Here's an interesting one I wanted to canvas opinions about:
Was out flying the other day, in what was obviously a very popular spot. When I arrived, there was a P3 in the air, though by the time I'd set-up and took off, it was gone.
I took off and grabbed some footage until my first battery started showing 30%. Landed, swapped batteries and took off again.
As I was swapping batteries, I noticed not far from me, another P3 owner setting up and calibrating his compass.
All good, I thought - I only need a couple more flyovers, I'll be outta here within 10 minutes
So I take off and start shooting again. I get a shot and look up to see my aircraft (as I much prefer to fly VLOS unless actually shooting), and see it hovering in mid-air just above me. I'm utterly confused for a second before I realise that the one above me is the other owner's, and mine is out where I thought it would be. I was done, so I bring it back to land. The other owner walks up to me and starts chatting, saying 'I went up high to get some stuff while you were down low'
Great, I thought - but it got me thinking about courtesy when there's more than one drone around.
I read on another post, up to 6 other drones flying around the area. To me, that sounds confusing at best, and it feels like you're putting a lot of trust in other pilots that they're not reckless (either deliberately or ignorantly).
When the other owner turned up when I was flying I figured if he launched before me, I'd let him fly around for a bit and then launch mine back up. The batteries aren't the longest lasting in the world, so you don't necessarily have to wait for too long. But if there were a few there, it's entirely possibly your options are fly amongst others or don't fly at all..
What are your thoughts on pilot/drone courtesy in popular spots?
Was out flying the other day, in what was obviously a very popular spot. When I arrived, there was a P3 in the air, though by the time I'd set-up and took off, it was gone.
I took off and grabbed some footage until my first battery started showing 30%. Landed, swapped batteries and took off again.
As I was swapping batteries, I noticed not far from me, another P3 owner setting up and calibrating his compass.
All good, I thought - I only need a couple more flyovers, I'll be outta here within 10 minutes
So I take off and start shooting again. I get a shot and look up to see my aircraft (as I much prefer to fly VLOS unless actually shooting), and see it hovering in mid-air just above me. I'm utterly confused for a second before I realise that the one above me is the other owner's, and mine is out where I thought it would be. I was done, so I bring it back to land. The other owner walks up to me and starts chatting, saying 'I went up high to get some stuff while you were down low'
Great, I thought - but it got me thinking about courtesy when there's more than one drone around.
I read on another post, up to 6 other drones flying around the area. To me, that sounds confusing at best, and it feels like you're putting a lot of trust in other pilots that they're not reckless (either deliberately or ignorantly).
When the other owner turned up when I was flying I figured if he launched before me, I'd let him fly around for a bit and then launch mine back up. The batteries aren't the longest lasting in the world, so you don't necessarily have to wait for too long. But if there were a few there, it's entirely possibly your options are fly amongst others or don't fly at all..
What are your thoughts on pilot/drone courtesy in popular spots?