kennywtelejazz

bapu
I wonder.....
 
How long will this thread drone on?
 
BadaBoom.

 bapu you are something man .

 
Kenny

And as soon as we can put a name to it we'll let everyone know.
 
Badaboom.

Aside from the danger of people playing with drones near airports, I think it makes more sense to worry about people driving vehicles while under the influence of alcohol/drugs/cell phones/sleep deprivation/brain deprivation. 
 
A car traveling even at slow speeds is capable of far more damage than a drone. And for the foreseeable future car accidents will likely kill and seriously injure more people in the average minute than (non-military) drones will in the course of years.

I don't see it as any different from R/C airplanes of yesteryear.  I do think this is funny, assuming the hawk wasn't injured:
 

 
 

Susan G
Hi-
 
Is anyone else nervous about drones, especially with Christmas fast approaching and regulations being apparently very new and pretty light?
 
I can imagine a drone failing and crashing down on a highway in front of a car, similar to this one crashing down just behind a skier:
http://www.engadget.com/2015/12/22/drone-camera-almost-crashes-into-skier/
 
Not to mention the danger they pose to airplanes. It seems like they're still generally considered a toy, doesn't it?
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan
 
 

They're a toy. I wouldn't worry about it too much. The government just wanted an excuse to step in and take away more rights while making some money. I find it extremely disgusting they'd put restrictions on toy planes that weren't bothering anyone.
 
This is only a step they're taking to stop all the video of their abuses even further because it's hard enough they have to worry about cell phones, but helicopter cameras? Meanwhile actual drones are bombing the crap out of innocent people and have even been used on American citizens. Not to mention the bloodbath in American streets with the police. Drones are the least of my concerns.

There have already been deaths as a result of accidents with unmanned aircraft systems.
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2013/09/05/remote-control-helicopter-kills-man-in-brooklyn/
 
These systems have been in use by hobbyists for decades and have been called radio controlled model planes until the practice of blowing up terrorists with armed versions popularized the term drone. Technically neither the radio controlled hobbyists weapon, not the usual terrorist killer are drones, since they are under the remote control of a human pilot. A drone is an autonomously navigating aircraft that does not need a pilot at all. 
 
Current regulations require that a pilot be at least 13 yo and require registration of the aircraft if it is over 0.55 pounds in weight and restrict it to an altitude of 400 feet. Drones weighing more than 55 pounds require special registrations. There is no requirement that the pilot have any training or competence and no license required to fly. If you are hit by a 54 pound drone falling from 399 feet operated by a 13 year old, that should make you feel much better. At least the responsible party will be identifiable by the official FAA registration on the wreckage. 
 
When automobiles were first released to the public, there was also no requirement that they be registered or the drivers certified either. When there got to be enough of them causing accidents, however, regulations seemed prudent.
 

I'm worried these drones may creep into my songs.

OK, in all seriousness I am not concerned about drones. If they ever negatively affect me or my family then I may become concerned. Yeah, I'm lazy that way... but still that's my choice and probably no one can guilt me into feeling different.
 

I'm thinking about the recreational use of drones, which is supposedly going to increase dramatically soon since they're very popular as gifts this Christmas. I should have made that clear, sorry. Of course they have many important and beneficial uses otherwise.
 
I certainly agree there are more dangerous things out there (cars, guns, etc.) but I'm capable of worrying about more than one thing at once :-).
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan

I work with a lot of drone pilots. A close friend and colleague runs one of the largest user groups in the world. Drones, like any device can be extremely useful or cause headaches. In the hands of a skilled pro, breathtaking shots impossible to achieve any other way come to life. Surveying and rescue applications are also a consideration. Unfortunately there are currently little to prevent morons (with deep pockets) from usimg them irresponsibly. A drone that goes beyond hobby level capabilities is going to cost about 2000 and up once upgrades and accessories to make use practical get factored in. The average person spending so much tends to have a vested in not destroying purchase. The toy type drones usually don't  have the ability or range to cause major damage except by pure fluke. Drones CAN be an issue but considering all the other easy to obtain items vausing deaths daily  (alcohol, guns, irresponsible drivers...), the far is a little excessive. Soon law will catch up to hype. Loke mist reactionary laws, some will be excessive, but it is heading towards a more regulated hobby/profession regardless.

Susan G
I'm thinking about the recreational use of drones, which is supposedly going to increase dramatically soon since they're very popular as gifts this Christmas. I should have made that clear, sorry. Of course they have many important and beneficial uses otherwise.
 
I certainly agree there are more dangerous things out there (cars, guns, etc.) but I'm capable of worrying about more than one thing at once :-).
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan

So you're multifrettable then?