our hobby for certain. Why do scofflaws, anarchists and 'freedom lovers' do stuff like flying around downtown DC????

Senators alarmed over potential Chinese drone spy threat

Lawmakers who were briefed on hundreds of intrusions over the White House, Capitol and Pentagon worry about possible espionage.

www.politico.com

 

[Meta4]

No matter how many pilots fly only by the rules, just a few aholes will manage to ruin our hobby for certain. Why do scofflaws, anarchists and 'freedom lovers' do stuff like flying around downtown DC????

I'd be more concerned by the senators mentioned in the report, pushing their paranoid and crazy ideas.

 

[Yorkshire_Pud]

Why do scofflaws, anarchists and 'freedom lovers' do stuff like flying around downtown DC????

Because they like to stir ..... you find these people all over the world, I think they call themselves 'auditors' in the UK.
No disrespect meant to financial auditors.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

This is old news : If they need money for more Home Security this is the Low Fruit . lol

Next News Article : Xmas bring Hundreds of Drones to our kids in Washington flying off there porch , Washington on high alert. lol

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water and hide from Senators.

 

[Vic Moss]

Fear mongering at its worst. "100s", "swarm", “But the potential, of course, is that eventually they could be more dangerous.”

All buzz words used to create a false narrative to give US drone makers a leg up on their competition. Its all about punishing the Chinese gov't, and it doesn't. All it's doing it punishing U.S. drone owners and Drone Service Providers.

"This story is based on interviews with seven government officials, lawmakers, congressional staffers and contractors. They were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about private and sometimes classified discussions involving government officials."

Nonsense. Show the data or shut up. I can almost guarantee these numbers are fabricated. The airspace around D.C. is the most monitored and protected airspace in the world. If these "100s" of drones were on someone's radar, we'd know all about it. It would be all over the news. There is no way for it to not be.

We as drone owners must reach out to our elected officials and attempt to get this all tabled.

 

[Vic Moss]

... and more comment. The last paragraph is all you need to know about the idiocy of this article.

"All commercial drones, which use GPS for navigation, are designed so that they cannot operate within D.C.’s restricted airspace and come with instructions for users about the need to follow all such local regulations. But those restrictions can easily be bypassed."

100% nonsensical (I'd use stronger language, but admin wouldn't not approve) garbage hit piece.

 

[djwak59]

I'd be more concerned by the senators mentioned in the report, pushing their paranoid and crazy ideas.

Lol ! Good one !

 

[dart106]

No matter how many pilots fly only by the rules, just a few will manage to ruin our hobby for certain. Why do scofflaws, anarchists and 'freedom lovers' do stuff like flying around downtown DC????

Senators alarmed over potential Chinese drone spy threat

Lawmakers who were briefed on hundreds of intrusions over the White House, Capitol and Pentagon worry about possible espionage.

www.politico.com

It’s an age old problem in aviation. Someone goes rogue and generates yet another “rule” that bureaucrats are convinced will correct bad judgement. So, the shotgun approach is used to spray everyone, instead of the sole demonstrator of bad judgement.

 

[Capt KO]

Politicians MOA, create panic where there is none and hope it makes the news. Truth is not a priority. Let the conspiracies begin, Twitter will do the rest.

 

[GFields]

I know there is a fine line here, but keep politics out of it (per Guidelines).

 

[lookout]

Politicians are probably what make this problem what it is. And somehow the FAA is supposed to keep a straight face as an authority.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

It would be all over the news.

Unfortunately the story has been picked up in 2 different news agencies on my news feed this morning.
Still, the articles make it clear it's not the manufacturer causing the issue, but the drone owners, hacking software etc to allow flight in these NFZs.

Not sure what the answer is.
Authorities have the tech, and no doubt SS agents etc, to find these pilots on the spot, and use the copious numbers of laws they have at hand to make arrests, prosecute, set all the examples they want.
Heck no doubt they'd have some sort of 'drone gun' tech too at such important sites, and could bring down a drone at will.
So why isn't that happening ?

 

[Vic Moss]

Unfortunately the story has been picked up in 2 different news agencies on my news feed this morning.
Still, the articles make it clear it's not the manufacturer causing the issue, but the drone owners, hacking software etc to allow flight in these NFZs.

They're simply rehashing the Politico hit piece. That's what passes for journalism these days.

Not sure what the answer is.
Authorities have the tech, and no doubt SS agents etc, to find these pilots on the spot, and use the copious numbers of laws they have at hand to make arrests, prosecute, set all the examples they want.
Heck no doubt they'd have some sort of 'drone gun' tech too at such important sites, and could bring down a drone at will.
So why isn't that happening ?

The reason that's not happening is because the numbers are grossly inflated. The DCPD, as well as SS and DHS would have those folks in handcuffs before they can say "howdy".

This article, and it's inevitable copycat articles, are hogwash, perpetrated by DC bureaucrats to garner grassroot support from the press for the ASDA. Pure DC balderdash.

 

[dirkclod]

... and more comment. The last paragraph is all you need to know about the idiocy of this article.

"All commercial drones, which use GPS for navigation, are designed so that they cannot operate within D.C.’s restricted airspace and come with instructions for users about the need to follow all such local regulations. But those restrictions can easily be bypassed."

100% nonsensical (I'd use stronger language, but admin wouldn't not approve) garbage hit piece.

Your right. And this is getting close to be a political thread
so guys watch it

 

[ericole]

Fear mongering at its worst. "100s", "swarm", “But the potential, of course, is that eventually they could be more dangerous.”

All buzz words used to create a false narrative to give US drone makers a leg up on their competition. Its all about punishing the Chinese gov't, and it doesn't. All it's doing it punishing U.S. drone owners and Drone Service Providers.

"This story is based on interviews with seven government officials, lawmakers, congressional staffers and contractors. They were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about private and sometimes classified discussions involving government officials."

Nonsense. Show the data or shut up. I can almost guarantee these numbers are fabricated. The airspace around D.C. is the most monitored and protected airspace in the world. If these "100s" of drones were on someone's radar, we'd know all about it. It would be all over the news. There is no way for it to not be.

We as drone owners must reach out to our elected officials and attempt to get this all tabled.

exactly right, this "anonymous" crap for "news" reporting needs to go away. If they have the data, show it, produce it, etc or don't say it.

 

[lookout]

exactly right, this "anonymous" crap for "news" reporting needs to go away. If they have the data, show it, produce it, etc or don't say it.

What's the other one ... people close to the situation or unnamed sources.

 

[ericole]

What's the other one ... people close to the situation or unnamed sources.

right, any of those. If it is just someone's "word" - no matter how "close to the situation" they are, it means nothing if they don't produce real information/data.

 

[Don Testme]

The Article describing DJI drones flying over DC air space is a big joke. The Chinese and even google get better arial shots than what these drones get. The surface structure of DC is well recorded in photo and video format by multiple sources. If DC was concerned, which they are likely not, they would install radio frequency disruptors in vital or non-vital areas and disrupt any drone flights in those areas. The article is just a fear mongering, ratings increasing piece.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

The Article describing DJI drones flying over DC air space is a big joke. The Chinese and even google get better arial shots than what these drones get. The surface structure of DC is well recorded in photo and video format by multiple sources.

I'm sure they are more concerned with the threat of some sort of terrorist attack scenario.
It's been proven crude IEDs can be used with these little consumer drones, with a timer or some sort of release mechanisms.

Probably right about the sensationalising of the story though, and that can be just as bad for us as if the whole drone swarm thing was real.