Norm48327 Alex, If I may take exception there is a huge difference between 'pilot' and 'operator'. Given the FAA's defination drone operators are not pilots.
Alex,
If I may take exception there is a huge difference between 'pilot' and 'operator'. Given the FAA's defination drone operators are not pilots.
Fair enough, but obviously you know what I mean.
If you hit an airbrake coupling at a decent clip, you could probably dislodge them and cause an emergency application. Yes drones are fragile, but that's moreso the props than anything else. Sure they might break and become unflyable, but KE=.5m*v^2...in other words, a 5 lb drone going 30 mph is going to have the ability to impart some force on whatever it hits. And the batteries used are nice bricks of mass, to be sure.
While I doubt it'd ever be able to set a handbrake, I could see where a hit at the right angle and speed could potentially cause an undesired emergency application.
And anytime you're potentially causing an emergency application for your hobby, you're in the wrong.
tree68 Murphy Siding In watching the clip, it's pretty obvious that the operator was not within the required line of sight requirements, nor is it hard to figure out who he is since he is advertising himself and his videos. If UP were to file a complaint with the FCC, could the operator expect a knock on the door from a government official? It would be the FAA. What is needed is for a few such cases to be made high-profile and be prosecuted. As long as UAV users can look at a video such as this and say "I can do that," the problem will continue. Bust a few of them, with substantial penalties, and it might stem the tide a bit. Nothing will truly happen until one of them causes a serious, loss-of-life incident.
Murphy Siding In watching the clip, it's pretty obvious that the operator was not within the required line of sight requirements, nor is it hard to figure out who he is since he is advertising himself and his videos. If UP were to file a complaint with the FCC, could the operator expect a knock on the door from a government official?
It would be the FAA.
What is needed is for a few such cases to be made high-profile and be prosecuted. As long as UAV users can look at a video such as this and say "I can do that," the problem will continue. Bust a few of them, with substantial penalties, and it might stem the tide a bit.
Nothing will truly happen until one of them causes a serious, loss-of-life incident.
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
gregcIn a similar respect, jamming a signal or shooting down an object traveling at speed that can crash into a crowd is irresponsible.
I believe the devices that will disable a drone are targeted more at industry than individuals (ie, industrial espionage). If you're out there trying to get a picture of the new Rolls Kanardly, odds are there's no crowd involved.
Same thing if you're disrupting firefighting efforts on a wildfire.
There are places (NY state parks, for one) where a permit is required, regardless of your registrations and certifications.
OTOH, while the fire service is starting to see the advantages of using UAVs for scene survey and evaluation, there are videos on-line of firefighters trying to shoot them down with hose streams...
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
If you crash a drone, you might land yourself in jail -- a careless pilot. A year in jail and $5000
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
CMStPnP Now what would have happened if that drone crashed into and broke an air hose connection, or say hit a handbrake just hard enough to partially set the brakes on a car in the consist? I think the FAA should bust the guy and fine him or have him do time.
Now what would have happened if that drone crashed into and broke an air hose connection, or say hit a handbrake just hard enough to partially set the brakes on a car in the consist?
I think the FAA should bust the guy and fine him or have him do time.
The FAA has bigger fish to fry. A large fowl in the wild holds a better chance of damaging a freight train than that glorified plastic toy. In most encounters, locomotives and rolling stock hold a distinct advantage over other moving objects. Cans of spray paint being the exception.
gregc If you crash a drone, you might land yourself in jail -- a careless pilot. A year in jail and $5000
No reason to believe otherwise. If you own and operate any sort of widget, and use it irresponsibly to injure or damage others, you've broken the law. Drones are just the new kid on the block.
BLS53 CMStPnP Now what would have happened if that drone crashed into and broke an air hose connection, or say hit a handbrake just hard enough to partially set the brakes on a car in the consist? I think the FAA should bust the guy and fine him or have him do time. The FAA has bigger fish to fry. A large fowl in the wild holds a better chance of damaging a freight train than that glorified plastic toy. In most encounters, locomotives and rolling stock hold a distinct advantage over other moving objects. Cans of spray paint being the exception.
tree68 BigJim And that, could be anybody with a drone! Oh, for sure. It's already happened (young man flew his drone over two sunbathing teens - father took exception). The problem is the attitude that "I can do it and get away with it, so it's fine." UAVs have already caused problems at several wildfires when they interfered with aerial firefighting operations. But I'm sure the UAV operators "got their shot." There are devices available that will "shoot down" a UAV by interfering with the flight controls. And a 12 Guage will serve the same purpose (altho with a rather poor outcome for the UAV).
BigJim And that, could be anybody with a drone!
Oh, for sure. It's already happened (young man flew his drone over two sunbathing teens - father took exception).
The problem is the attitude that "I can do it and get away with it, so it's fine."
UAVs have already caused problems at several wildfires when they interfered with aerial firefighting operations. But I'm sure the UAV operators "got their shot."
There are devices available that will "shoot down" a UAV by interfering with the flight controls. And a 12 Guage will serve the same purpose (altho with a rather poor outcome for the UAV).
Johnny
BLS53 A large fowl in the wild holds a better chance of damaging a freight train than that glorified plastic toy.
I agree that physically, a UAV is no match for a train.
I think the distraction factor is a bigger risk.
And I believe what galls folks more than anything is that this UAV operator seemed to think that he was completely within his rights.
In some ways, he's right. UP and FAA rules notwithstanding, until he flew around the lead locomotive, he was more in danger of losing his UAV than causing any issues with the train, or the surrounding countryside.
How many pictures have we seen of railfans climbing signal towers, etc? Doesn't mean it's right, only that such behavior predates UAV's by several human generations...
tree68 BLS53 A large fowl in the wild holds a better chance of damaging a freight train than that glorified plastic toy. A deer gave us electrical problems for a while on one locomotive... (It went under the pilot and hit a traction motor.) I agree that physically, a UAV is no match for a train. I think the distraction factor is a bigger risk. And I believe what galls folks more than anything is that this UAV operator seemed to think that he was completely within his rights. In some ways, he's right. UP and FAA rules notwithstanding, until he flew around the lead locomotive, he was more in danger of losing his UAV than causing any issues with the train, or the surrounding countryside. How many pictures have we seen of railfans climbing signal towers, etc? Doesn't mean it's right, only that such behavior predates UAV's by several human generations...
A deer gave us electrical problems for a while on one locomotive... (It went under the pilot and hit a traction motor.)
It's like anything else in society, when it becomes a big enough problem, lawmakers will react. Look how quick the prohibition of using cell phones while driving laws escalated.
For whatever reason, railfans seem to be more concerned about petty crime issues affecting railroads, than the railroads themselves do.
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