I may do just that! We have a huge National Wildlife Refuge near here, just waiting to have some killer videos made on it. But we cannot fly in Federal Parks!! It is beyond ridiculous!
And it's going to get worse.
Yesterday I read a thread which is devoted to some UK pilot's really excellent videos shot over the streets of London. Apart from some well-deserved complimentary comments on the quality of his captured images this pilot received a lot of criticism about potentially dangerous and unlawful flying.
Interestingly, just a few minutes ago (Sunday, 4/17 - 4PM) CNN reported the pilot of a passenger plane landing at a London airport said his plane was hit by a drone. Understandably, the British CAA and our FAA are poised to respond to such reports with increasingly repressive regulations and licensing requirements.
My feelings about this issue are ambivalent. While I do appreciate the potential for artistic achievement, and while I know there are many drone pilots who are eminently capable of safely flying their drones over crowded streets and other public gatherings, I can't ignore the inevitable presence and practices of brazenly irresponsible individuals who sooner or later will injure or cause the death of someone, which could bring about the virtual end of this now-flourishing hobby by making it not worth the effort.
I have for some time wondered why the Chinese have totally dominated the hobby drone industry. I am not aware of a single American entry into this obviously profitable enterprise. But I'm beginning to think the reason for it is the potential for significantly reduced sales volume brought on by federal use and possession constraints (similar to firearms). No American entity with the financial ability to seriously compete with the DJI and Yuneec is willing to risk developing a product the sale of which has outstanding potential to be made illegal or severely restricted.
And all it will take is one serious injury, or a death, brought about by one irresponsible, unconstrained individual with a potentially dangerous toy.