07-11-19, 01:19 PM
Drone users in the UK must now pass an online theory test and register as an operator for £9 a year, or face a £1,000 fine.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style...85391.html
I was building my own multi-rotor flying craft 15+ years ago, when all the materials I'd pickup from a DIY store (wood / square aluminium rod). When you'd spend WEEKS fabricating the Frame then soldering all the wiring plus electronics, plus tweaking your R/C Transmitter settings, to get your creation to hover in a spot - all that effort finally for that moment. A real sense of achievement. 8)
When building/flying such craft was only accessible to the true hobbyist.
Now in 2019 (actually the last Several years) - you can walk in to many high street stores, spend £150+ upwards and walk out 5 minutes later with a ready to fly multi-rotor craft that effectively hovers/flies on its own. A few minutes later, battery charged and you are at your local park happily zipping this thing around the skies - happy days??? Well NO. No understanding of the risks, etiquette, regulations, or how to fly safely - (more importantly, when or where NOT to fly).
This responsibility should have been placed on these "Drone" manufacturers pumping out these mass produced units. The craft should have had some system to disable it flying straight out of the box (like a firmware setting), until the User had successfully read through/acknowledged some safety brief (perhaps that had to be completed online on the manufacturer website), so the new owner was EDUCATED, before taking it out for its maiden flight.
Media channels (pumping out all the bad press) have also created this "5hit storm" we see today. This hysteria surrounding "Drones", plus the public hatred of these craft. Will even go as far as saying the high profile cases in the News with apparent "Drone sightings" at airports (Gatwick / Heathrow), that downed commercial flights for days, were orchestrated stunts by authorities, with this ultimate aim to clamp down (LOCK down) use of these craft on UK soil. Hence the introduction of the above new laws.
I also now find more often than not while out flying my own craft (in my usual RURAL field location) I am on the receiving end of negative attention from members of the public. The last time I was out, a woman approached me and was threatening to call the Police if I did not land it immediately! :rolleyes You can't make this chit up.
Anyone else own or fly these fabulous craft, with thoughts on this topic?
Would also be interested to hear from anyone who has had bad experiences associated with these craft.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style...85391.html
I was building my own multi-rotor flying craft 15+ years ago, when all the materials I'd pickup from a DIY store (wood / square aluminium rod). When you'd spend WEEKS fabricating the Frame then soldering all the wiring plus electronics, plus tweaking your R/C Transmitter settings, to get your creation to hover in a spot - all that effort finally for that moment. A real sense of achievement. 8)
When building/flying such craft was only accessible to the true hobbyist.
Now in 2019 (actually the last Several years) - you can walk in to many high street stores, spend £150+ upwards and walk out 5 minutes later with a ready to fly multi-rotor craft that effectively hovers/flies on its own. A few minutes later, battery charged and you are at your local park happily zipping this thing around the skies - happy days??? Well NO. No understanding of the risks, etiquette, regulations, or how to fly safely - (more importantly, when or where NOT to fly).
This responsibility should have been placed on these "Drone" manufacturers pumping out these mass produced units. The craft should have had some system to disable it flying straight out of the box (like a firmware setting), until the User had successfully read through/acknowledged some safety brief (perhaps that had to be completed online on the manufacturer website), so the new owner was EDUCATED, before taking it out for its maiden flight.
Media channels (pumping out all the bad press) have also created this "5hit storm" we see today. This hysteria surrounding "Drones", plus the public hatred of these craft. Will even go as far as saying the high profile cases in the News with apparent "Drone sightings" at airports (Gatwick / Heathrow), that downed commercial flights for days, were orchestrated stunts by authorities, with this ultimate aim to clamp down (LOCK down) use of these craft on UK soil. Hence the introduction of the above new laws.
I also now find more often than not while out flying my own craft (in my usual RURAL field location) I am on the receiving end of negative attention from members of the public. The last time I was out, a woman approached me and was threatening to call the Police if I did not land it immediately! :rolleyes You can't make this chit up.
Anyone else own or fly these fabulous craft, with thoughts on this topic?
Would also be interested to hear from anyone who has had bad experiences associated with these craft.
