discouraging experience flying today...
Went to a new location, a county park with a RC airfield open to public as long as you have an AMA number. within 5 miles of two local airfields, one a large military installation, one a seaplane base, called both with flight info (have great relationship with both!)
Learned from this forum to take off discretely and fly high and quietly when in a new place. I did both. Late in day so sun was low and reflecting on the bird so was easier to go further and stay in LOS but distance from home point was probably no more than 1,100 feet. Did a big loop to the bay and back on a deserted park, or so I thought.
First, car pulls up and a man gets out and starts challenging my right to fly there rather aggressively. You can't fly here. It's only open to AMA members. While still maintaining eye contact on my return flight I tell him I am an AMA member. He demands to see proof which I tell him I will provide upon landing. Land as quickly as possible and show him. He challenges again saying I need FAA registration. I show him my numbers on the drone. His tone changes and he starts sharing his background...president of club, being friendly, I should join and contribute. Sure I'd like to support the hobby.
Then a county parks pickup pulls up. Before the driver could say anything, the RC club president yells, "she's not a member!" County guy proceeds to tell me he had a complaint from 2 birdwatchers that they were being "buzzed" by a drone. I informed him I was at 400 feet and only airborne for 6+ minutes...one loop and back. At this point he says:
- drones are illegal in Maryland except in the little footprint of the RC airfield
- drones illegally bother birds
- those bird watchers have a right to privacy
The RC club president agreed with county and said that we need to abide by their rules since they lease the land to the club.
I asked county if there was any info or handouts I could provide him to help when people complain about this legal activity. He wasn't interested. club president got angry and told me to comply....doesn't matter what the law is, he said, do what they want.
I politely told him I would be happy to make a contribution to the club but out of respect for them I wouldn't want to join as I would not just want to fly on the tiny rectangle of land they were self limiting to. He turned his back on me, obviously scared to damage relationship with county.
I obviously won't fly from that location again, but would like to cover that waterfront area again from a friends house nearby.
There are just so many things wrong here and so many in authority believe that drone pilots are doing something illegal.
(Btw, I called the army airfield tower and told them I was finished flying...in front of the club president and county guy....glad they got the hear my end of the friendly conversation...I was even asked how the flight went.)
These two obviously didn't want to hear anything other than their version of the "truth"
What do you do about this?
Went to a new location, a county park with a RC airfield open to public as long as you have an AMA number. within 5 miles of two local airfields, one a large military installation, one a seaplane base, called both with flight info (have great relationship with both!)
Learned from this forum to take off discretely and fly high and quietly when in a new place. I did both. Late in day so sun was low and reflecting on the bird so was easier to go further and stay in LOS but distance from home point was probably no more than 1,100 feet. Did a big loop to the bay and back on a deserted park, or so I thought.
First, car pulls up and a man gets out and starts challenging my right to fly there rather aggressively. You can't fly here. It's only open to AMA members. While still maintaining eye contact on my return flight I tell him I am an AMA member. He demands to see proof which I tell him I will provide upon landing. Land as quickly as possible and show him. He challenges again saying I need FAA registration. I show him my numbers on the drone. His tone changes and he starts sharing his background...president of club, being friendly, I should join and contribute. Sure I'd like to support the hobby.
Then a county parks pickup pulls up. Before the driver could say anything, the RC club president yells, "she's not a member!" County guy proceeds to tell me he had a complaint from 2 birdwatchers that they were being "buzzed" by a drone. I informed him I was at 400 feet and only airborne for 6+ minutes...one loop and back. At this point he says:
- drones are illegal in Maryland except in the little footprint of the RC airfield
- drones illegally bother birds
- those bird watchers have a right to privacy
The RC club president agreed with county and said that we need to abide by their rules since they lease the land to the club.
I asked county if there was any info or handouts I could provide him to help when people complain about this legal activity. He wasn't interested. club president got angry and told me to comply....doesn't matter what the law is, he said, do what they want.
I politely told him I would be happy to make a contribution to the club but out of respect for them I wouldn't want to join as I would not just want to fly on the tiny rectangle of land they were self limiting to. He turned his back on me, obviously scared to damage relationship with county.
I obviously won't fly from that location again, but would like to cover that waterfront area again from a friends house nearby.
There are just so many things wrong here and so many in authority believe that drone pilots are doing something illegal.
(Btw, I called the army airfield tower and told them I was finished flying...in front of the club president and county guy....glad they got the hear my end of the friendly conversation...I was even asked how the flight went.)
These two obviously didn't want to hear anything other than their version of the "truth"
What do you do about this?