Recent content by CRankin

Well, I guess that's a reason to start buying up some more non-DJI equipment now then. I'd beg to differ about your opinion - any software which creates a no-fly area that cannot be overridden or turned off permanently by the user does indeed cripple the drone. My understanding is that there are...

Are any other manufacturers going this far to cripple their drones? I've been an opponent of DJi's nanny-fencing "features" ever since they were foisted upon us. This is likely a strong reason why I'll likely look to other manufacturers for future purchases. Manufacturers should stay away from...

To all those thinking that this database will only be searchable by entering the registration number.... I'd like to ask you why you think that this will be (or remain) the case. Right now anyone can go to the FAA Registry on the web and submit an inquiry by registration number, name, and...

I was. A lot of good it did. At present I have no intention of registering as a hobbyist pilot with the FAA. I would have considered it at one point, were the registration information going to be kept private, along with some benefits being conferred to me. But with no benefits given by...

I honestly can't say that I yet know what I plan to do here. It seems that it will be awfully difficult to enforce the law. My concern is really more about a slippery slope style argument... what happens if at some future time the government decides that it's "too risky" to allow people to...

You just described the FAA in a nutshell. Well, the entire federal in general, actually. Most of the people who work at agencies like the FAA are only working there because they weren't competent or ambitious enough to succeed in private industry.

I would respectfully suggest that ridiculous laws deserve to be challenged and/or ignored. Most laws associated with drones fall into that category. So, no, blindly following a law just because it's been passed isn't something I'd call common sense. And it isn't exactly the same type of culture...

It's the US government - an entity that, by and large, is incapable of thinking that far ahead. :) My best guess is that this is the start of something that will eventually lead to transponders or something similar being installed in drones, and being tracked by the authorities when one is...

Honestly, Fox News is one of the sources I listen to routinely - mainly because they provide an alternate perspective on the news in some instances. I'll be honest here - I'm a conservative, and I'd rather listen to the news with a bit of a conservative spin than with what seems like an...

Hmm... So all I'd have to do is switch over from DJI products to 3DR products and I could avoid this whole mess? :) I was thinking about doing that anyway in the future, since it doesn't look like 3DR puts the same restrictions that DJI does into their products (I'm talking about FlySafe, of...

You're absolutely correct on that point. My understanding, though, was that those records stayed at the firearms dealer and were (supposedly? hopefully?) kept locked up in a secure place. While this does create a method of the police being able to trace a firearm back to the original purchaser...

I'm not sure where you live, but I've lived in a few states in midwest and eastern US and have never had to register a gun. It's probably a matter of different perspectives, but I view such requirements as a gross violation of privacy and a potential safety threat as well - and wouldn't consider...

So you believe that government exists to protect people from themselves? How far are you willing to go to be "protected"? Should we allow cameras to be installed in and around all homes "just in case" someone beats a child there, or decides to grow illegal drugs there, or simply falls and can't...

Yes, you should. Government's job is not to protect you from yourself. If you want to drive a car while impaired and only wind up killing yourself, it's not society's problem nor should it be.

Decreased property values... :D