Any one seen a drone?

[Steppenwolfe]

Starting this past summer, every so often, ( enough to be a pattern ) we would hear a small propellor driven airplane flying over our property. We never could see it, just hear it. Well, today I finally saw it, and IT was a drone. Just like you see on tv. I got a real good look at it about 200 feet off the ground, and right over my head. Now we live in rural SW Virginia, and there isn't a whole lot going on. Apparently, my 80 acres must fascinate whoever flies this thing, because I have heard it pass over at least a dozen times. My wife thinks it probably belongs to the Sherrifs Dept, and they're looking for pot, stills, etc. Anyone else have this going on around them ? What do you think about the privacy aspects? I mean as low as this thing is they might as well walk on my property and have a look around.

 

[murphy1244]

Seen one summer of 011 in Wayne county Ohio.

 

[dave1949]

I think the minimum altitude for general aviation is 500' above the ground. There is something in the works with the FAA to write drone regulations, I don't know why the existing rules wouldn't apply to drones. Manned-unmanned or something?

As far as I know it is perfectly legal for someone to fly over at 500' and take pictures. It seems intrusive. Views into a property from the ground can be shielded with fences, earth berms, or plantings. Those don't work for the sky above.

 

[Egbert]

Shoot it down! If it's "official", it is a violation of your expectation of privacy and protection from unreasonable search. If it's private, they're too nosy and deserve to lose the money.

 

[adventure bob]

Shoot it down and see what happens. Drone law is vague at best right now and im sure the ACLU would help in a violation of privacy lawsuit. I hate it when the gov over reaches.

 

[Steppenwolfe]

Shoot it down! If it's "official", it is a violation of your expectation of privacy and protection from unreasonable search. If it's private, they're too nosy and deserve to lose the money.

That's exactly what they are doing, searching my property. I bet my wife when I start cooking down maple syrup, there will be a knock at the door.

 

[murphy1244]

Shoot it down with what?

 

[DT86]

Shoot it down with what?

00 buckshot?

 

[newbury]

DOD has contracts with a couple of colleges in SW Virginia for drone research.
Va Tech is into it BIG.
Drone debates impact southwest Virginia - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va

 

[Steppenwolfe]

I think the minimum altitude for general aviation is 500' above the ground. There is something in the works with the FAA to write drone regulations, I don't know why the existing rules wouldn't apply to drones. Manned-unmanned or something?

As far as I know it is perfectly legal for someone to fly over at 500' and take pictures. It seems intrusive. Views into a property from the ground can be shielded with fences, earth berms, or plantings. Those don't work for the sky above.

This was no 500 feet. 200 is being conservative.