Opinion on responsible flight paths...

[kcobello]

Just need a responsible opinion from a commercial and hobbyist angle. I see lots of videos, very good quality, that have some questionable flight paths. Maybe close or over people but not going to far as over a crowd at a stadium. In the past I was a little more willing to push the envelope, in saying this I also had a very good maintenance procedure and would make as close a safe flight path as possible. My respect for our ability to work and play with AP has grown where I just do not want to take the risk, even being insured. Will there ever be an acceptance to film with a little more risk in the commercial environment down the road. I do know the FAA rules and accept them to operate. I stepped on this lightly as you can see. Just looking out for our operation and everyone else's.

Thanks
Kevin Cobello

 

[IrishSights]

Being in the UK we have to stick with rules without exception. What keeps us in check is we risk loosing our permit and flying a job that would make our insurance cover null a void and open to being brought to court.

As far as people and property goes our by-word in the laws are covered in the immortal words "under your control"...of course all the other conditions and risk assessments must be complied with too.

Sometimes we see videos/stills on here that may look questionable but we don't always know the status of the pre-planning involved and what mitigation factors have been put in place in order to achieve the result. Some are just obviously not OK though.

 

[kcobello]

Thanks. I think with the proper planning, waivers, if there ever could be any it can be done down the road. I have seen lately some that are within reason. I at this time can not risk it. Some events we do will require some planning with the organizers so they understand our limitations.

 

[slim.slamma]

Just need a responsible opinion from a commercial and hobbyist angle. I see lots of videos, very good quality, that have some questionable flight paths. Maybe close or over people but not going to far as over a crowd at a stadium. In the past I was a little more willing to push the envelope, in saying this I also had a very good maintenance procedure and would make as close a safe flight path as possible. My respect for our ability to work and play with AP has grown where I just do not want to take the risk, even being insured. Will there ever be an acceptance to film with a little more risk in the commercial environment down the road. I do know the FAA rules and accept them to operate. I stepped on this lightly as you can see. Just looking out for our operation and everyone else's.

Thanks
Kevin Cobello

Once upon a time I would push the envelope myself. I shouldn't have i had way too much confidence/faith in dji. Now? I barely even fly anymore. After a year with all the updates and battery issues. I'm shook! Stick to atti and stay away from people.

 

[kcobello]

I have flown a few rigs from the $50 micro, TA 830, TA Matrix with 3 cameras, to my new I1 x5. I have not had any issues at all with any of them. Not saying nothing cant happen. I dont sport fly, only image when asked and a short flight after all procedures are in place. I never want to be Quad shocked.

 

[slim.slamma]

I got videos flying all thru nyc. It don't get more populated.
After seeing a toddler get blinded by a drone in the uk. First thing i asked myself was why would someone fly around a 2,3,4 year old.
Basically I was saying I wouldn't do that around my child. So I don't fly around people no more.
To each his own tho. The i1 was definitely not advertised to be flown in the desert.

 

[kcobello]

I think there is a cutoff point where risk/failure falls into stupidity, which there are many examples. An accident can happen at any time even when protocol seems good. We always establish a perimeter NO entry zone with signage whenever we fly. You still get people that ignore it and sometimes they get upset with being asked and or escorted out of the area. They are curious but you still have to keep people back especially when taking off or landing.

 

[slim.slamma]

The i1 in the US is advertised to first time buyer's. Out of the box ready! After a year from being on this forum i know the laws of flying a drone now! I've had numerous encounters with the nypd. They didn't know much and I knew a little bit more. Just about on all occasions I ways allowed to do my thing and continue but I would bring it down. Just to show respect. If people are flying these things around people it's because of the way these idiots have advertised them. So run with the money and educated them later. You pro's are lucky hobbyist got in mix otherwise you'd all be still quarantined to the desert

 

[marg2]

I keep my distance around people I like to film triathlons 2 or 3 thousand athletes spectators at the start and finis line and so bike rides, but they spread all over the course in 5 min , never film the finish line,and always make sure my flight plan in not over people , if they are on a street, i fly the median, always go there before, to ck all the areas so can film from where is more open spaces and lees obstructions. I believe you can be around people and be safe to other, the fail % is there but if a bird is gonna fail it will drop straight down so as long I'not on top of large groups, my chances are going to be slim.
have u seen news helicopter flying in top of heavy crowds filming marathons etc, police or news helis in top of u?
Fail % are % , they are a lot bigger than a I1
Just my way to scuse my filming of what i like, I do feel i fly safe, way under 400 always LOs
But is just my $.002

 

[slim.slamma]

Esc failure
Should be on every box.
@marg2 I agree with you but at the same time a hobbyist should be able to do the same thing.
Just because your licensed to fly a drone for profit
I assume. Don't mean your a qualified drone operator around people. If you was I'd assume esc failure would mean something to you

 

[marg2]

I'm a hobbyist, and the people i'm filming are friends just for fun

 

[marg2]

Esc failure
Should be on every box.
@marg2 I agree with you but at the same time a hobbyist should be able to do the same thing.
Just because your licensed to fly a drone for profit
I assume. Don't mean your a qualified drone operator around people. If you was I'd assume esc failure would mean something to you

It does, like brake failure when i drive to work or when a drunk driver is texting and driving the wrong way or when someone is in a hurry to get to work and run a red light when i'm crossing!! so where is the line of safety!!

 

[SultanGris]

I'll fly over people/cities though at respectable safe distances. There's no reason to be flying very close to others if they aren't involved/aware of what you're doing. If you know wtf you're doing there is virtually zero risk, all crash incidents I've ever heard about are pilot error, though some may think it's hardware/software issues it always comes back to improper calibration, improper prop installation, failure to know the machine and pay attention to what you're doing or something else like that's which is %100 avoidable. I didn't spend $4000 to take pictures of nothing in the middle of nowhere, **** the faa and their ridiculously stupid recommendations that make these uavs which have hundreds of possible uses practically worthless by suggesting you shouldn't fly over people/buildings.

That said I don't think novice pilots should be doing it, but I see zero problems with knowledgeable pilots doing so. Problem is like others said they advertise it as rtf and safe but the instructions/manual leave out important info like not moving the unit when first powering it on during self test which screws up the sensors and will cause erratic flight behavior often resulting in a crash and other quirks like the self discharge battery bug that causes major power level drops which can lead to a crash that experienced pilots know and avoid but cause many newer pilots major unexpected issues.

 

[seanmclean]

Erotic flight behavior? Yikes.

 

[RaptorMan]

Erotic flight behavior? Yikes.

Well that's to be expected when you're Drone Boning...


Brian

 

[SultanGris]

Erotic flight behavior? Yikes.

Lol, autocorrect strikes again!

 

[Dr. Ifly Drones]

I follow all current FAA regs and would go further to say that before I fly a location or job the first thing I do is a visual survey of both the location on Google maps and on site before I ever take a UAV out of my vehicle. I want to know what's close by like high power lines, sensitive sites and locate an emergency LZ. I don't fly over private property without a written release. Before flight I get full aviation grade weather report for the location. I surround the mission LZ with orange traffic cones to help keep stray observers away. Last but, perhaps most important, I don't talk to people while I'm flying unless it's a specific demonstration for a student or client. As I think everyone on this site knows, nothing brings out the curious bystanders like seeing an I1. I used to just tell them I couldn't talk but, I found a better answer. I wear a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones when I fly. People don't try and approach you when you are wearing headphones.

 

[marg2]

We can fly safe, I do, but like the Sultan said we spend a lot of money in our hobby/business to be filming a desert or a 20 acres RC field, faa went a little to far making tight rulest we, love to brake rules, and a lot of wakos are doing so to show off with big Bro and yahoo hate drones every day they need to fill the news even with old reports like the WH incidents shows every day on drone topics, funny i believe flying distant is more dangerous that close to people on LOS at least you have control at sight, I know always will be a far lest and a far right just behave in second base, lots of space between First base and third, just hope we don't get stealing Home gonna do my first mapping test tomorrow and a do a vertical test ( fallow subject)on my wife running
Keep you all posted
Is there is an OP that believe that by paying 3 or 4k to get a pilot lic and a 333 will make it a safe drone pilot trow the first rock.
Ps: what AC means on
Have fun and be prudent
Mariano

 

[DennisR]

S

I'm a hobbyist, and the people i'm filming are friends just for fun

So it doesn't matter if you hit them? have you asked them?

 

[DennisR]

We can fly safe, I do, but like the Sultan said we spend a lot of money in our hobby/business to be filming a desert or a 20 acres RC field, faa went a little to far making tight rulest we, love to brake rules, and a lot of wakos are doing so to show off with big Bro and yahoo hate drones every day they need to fill the news even with old reports like the WH incidents shows every day on drone topics, funny i believe flying distant is more dangerous that close to people on LOS at least you have control at sight, I know always will be a far lest and a far right just behave in second base, lots of space between First base and third, just hope we don't get stealing Home gonna do my first mapping test tomorrow and a do a vertical test ( fallow subject)on my wife running
Keep you all posted
Is there is an OP that believe that by paying 3 or 4k to get a pilot lic and a 333 will make it a safe drone pilot trow the first rock.
Ps: what AC means on
Have fun and be prudent
Mariano

There are rules that need to be learnt and the reasons why they exist. Thats why we have regulations.