Federal Judge Dismisses Suit Against 'Drone Slayer'

[Industrial Toys]

Probably the only reason I would not shoot one that I felt was invading my privacy is that our laws forbid having a loaded shotgun at the ready which used to be typical. The drone would probably be long gone before I got everything unlocked and loaded.

My advice. If you shoot one down, make sure it disappears. Tie a rock to it and throw it in the pond. A good hot bonfire would work too. In fact, it probably flew in there by itself. Reminds me of that priceless youtube video about that little girls flying fairy going straight into the fireplace. Awwww.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Double post

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Probably the only reason I would not shoot one that I felt was invading my privacy is that our laws forbid having a loaded shotgun at the ready which used to be typical. The drone would probably be long gone before I got everything unlocked and loaded.

My advice. If you shoot one down, make sure it disappears. Tie a rock to it and throw it in the pond.

That's an important point. Even where I live, which is somewhat rural, we are in the city limits and discharging a firearm in the city limits can get you in some trouble.

 

[3930dave]

Not taking sides here. Just offering an opinion.

I bought a Drone a couple months ago. A very "intelligent", expensive Drone. I am very rural and don't fly over any populated areas.

FAA says I can't fly more than 400ft high. So when establishing the Drone's parameters I set the max altitude at 400ft. A week or so ago I changed the setting. I maxed it out at 2600ft. The Drone warned me twice that I was violating FAA standards for Drone flight height. I did it anyway.

Here's my reasoning. The other day I was flying over AG land and videoing my friend's planting operation. There were a couple houses nearby. To get to my target I had to fly near/over those houses. My Drone wouldn't exceed 400ft so if there were people outside they would definitely know I was flying by the sound I was creating at ground level. I might have been construed as intrusive. At 400ft someone on the ground would have to be a very good shot to take me down. But that's irrelevant to me. What I want to avoid is being intrusive to ANYONE. So I changed my Drone's flight limits.

Now if I have to fly near/over a dwelling I can go over at an altitude that would avoid any intrusion on anyone on the ground. The chances of them even knowing I'm around are diminished.

I'm intelligent enough to not get into small plane airspace when one is nearby. So I am imposing no risk to airplanes. I'm minimizing my intrusion on anyone on the ground. In my mind, it's a win-win.

Not trying to convince anyone. Just saying, as a Drone pilot, these are my thoughts.

FAA's first safety concern would be human-piloted aircraft, as there have been incidents of deliberate drone interference.

Your flying sounds logical to me.... as a neighbour, I'd appreciate not being buzzed by Godzilla mosquitos ....

That said, I'd be wary of violating legal limits with a "smart" drone - I wouldn't want to find out the hard way that the manufacturer had been forced to automatically report any violations - relatively easy to do on something GPS and Wifi enabled.

Personally, I'd appreciate having a neighbour like Robert Duvall has next to his rural property - rancher lady shot down a papparzi drone when it strayed over her adjacent property.

Good points raised in this thread about the ballistics..... if a drone is being brought down by any kind of normal shotgun load, it's being flown way too low.... if you are flying low over crops, forest, streams or buildings on your property, OK by me - but I don't see any acceptable reason to be snooping around that low over other people's land.

Rgds, D.

 

[ovrszd]

FAA's first safety concern would be human-piloted aircraft, as there have been incidents of deliberate drone interference.

Your flying sounds logical to me.... as a neighbour, I'd appreciate not being buzzed by Godzilla mosquitos ....

That said, I'd be wary of violating legal limits with a "smart" drone - I wouldn't want to find out the hard way that the manufacturer had been forced to automatically report any violations - relatively easy to do on something GPS and Wifi enabled.

Personally, I'd appreciate having a neighbour like Robert Duvall has next to his rural property - rancher lady shot down a papparzi drone when it strayed over her adjacent property.

Good points raised in this thread about the ballistics..... if a drone is being brought down by any kind of normal shotgun load, it's being flown way too low.... if you are flying low over crops, forest, streams or buildings on your property, OK by me - but I don't see any acceptable reason to be snooping around that low over other people's land.

Rgds, D.

I agree. My Drone logs every flight with all the details. I don't think it shares that data with the manufacturer because I don't use their "cloud". But it's certainly retained by the Drone. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong about that.

I contacted my neighbors within 1.5 miles of my house when I got the Drone. Told them I was flying one and if I ever was intrusive to please let me know. I don't fly over their houses unless invited.

I also visited with the farmer I video'd. I even called them and got an additional approval the day I filmed. I'm very respectful. I could have gotten closer to them while they were working but didn't want to interfere. I share all my video and pictures with them.

I think there is a bit of confusion about a Drone's ability to snoop. It does not have a zoom lens. To look in your window and see you inside it would have to be hovering over your deck just outside your window. With that said, I agree, there's absolutely no reason to be over someone's property at a height and speed that would allow it to be shot down by a shotgun unless invited.

Here's a link to the FAA website regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Getting Started

 

[kenmac]

I have no issues with someone flying over my property /home headed somewhere at say 200-400 ft. I would attempt to shoot down one hovering over, or around my home

 

[oldballs]

Me neither kenmac........I would not object to an occasional fly over. Heck that would be nothing compared to dogs barking..chasing cars/people all day/night long. If some drone dummy was really hanging around........that would be another thing. Usually Ultralite pilots, which probably make way more noise, keep on moving away. Heck those hot air balloons used to drive my Labrador crazy. She never did get used to them.

 

[aczlan]

Yeah I would take a drone over the parasailer (I think that's what you call it, the guy had a engine with a prop on a to his back and a like a flying wing type parachute that was holding up into the air) that was buzzing my aunt and uncle's house a while back. They're on the beach and he was buzzing at under hundred feet up and down and back and forth. Barely clearing the docks in a couple spots and all it would take is one little hiccup on the engine for him to end up speared on somebody's boat (granted, most of the people who live there and have to endure his racket would applaud if such a thing happened).

Aaron Z

 

[3930dave]

I agree. My Drone logs every flight with all the details. I don't think it shares that data with the manufacturer because I don't use their "cloud". But it's certainly retained by the Drone. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong about that.

I contacted my neighbors within 1.5 miles of my house when I got the Drone. Told them I was flying one and if I ever was intrusive to please let me know. I don't fly over their houses unless invited.

I also visited with the farmer I video'd. I even called them and got an additional approval the day I filmed. I'm very respectful. I could have gotten closer to them while they were working but didn't want to interfere. I share all my video and pictures with them.

I think there is a bit of confusion about a Drone's ability to snoop. It does not have a zoom lens. To look in your window and see you inside it would have to be hovering over your deck just outside your window. With that said, I agree, there's absolutely no reason to be over someone's property at a height and speed that would allow it to be shot down by a shotgun unless invited.

Here's a link to the FAA website regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Getting Started

I accept that your drone has limited camera zoom ability. Without going looking, I'll be surprised if there are no drones available with out of the box significant zoom lens ability. And, any drone can be retrofitted with an added payload camera, up to it's lift limit.

Respectful use like you describe will rarely bother someone else. And I can see many legitimate and productive uses....... nasty windstorm just came through ? Great way to make friends with a neighbour is drop by with your drone and offer to help them check the ridge panels on their high roof barn, or check out the cable runs for lightning rods, etc......

What irks people is when it is non-obvious what someone is up to with a drone - overlay that with modern-day society's tendency to use technology to abstract themselves from direct interaction, and insulate themselves from responsibility, esp when they are up to no good...... it's no wonder people bought all those Drone Hunting Licenses ! :laughing:

In an older drone thread, the example I gave was: Let's say you have a large urban back yard, with a privacy fence around a pool that your teenage daughter likes to sunbathe beside. If I parked a bucket truck on the street beside your fence, raised it up to stand in it with a camera, and started taking pictures of your daughter, I'd expect all parents to call the police.

Well, OK, maybe not the Kardashian's..... they'd be on the phone with the city, demanding that Paparazzi Bucket Truck Only ! parking signs be immediately put up adjacent to their pool.....

With a drone used instead, even many people who find it annoying tend to view a drone with a camera as Less Wrong than a human standing there with a camera. Most of the time, I don't agree.

If all drone pilots behaved in the respectful manner that ovrszd does, there would be no debate needed.

Rgds, D.

 

[rustyshakelford]

I have a nice higher end drone we use to mess around the house with. My brother does drone pics and video for realtors and does great. He's 100% legit with the ins and commercial license. I Know what these are capable. If we are outside and I see one on my place that's in shot gun range it will be an audible call. If my wife and boy are by the pool it's a goner, no questions. If the pilot sees people by the pool and they stay, that's not appropriate. If it's just a fun flight and I'm decent, I'll wave. Don't make my family uncomfortable, that why we moved to the country where we have privacy.

Brett

Here's the front of the house, pool is in the back. Can't really see it from the road do to the tree line we left when clearing.