I’ve launched a website for all pilots to report issues they may have experienced in drone flight. Please submit any reports at ReportDroneAccident.com. This is a very hard post to write. I already know many people are going to skewer me and call me an idiot for sharing what I have found, but that doesn’t make the facts wrong. All ... Read More »
Starting today more than 100 control towers and airports will be added to the hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic facilities and airports that currently use the Low Altitude Authorization and Capability (LAANC) system. LAANC is a collaboration between the FAA and industry that directly supports the safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems into the nation’s airspace. LAANC ... Read More »
Wake Forest Fire Department Firebird 1 Flight Debrief Incident: Garage Structure Fire Location: Wake Forest Flight Time: 30 minutes Mission Goals: Since this was a joint department event and Northern Wake was in command the goal became to use the incident as a data gathering flight and be ready to provide any information Northern Wake Command may need. What Went ... Read More »
Rob Herrington from Jefferson County 911 in Ohio wanted to share this great tip on how to get some inexpensive lighting on the Matrice 210. Rob said, “Like everyone flying drones for Public Safety, Jefferson County 911 has been frustrated with the problem of not enough scene lighting on our Matrice 210. We had tried several solutions but we still ... Read More »
Wake Forest Fire Department Firebird 1 Flight Debrief Incident: Commercial Structure Fire Location: Chili’s Flight Time: 60 minutes Mission Goals: To assist with commercial structure fire by checking the roof of the building to determine any thermal activity as the result of the fire. What Went Well: The following items were conducted without incident: It was a safe flight operation ... Read More »
In this last article, I will discuss what we drone pilots face and can do to minimize our liability exposure. See the entire series, here. First let’s start with the FAA’s definition of Pilot In Command (PIC). The PIC is and has the final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of the flight, has been designated as pilot ... Read More »
To read Part 2 of this series, click here. Let’s take a look at a few examples of what can go wrong, knowingly or not. The first involves Cecil the Lion, the infamous animal who was killed by a big game hunter from Minnesota that sparked an international uproar. See the entire series, here. Mical Caterina, also from Minnesota, decided ... Read More »
Flight Time: 30 minutes Mission Goals: To assist in determining the location and extent of the root cause of the water overflowing the retention wall of Marshall Pond on Forestville Rd. What Went Well: The following items were conducted without incident: It was a safe flight operation within normal limits. A solution was discovered that would lead to the ability ... Read More »
During Part 1, I briefly covered the Causby case to help set the stage for situations we drone pilots may confront. Here are two more to consider. The first is Boggs versus Merideth, United States District Court Western District of Kentucky at Louisville, Civil Action N. 3:16-CV-00006-TBR (W.D. Ky. Mar. 21, 2017) Don’t miss future posts in this series. Be ... Read More »
We Part 107 pilots share some of the same airspace that our manned aircraft brethren do, just closer to the ground. It takes a lot of research, planning and proficiency to conduct safe drone flights; maybe more than our manned flight counterparts do because of our proximity to mother earth. The rules for manned aircraft pilots are specific, detailed and ... Read More »
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