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News Wire: Drone pilot weaves through freight train on video

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Posted by gregc on Sunday, September 24, 2017 1:29 PM

54light15
Does a radio-controlled model airplane qualify as a drone?

The aircraft must be a registered drone aircraft if it weights more the 55 lbs.

An FAA drone pilot license is required if flying an unmanned aircraft for commercial benefit.

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?

But even unmanned vehicles are required to be flown within "Visual line-of-sight" amoung other limitations including "No careless or reckless operations".

CMStPnP
I think the FAA should bust the guy and fine him or have him do time.

i don't know if the FAA can do anything more than prevent him from getting a license or suspend his license.

However, the railroad can probably prosecute for trespassing in the same way that an RC pilot is responsible for any damage their model may cause in a crash.

perhaps the video is being used as a demo for a commercial job.

 

greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading

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Posted by challenger3980 on Sunday, September 24, 2017 12:55 PM

Semper Vaporo

 

 
Euclid

U.P. rules say this:  “Union Pacific will seek removal from publication any photograph or video that violates this policy.”  They are referring to their published policy on photography.

I assume that includes publication of the video as shown here in the Newswire piece.  How would U.P. go about the process of removing the video from publication?  

 

 

Most of the video hosting sites have a link somewhere on their pages for contacting them about legal problems (copyright violations, inappropriate content, etc.).  All U.P. needs to do is contact them and explain the reason for requesting the removal of the video.  Some sites might balk at the request, claiming "free speach", etc., but most will comply quickly.  The original poster can then counter with a request for reinstating the video... there are arbitration procedures beyound that.

 

 

Or the poster, can repost the video again directly, starting the whole process over, it would probably take a time or two of that cycle before youtube, blocked his posting priviledges, or reviewing his posts before activating them.

Doug

May your flanges always stay BETWEEN the rails

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Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, September 24, 2017 12:06 PM

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.

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Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, September 24, 2017 11:08 AM

54light15

Does a radio-controlled model airplane qualify as a drone? 

 

As far as I know, no they don't.  R/C airplanes can't do what drones do, well R/C helicopters can, but R/C airplanes have been around for decades and to my knowledge they're never flown out of sight of the operator.  It's only common sense, since they tend to be expensive when purchased "over-the-counter" or if hand-built the owners don't get crazy with them considering the amount of time and money they've got invested.

I've never heard of any incident with R/C airplanes like we hear of with drones.

A friend of mine from high school was into R/C airplanes and occasionally I'd go to the field his club flew from and it was quite a sight to see.  All the operators flew very responsibly, and the only incidents I saw happened when two operators were controlling the planes on the same frequency.  That didn't happen too often, the results could be catastrophic for both planes!  I should add the field wasn't near any airport or flight path for real airplanes and the R/C planes didn't fly any higher than 100 or so feet off the ground.

 

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Posted by Semper Vaporo on Sunday, September 24, 2017 10:30 AM

Euclid

U.P. rules say this:  “Union Pacific will seek removal from publication any photograph or video that violates this policy.”  They are referring to their published policy on photography.

I assume that includes publication of the video as shown here in the Newswire piece.  How would U.P. go about the process of removing the video from publication?  

Most of the video hosting sites have a link somewhere on their pages for contacting them about legal problems (copyright violations, inappropriate content, etc.).  All U.P. needs to do is contact them and explain the reason for requesting the removal of the video.  Some sites might balk at the request, claiming "free speach", etc., but most will comply quickly.  The original poster can then counter with a request for reinstating the video... there are arbitration procedures beyound that.

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

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Posted by 54light15 on Sunday, September 24, 2017 10:14 AM

Does a radio-controlled model airplane qualify as a drone? 

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Posted by Euclid on Sunday, September 24, 2017 8:18 AM

U.P. rules say this:  “Union Pacific will seek removal from publication any photograph or video that violates this policy.”  They are referring to their published policy on photography.

I assume that includes publication of the video as shown here in the Newswire piece.  How would U.P. go about the process of removing the video from publication? 

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Posted by DSchmitt on Saturday, September 23, 2017 10:03 PM

Need to add a couple of these to every train

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, September 22, 2017 12:58 PM

rdamon

And our drone is stuck in a tree in the back yard ... :)

What a potential for people with bad intentions ..

 

Or a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

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Posted by rdamon on Friday, September 22, 2017 10:27 AM

And our drone is stuck in a tree in the back yard ... :)

What a potential for people with bad intentions ..

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Posted by Brian Schmidt on Friday, September 22, 2017 9:42 AM

RENO, Nev. — Flying low, through a truss bridge, under a Union Pacific train, and even in a box car are just a few of the stunts a drone pilot shows off in a YouTube video while a mixed UP freight is in motion. The video, embedded above, went...

http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2017/09/22-drone-flight

Brian Schmidt, Editor, Classic Trains magazine

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