Class G operates and relies on the requirement to "see and be seen" in order to comply with the right of way rules.

I've not yet seen or heard of a drone that can do this. It's one thing to issue a NOTAM when these things are being flown (which seems to happen now, quite rightly so), but if they are to be used on a far wider scale, the associated NOTAMS would become so plentiful that they would become ineffective. This is the present situation with regard to the increasing multitude of cranes in the London area. Surprisingly, since the tragic accident on 16th January this year near Vauxhall, every man and his dog seems to be using ever taller construction cranes. It's now impossible to plot and avoid the NOTAMed areas in any meaningful way (especially when SVFR clearances send aircraft straight towards them).

As helicopter pilots, going about our lawful business at relatively low altitudes, we are more likely to come into closer contact with drones than other airspace users. We need to be protected from the further danger of coming into contact with "blind", non-compliant drones.

Fair point but there's plenty of aforementioned avian aviators up there doing that so it won't be long before that can be emulated.

I'm not sure if accident is the right term to describe the outcome of flying VFR in blatant IMC at low level in a built up area. Drones could have advantages here from stabilisation, sensing beyond visual radiation, ability to work with hires ground models a la GPWS. And disadvantages from s/w bugs, component failures, etc

I imagine regulation and certification and maybe insurance in developed countries will dramatically hike the costs so could turn out to be a Webvan 2.0 for Amazon.

However that particular event is seen, I'm certain it was an accident; it was certainly not a deliberate occurrence.

But rather than get into that discussion (which has been previously done in great depth), the relevance was the plethora of these new NOTAMs and how they quickly become "white noise".

On the subject of noise that got a mention in Economist as a possible future nuisance in this brave new world.

I started to ponder the energy cost of general purpose deliveries. Amusingly, Paul Merton on Have I Got News for You was also on similar lines. Bloke from matternet passes judgement on AMZN:

Drone expert: Amazon's hypetastic delivery scheme a pie in the sky ? The Register

Dirigible hybrids, hydrogen come back?

Another question would be the tolerance for some low level of injury and death from something that offers both utility and maybe a lowering elsewhere, e.g. road transport.

Drones Vs Helicopters
 

Will Patrol and Observation Heliops end with Drones?

Not sure about general use drones for tasks such as commercial deliveries etc. but I believe they will end up playing a significant role in urban police operations.

My previous comments are here.

Drones Security
 

there was talk about this at my place some time ago. seeing as there's loads of gaze' knocking about now...

http://www.unmanned.co.uk/wp-content...Conversion.jpg

Northrop Grumman and Qinetiq offer UK Gazelle conversion

The RN went with the AgustaWestland (PZL-Swidnik) SW-4 for RWUAS instead.

I/C

more drones
 

BBC News - US announces six drone test sites

how will drones impact helicopter pilot jobs in the future?

FAA announcement at Fact Sheet ? FAA UAS Test Site Program

DOD "Unmanned Systems Integrated Roadmap" at http://www.defense.gov/pubs/DOD-USRM-2013.pdf

For those interested, I think that France was the first EU country to have specific laws on unmanned aircraft. Currently the DGAC is consulting on a revision of their UAS rules, with new law expected to be introduced in 2014. Topics of heated debate are the definition of populated areas and the requirements for mandatory training. Anyone interested should make their representations accordingly....

Also in France, the national aviation police (the GTA) is responding to industry’s complaints about unfair practices of a small number of UAS operators. I understand that at the end of 2013 approximately ten cases have been investigated. Under French law those found breaking the rules face a fine of up to €75,000 and/or one year of imprisonment, in addition to potential loss of license to operate UAS. To date I can find only one company, based in the South of France, that has been sanctioned.

A few experiments have already been done and there is some discussion about drones for SAR. However, bad things don't usually happen on good days, so the idea that some heath robinson, pick-it-up-and-put-it-in-the-boot little UAV is going to hunt for missing people below cliff-tops or on mountainsides with swirling 40kn winds is ludicrous.

If we end up with strike-capable military UAV being based in the UK in a few years then I can see good exercise value for them moonlighting in SAR.

Carboot drones for SAR?
 

If it's cheap and cheerful enough, a boot full of propellers might be just the ticket to guide mountain rescuers better, if the victim doesn't have their phone on. There are conditions that make life pretty miserable for the manned aircraft and foot bound searchers, and a drone that you're willing to accept might be disposable could make everyone's life safer, at some cost.

Once you start needing to book satellite time it starts getting tough to imagine it's cheap enough.

The firefighters killed in Arizona last spring might have benefited from a bit more situational awareness in bad flying weather too.

Heli-firefighting compromised by Drones
 

Dear fellow pilots.
As we are getting to terms over the loss of Hems crew in Oslo a new danger is highligted on the westcost of Norway.
This is the case, small town Lærdal is on fire, California style.!
30 houses burn down, luck has it no casualties.
From Rygge in Oslo two 412s are dispatched from Delta with fire bucets , and the only fire- fighting helicopter in Norway.
Only to find the Police telling all news and privat drone, light uav operators to clear the vally.
Aparently anyone can fly this kind of thing, what would is do to your rotor etc,.
I just doged 100 crows on takeoff today, but I can eat a lot of them with two Cfm 56s.
Question is can You live with this .!?
You Gentlemen have a big problem in Drone or UAV traffic comming.
I love to be wrong, but seldom am.!
Heads Up from BluSdUp.
Ps. Go nrk.no or vg.no to see the hamlet of Lærdal . A disaster , all survived.God must love Us.! ? Ds!

BluSdUp

So what's the problem? The drone pilot must always give way to full-size aircraft and has to look out for them at all times.

Quote:

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So what's the problem? The drone pilot must always give way to full-size aircraft and has to look out for them at all times.

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Wouldn't that mean that all drones would have to be equipped with "seeing" equipment of some sort in their direction of travel at all times for when they are overtaking another aircraft from that aircraft's blind areas? One can hardly be continually turning around to check conflicting traffic from one's rear?

If in controlled airspace they would also need a transponder surely?

cheers tet.

tet
If flown out of sight of the operator that would be needed. However civil operated "news" drones only operate in direct line of sight of the operator or his observer, who can see clearly all around the arena.

Until an aircraft pops up over the hill.
It happened in Cape Town, sightseeing helicopter coming home at 1500' and airprox with a drone filming a house.

Murphy is calling.!
 

Dear Heli comunity.
I started a thread and got diverted to this one, super, have not read the initial stuff.
With the idea of see and aviod I sugest You are all up the creek.
Imagine 3 Bell helicopters with fire bucets going flat out in a walley 1 mile times 3 miles from the sea ,closeby to the fire to save lives and property.
Gusty winds , hills allaround 6000" pluss.
Some of You are defending the use of privat and news rov, drones etc. Why?
This is a warning. We need to heed it.
Yours voried
Cpt B