Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

reuters.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 283 posts

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#51

Post by frisco »

coder543 wrote: post #45
frisco wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a pilot, the dynamics of flying for money are very different than flying for fun or personal reasons. The pressure to make the flight in marginal conditions, or push separation to get the shot, or otherwise just generally fly closer to the limits is real and significant. Adding money (and presumably third parties) totally changes the nature of the operation.

Yeah, when you put it that way, it makes more sense. I still hope they’ll make the rules more permissive at some point, especially as drones are integrating more and more flight automation and collision avoidance technology. Maybe certify certain drones with specific features and restrictions as being suitable for commercial usage without a license? Accidents can still happen, but... accidents can also happen with an…

My impression is that it's pretty easy to get a Part 107 Remote Pilot license; I think it's essentially just a knowledge test. Even if all you learn getting it is how the airspace system works and how to coordinate your use of it, that's a significant base of knowledge that is essential to flying responsibly in the US. There are serious civil and criminal penalties in the Federal Aviation Regulations for lots of complex rules that really do matter, so it makes sense that they at least just want commercial operators to understand what they are on the hook for.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#54

Post by kreeben »

selectodude wrote: post #39
kreeben wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> drones ladden with deliveries could dispatch from the top of a central tall structure Wouldn't the cost of elevating the loaded drones to the rooftop of that tall structure negate any monetary gains? Wouldn't the cost be exactly that of simply using grounded vehicles that elevate themselves? (edited for clarity)

An elevator?

An elevator indeed. But there's a cost involved in elevating goods to the top of a tall building. My question was, is that cost smaller than the cost of having drones with elevation capabilities take of from the ground?

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#55

Post by phkahler »

treeman79 wrote: post #34
chrisdalke wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No matter what, there will be consequences for DIY/hobby aircraft, just because cost/weight/complexity are critical factors in a small drone. Most of the planes I fly now are wood/cardboard with a few dumb electrical components. Adding any component will make it harder for newcomers to enter the field. The FAA has decided that unregulated drone flight is an issue, and no matter what, they're going to tackle it. So I'…

I’ve already had a drone hovering outside Daughters bedroom window. Some people have very different concerns about accountability of drones.

Magnetron and a wok for a dish. Kitchen counter measures.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#56

Post by chrisdalke »

treeman79 wrote: post #34
chrisdalke wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No matter what, there will be consequences for DIY/hobby aircraft, just because cost/weight/complexity are critical factors in a small drone. Most of the planes I fly now are wood/cardboard with a few dumb electrical components. Adding any component will make it harder for newcomers to enter the field. The FAA has decided that unregulated drone flight is an issue, and no matter what, they're going to tackle it. So I'…

I’ve already had a drone hovering outside Daughters bedroom window. Some people have very different concerns about accountability of drones.

The need for regulation and education around proper usage of consumer drones is definitely clear, as shown by your (and many other people's) experience! Most enthusiasts would agree that a solution is needed. Most drone incidents have been untrained or reckless operators piloting a DJI drone somewhere they shouldn't.

Most of the concern with proposed Remote ID regulations was because 1) The regulation didn't actually solve the issue of untrained drone operators and 2) Added a high barrier to entry that would stifle the large hobby/enthusiast/startup industry while giving large companies like Amazon free reign over the airspace.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#57

Post by fjabre »

p410n3 wrote: post #53
fjabre wrote: post #52

This will bring about new technology to deal with the rising threat. People don't take kindly to being constantly spied on. I imagine many will take matters into their own hands.

Except everyone already does all the time?

Is that so?

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#58

Post by leetcrew »

coder543 wrote: post #6

What about changing the rules around commercial use of drone photography / videography? I don't understand why it's fine to use drones to take photos and videos for personal use, and why it's perfectly fine to use the smartphone in your hand for commercially-usable photos and videos, but combine the two and you suddenly have to get an FAA license? That requirement feels very arbitrary, and it feels like a requirement…

drones represent a potential hazard to other aircraft as well as people on the ground, which, like it or not, gives the FAA an interest in regulating their use. I agree it seems arbitrary at first glance, but I think it's better to look at it the other way around: the FAA is essentially cutting hobbyists a break from what they would normally require of a drone operator.

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#59

Post by phkahler »

frisco wrote: post #18
coder543 wrote: post #6

What about changing the rules around commercial use of drone photography / videography? I don't understand why it's fine to use drones to take photos and videos for personal use, and why it's perfectly fine to use the smartphone in your hand for commercially-usable photos and videos, but combine the two and you suddenly have to get an FAA license? That requirement feels very arbitrary, and it feels like a requirement…

As a pilot, the dynamics of flying for money are very different than flying for fun or personal reasons. The pressure to make the flight in marginal conditions, or push separation to get the shot, or otherwise just generally fly closer to the limits is real and significant. Adding money (and presumably third parties) totally changes the nature of the operation.

Hence even pilots need a commercial license to do paid aerial photography.

The thing that bothers me about that is the scenario where pictures are taken for fun, but later what if someone were to offer money for them?

Re: FAA issuing new rules to allow drones to fly over people and at night

#60

Post by leetcrew »

ineedasername wrote: post #44
itisit wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Plenty of companies hard at work on making anti-drone tech consumer friendly. Rejoice!

Which will quickly be made illegal if it interferes with major commercial activity

I'm not sure what "anti-drone tech" could mean other than RF jamming, which is already very illegal.
Post reply on HN