A lot of hate towards "drones"

[Clipper707]

Thats fine, You have a drone. I have a model aircraft.

Not to muddy the waters with the facts, but my Phantoms can carry payloads (GoPro or other camera) and are capable of autonomous flight (return-to-home, and more for the P2V+). I assume your Phantom has the same capabilities.

The point isn't what you or I call them, it's how legislation defines them. The call for legislation is driven by the proliferation of these model aircraft/drones, which is largely driven by the DJI Phantom. It's hard to imagine any new legislation wouldn't include Phantoms.

We can call them model aircraft or drones or tomato cheese pies, but if the State of Missouri calls it a drone, that's what matters.

 

[WalkaboutSean]

I had my first unpleasant encounter a couple of days ago. I was taking some aerial shots of a condo building for real estate purposes. It's a vacation type property and many owners rent. I myself own & rent out a unit in the building.

Some guy came out on his balcony and began aggressively shouting at me. He was older, probably in his 60s. His tone was very hostile. Normally I am quite friendly towards anyone who expresses interest in the Phantom, but in this case his angry tone made me defensive. I knew I was within my rights, especially since I own a unit in the building. We exchanged shouts (which as you know is very distracting when you are trying to fly a Phantom). At one point he exclaimed, "No one here wants to see that!" I finally replied, "You don't want to see it? Don't look at it." :lol: He walked back inside in a huff. Although it ended peacefully, for a moment I felt that the situation might escalate.

As some have mentioned, many people are perplexed about consumer "drones" and their capabilities. This was probably an example of the guy fearing something he didn't understand. A telephoto lens would pose much more of a privacy risk, but I doubt he verbally harasses every photographer carrying a DSLR. If I'd been flying a kite or balloon, he would've ignored me.

On a more positive note, I flew my Phantom on the beach yesterday and had several people tell me how "cool" it is. And that's the usual reaction. I find that kids, without exception, love it. So it may be a generational issue, too.

 

[Clipper707]

I find that kids, without exception, love it. So it may be a generational issue, too.

I just got back from flying at an RC field near many bike trails. At one point I had a crowd of kids around me. When their parents pedaled up, I removed my FPV monitor from the controller and handed it to the dad to show mom and the kids. They all loved it and stayed to watch several more flights.

Fortunately, I encounter a lot more positivity than negativity.

 

[smaugnaut]

So I was flying my quad last night after sunset and all of a sudden I get a pissed off neighbor yelling at me over my backyard fence why am I flying it over their yard. When they did that I was hovering about 4 ft off the ground in my back yard. Before that I was cruising around at 150-300 ft. I never fly lower than 100 ft as there are lots of Palm trees in my neighborhood. This is the second time I get a neighbor pissed. First time it was while I was flying my Hubsan X4 and Proto X at night just zipping around.
I apologized both times trying to explain it's just a 'toy' but decided I should stop flying around at night to stop freaking out my neighbors and avoid any more confrontations with them.
My concerns were that law enforcement would be called and I would have to go through a bunch of BS explaining. Not that this concerns me as I have many attorney friends that would help me, but I do t want to go thru all that for my 'toy'.
So for now I grounded myself unless I fly somewhere different.
Any similar situations you have encountered?

Yes as a matter of fact my neighbor called the police on me last Sunday and did so again Today. I could hear her telling them the second time she called that i was invading her privacy and scaring her. Meanwhile ive never flown over her house and she lives like 4 houses down separated by power lines. I brought my Phantom down and put it away as i don't want to have to explain myself again. The first time the cops came out they kinda yelled at her and really didnt say much to me but asked what happened and have a nice day. So far they havent come out to our street so im suspecting they arent going to waste their time. The cops never told me i couldnt fly the phantom.

the cops eventually came to my house today and essentially told me to stop flying it in order to keep the peace of the neighborhood. I agreed to stop flying on this street it but i know im within my rights to fly it wherever the heck i want. Im not looking for trouble but this women has successfully used the police to intimidate me into not flying it. Im not looking for legal advice but what would you guys do in my situation? I just purchased a pair of http://shop.pivothead.com/eyewear/origi ... tte-black/ to record any encounter i have with her. She is very hostile and extremely unfriendly so i felt the need to have these. Come to find out the little kid who always comes out to see it is her grandson, who lives next door to her who i always let hold the FPV. Kid loves the thing. I hate to say it but i think she doesnt like because im white which is common in miami.

 

[Clipper707]

the cops eventually came to my house today and essentially told me to stop flying it in order to keep the peace of the neighborhood. I agreed to stop flying on this street it but i know im within my rights to fly it wherever the heck i want. Im not looking for trouble but this women has successfully used the police to intimidate me into not flying it. Im not looking for legal advice but what would you guys do in my situation? I just purchased a pair of http://shop.pivothead.com/eyewear/origi ... tte-black/ to record any encounter i have with her. She is very hostile and extremely unfriendly so i felt the need to have these. Come to find out the little kid who always comes out to see it is her grandson, who lives next door to her who i always let hold the FPV. Kid loves the thing. I hate to say it but i think she doesnt like because im white which is common in miami.

I wonder what she would say if you told her you would remove the camera when flying at this location, since you're practicing flying and not spying. How would she respond if you took away her privacy argument?

 

[smaugnaut]

the cops eventually came to my house today and essentially told me to stop flying it in order to keep the peace of the neighborhood. I agreed to stop flying on this street it but i know im within my rights to fly it wherever the heck i want. Im not looking for trouble but this women has successfully used the police to intimidate me into not flying it. Im not looking for legal advice but what would you guys do in my situation? I just purchased a pair of http://shop.pivothead.com/eyewear/origi ... tte-black/ to record any encounter i have with her. She is very hostile and extremely unfriendly so i felt the need to have these. Come to find out the little kid who always comes out to see it is her grandson, who lives next door to her who i always let hold the FPV. Kid loves the thing. I hate to say it but i think she doesnt like because im white which is common in miami.

I wonder what she would say if you told her you would remove the camera when flying at this location, since you're practicing flying and not spying. How would she respond if you took away her privacy argument?

Unfortunately, she isnt approachable. Meaning when i first tried to approach her to see what the problem was she blew up on me. Thats a good point though. Next time I fly outside, which i will because its legal, she will call the cops again and ill point that out to them. Im just wondering to myself when they will take her to jail for abusing 911

 

[Dirty Bird]

the cops eventually came to my house today and essentially told me to stop flying it in order to keep the peace of the neighborhood. I agreed to stop flying on this street it but i know im within my rights to fly it wherever the heck i want. Im not looking for trouble but this women has successfully used the police to intimidate me into not flying it. Im not looking for legal advice but what would you guys do in my situation? I just purchased a pair of http://shop.pivothead.com/eyewear/origi ... tte-black/ to record any encounter i have with her. She is very hostile and extremely unfriendly so i felt the need to have these. Come to find out the little kid who always comes out to see it is her grandson, who lives next door to her who i always let hold the FPV. Kid loves the thing. I hate to say it but i think she doesnt like because im white which is common in miami.

You are a lot nicer than me because I would tell the bag to f*** herself and would have told the cops I was doing nothing wrong and had no intentions of letting some paranoid batallac interfere with my pleasure. I would also be sharpening the tips on several jacks that would "accidentally" find themselves pinched behind all four of her tires whilst enjoying my midnight run...

A "I masturbate while enjoying gay porn!" sticker placed on her back bumper might make you feel better too...

 

[Clipper707]

You are a lot nicer than me because I would tell the bag to f*** herself and would have told the cops I was doing nothing wrong and had no intentions of letting some paranoid batallac interfere with my pleasure. I would also be sharpening the tips on several jacks that would "accidentally" find themselves pinched behind all four of her tires whilst enjoying my midnight run...

A "I masturbate while enjoying gay porn!" sticker placed on her back bumper might make you feel better too...

Are you the type who keys people's cars? Seems you prefer to escalate and vandalize rather than defuse and try to solve a situation?

 

[Dirty Bird]

Are you the type who keys people's cars? Seems you prefer to escalate and vandalize rather than defuse and try to solve a situation?

Yeah that's me Clipper. Always keying cars, pipe bombs in mailboxes, a touch of thallium in a taco, etc..

I even have a flock of homing pigeons specially trained to foul a foe's ride something fierce! :shock:

Just don't tick me off and everything's fine... :roll:

 

[Clipper707]

I even have a flock of homing pigeons specially trained to foul a foe's ride something fierce!

If at first you don't succeed, call in an airstrike.

 

[SpikeFinch]

A "I masturbate while enjoying gay porn!" sticker placed on her back bumper might make you feel better too...

You too! I thought I was the only one....

 

[Werz]

In order for Missouri to outlaw drones, they're going to have to define what drones are. Calling it a "model aircraft" won't affect the definition.

Of course they define it. It is legislation.

As used in sections 305.635 to 305.641, the following terms shall mean:

(1) "Drone", any powered aerial vehicle that:

(a) Does not carry a human operator;

(b) Uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift;

(c) Can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely;

(d) Can be expendable or recoverable; and

(e) Can carry a lethal or non-lethal payload;

(2) "Manned aircraft", an aircraft that is operated by a human on board the aircraft;

(3) "Model aircraft", an unmanned aircraft that is:

(a) Capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere;

(b) Flown within visual line of sight of the person remotely operating the aircraft; and

(c) Flown for hobby or recreational purposes;

2. This act does not prohibit the use of a model aircraft.

(1)(c) and (1)(e) define the Phantom. Or perhaps to be more clear, those criteria move the Phantom out of the "model aircraft" category and into the "drone" category.

Uh, no. First of all, HB-46 is still pending in the Missouri legislature; it is not law. What you see in proposed RSMo 305.635.2(4) [the "model aircraft" definition] is an exemption. It is the exact same exemption contained in Section 336(c) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which prohibits the FAA from regulating model aircraft as long they comply with the provisions of that section. Proposed RSMo 305.639.2, quoted at bottom of the legal provisions above, means that, even if a Phantom has characteristics of a "drone," it does not qualify as a drone as long the three conditions of RSMo 305.635.2(4) are met.

 

[ATOMSK]

I flew at the neighborhood park yesterday. I was in the park, but up pretty high most of the time. There were a bunch of kids that came over and were crowding my screen. Most of the time I was in the air, I was just hovering because I couldn't see my FPV. A few of the kids wanted me to fly closer to the ground so they could throw sticks at my phantom. I changed batteries a couple times and had to hand catch it because the kids were trying to get to it. Then while it was on the ground a few kept trying play with the props. I snapped at one, ("Please, don't touch it") and his friend/brother say, "he's going to hit you!"(in spanish) LOL. I had to let these kids know I wasn't going to hit them, and was sad that was what they thought. They might get hit at home. Regardless, they were annoying and I flew it home.

 

[Cocoa Beach Kiter]

the cops eventually came to my house today and essentially told me to stop flying it in order to keep the peace of the neighborhood. I agreed to stop flying on this street it but i know im within my rights to fly it wherever the heck i want. Im not looking for trouble but this women has successfully used the police to intimidate me into not flying it. Im not looking for legal advice but what would you guys do in my situation? I just purchased a pair of http://shop.pivothead.com/eyewear/origi ... tte-black/ to record any encounter i have with her. She is very hostile and extremely unfriendly so i felt the need to have these. Come to find out the little kid who always comes out to see it is her grandson, who lives next door to her who i always let hold the FPV. Kid loves the thing. I hate to say it but i think she doesnt like because im white which is common in miami.

You are a lot nicer than me because I would tell the bag to f*** herself and would have told the cops I was doing nothing wrong and had no intentions of letting some paranoid batallac interfere with my pleasure. I would also be sharpening the tips on several jacks that would "accidentally" find themselves pinched behind all four of her tires whilst enjoying my midnight run...

A "I masturbate while enjoying gay porn!" sticker placed on her back bumper might make you feel better too...

Thanks DB, my first good laugh of the day! Made my morning..

 

[Djrichone]

Happened again. This time an old lady came on my front porch. She was technically trespassing at thid point but our neighborhood is very intimate and in a cou de sacar. She came with a semi nice attitutude telling/advising me that all the neighbors are not happy with the drone. When she saw my family around me I think she got a clue that it's only a toy. I was going to argue but decided against it. I told her not to worry and I wouldn't bug the neighbors any more.
I just bought a house in the neighborhood and don't want to be that guy.
Haven't flown for a week and now I'm seriously considering selling it.

 

[GoodnNuff]

I have had the police to my house 2 times from ignorant neighbors. The neighbors get so pissed off when the police goes to their house 1st and explains to them the guy they're calling about is not breaking any laws, and all they can do is ask me to be courteous to my neighborhood.

The #1 thing to always keep in mind is to 1st keep the name Drone out of your vocabulary. For those here in the US we have news every night where they mention unmanned drones were used today to...blah blah. People hear this stuff and think right away what we fly is some how associated with military drones that are used in war.

Had I not been approached by the police here in my own neighborhood I would have without a doubt bought a Walkera Tali H500. But due to it having 6 motors buzzing I'm sure it would draw more attention when launching it.

Btw. it seems multi rotor problems in neighborhoods pick up when the outside temps are cooled down to where people open their doors and windows more often. I also found to have less or no issues if I first climb to 400ft altitude so neighbors don't hear or see it as easily.

Talk to your neighbors, ask if they are bothered by you flying your drone.
I rarely fly near my house because I find it pretty boring to fly over houses, so don't let that ruin your fun.

 

[smaugnaut]

I have had the police to my house 2 times from ignorant neighbors. The neighbors get so pissed off when the police goes to their house 1st and explains to them the guy they're calling about is not breaking any laws, and all they can do is ask me to be courteous to my neighborhood.

The #1 thing to always keep in mind is to 1st keep the name Drone out of your vocabulary. For those here in the US we have news every night where they mention unmanned drones were used today to...blah blah. People hear this stuff and think right away what we fly is some how associated with military drones that are used in war.

Had I not been approached by the police here in my own neighborhood I would have without a doubt bought a Walkera Tali H500. But due to it having 6 motors buzzing I'm sure it would draw more attention when launching it.

Btw. it seems multi rotor problems in neighborhoods pick up when the outside temps are cooled down to where people open their doors and windows more often. I also found to have less or no issues if I first climb to 400ft altitude so neighbors don't hear or see it as easily.

Talk to your neighbors, ask if they are bothered by you flying your drone.
I rarely fly near my house because I find it pretty boring to fly over houses, so don't let that ruin your fun.

Dude im in the same boat. my ct neighbor calls the cops every time. Because i have a lot more to lose than she does i chose to take the high road and fly elsewhere. This woman is so crazy i truly fear she will accuse me of something i didnt do so i bought a pair of sunglasses that record in 1080 and record sound as well. Any encounter i have with her i just hit the record button. Anyway, dont sell your drone. I would take some really awesome pictures and a video of the neighborhood (this isnt my idea) and put a link to the video and pics in their mailboxes in the hope that they wont fear your "toy".

 

[Joey Migliaccio]

I live on the east coast and was flying off of a beach over the ocean. Of course all the kids came up to see it. then all of a sudden i had a wicked (for Boston folk) pissed off mom come tell me that if I didn't land and leave now she would start throwing rocks at the phantom and me! I was so startled i almost lost track of my phantom out over the ocean.

I'm not the best at confrontations like this so I landed and left. But that hostility towards me is something that will linger when i pull this phantom out for some time.

I would of called the cops because she threatened to STONE you, and assault is an actual crime.

 

[planedr]

You need to tell these media brainwashed uneducated morons that these are not the toys they should be afraid of. They need to worry about the ones at 40,000' and above that you can't see or hear that are able to read your newspaper on your porch.