Drones getting in the way of emergency responders - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC
It is coming. Death and destruction from a drone versus EMS or other emergency helo/airplane. ( or commercial aircraft)
I had a conversation with an ATC specialist about five years ago and he admitted to me that the tech was far outpacing the governments ability to handle it. I made some written proposals back then but of course they were ignored.
Here are some of my thoughts, some have evolved over the years.
1. Any drone that can travel 300 yards or more away from the controller will have a transponder squawking a code identifying it as a drone. The squawk will be able to be changed to i.d. the drone specifically to a particular operation.
2. Drone operators doing any operations outside of the 300 yard radius will contact ATC with a specific flight plan and will be either in constant communication with ATC or at least be immediately available to ATC via cell phone etc.
3. Prior to being allowed to purchase a drone of a certain size and or range, the purchaser will read and sign a contract guaranteeing that they and anyone employed by them will follow all rules and regulations set up for drone ops. They will have to sign a legal contract stating that fully understand the severe consequences of violating the rules.
4. Any photo/video/audio material attained by these long range drones will be required to have a digital tag attached to them that identifies the specific drone and owner/operator that took the images. It will be illegal for anyone to purchase any of this material for commercial publication that does not contain the digital tag.
5. Any drone operator caught operating in a TFR without prior permission from all pertinent agencies will be subject to a severe fine. Any damage, injury or death caused by the drone will make the owner/operator subject to severe penalties including murder charges in the event of a death.
6. Any owner/operator that flies within 2 miles of a emergency operation of any kind without prior permission of all pertinent agencies will be subject to severe fines.
In any and all cases, number 1 and 2 must be followed. There is no one size fits all solution but we have to start somewhere.
I don't see how it can be justified that a drone with good range and size can somehow be given a complete pass on any rules that would have to be followed by a one person helicopter or airplane. Yes, the operator is not there with the aircraft so they should have more rules and restrictions, not less. And, yes, I mean aircraft. Calling these drones does give a false sense that they are just fun little small things that can't hurt anyone. They are aircraft being operated by a (I use the term loosely) pilot. The industry will downplay calling the operators pilots because that means they don't need a license and therefore have no regs to follow. That translates into sales.
Ladies and gents, your thoughts, additions, criticisms.
Cheers
However there is this fantastic invention:
http://theamericangenius.com/tech-ne...ws-you-around/