No, that is drone sightings, period. Many of which are really unidentified*, model aircraft (yes, model aircraft reports are lumped in with drone sightings now and a surprising percentage of drone sightings are fixed wing, including from CalFire), in bizarre locations/altitudes (think altitudes that begin with 'FL'), or just seen by people on the ground (yes, it includes reports by random people on the ground not just pilots). Even more interesting is how few sightings from aircraft need or involve evasive maneuvers. It is one of the most meaningless statistics out there and is completely independent of how safely they are being operated, but the numbers should roughly correlate to the drone population and in fact they do. What is not expected is such an increase in sightings and flying drone population with no increase in fatalities (it went from 0 to 0 between 2014 and 2015).
What's troubling about that situation (at least to me) is it seems like the public at large sides with the fisherman. These "initiatives", new laws and regs could be a slippery slope.
I suspect over the past 10 years it would have been pretty easy to deliver a far greater payload using an RC plane or RC helicopter. But that's not really been done. Drones are getting bigger and can Carey greater payload but there are much easier ways to deliver a payload.
Intrusive doesn't necessarily mean their privacy is being compromised, but that there is an annoying thing buzzing around above them like a swarm of bees that disturbs their peace and quiet. We as drone operators should be cognizant of that. Most animals (humans included) do have a "death from above" response as well (start looking skyward and see how many people look up with you). On the flip side, if I'm flying over operating boats for example (as opposed to quietly floating along with poles out), I don't feel the need to keep as far away just because the boat engines are orders of magnitude louder and the peace and quiet issue isn't really an issue. Ironically, surreptitious means of photographing people (think second story window with a telephoto) are far more effective at violating privacy and yet don't bother people. I fly mainly in wilderness and rural areas and I do realize that it will disturb the natural quiet of the area and try to be aware that there may be people there who are there to get away from the noise.From the article:
"Another congressional option would create an initiative to help local communities prosecute unsafe and intrusive drone behavior under state laws."
And who defines "intrusive"? The ******* fisherman claimed that the quad was intrusive to his "lazy afternoon of fishing" when he tried to bring it down while all along, right next to him was a guy wearing a GoPro on his hat.
BOT
The article made the incorrect assumption that all reports to the FAA were from pilots (we are talking modern journalism here).
Actually in ASRS this year, there is a report of a Cessna which hit something at 1700 ft that was clearly not biological. The pilot did not see the object but suspects it was a drone. He landed and there was superficial damage to the prop and cowling, but the aircraft was deemed airworthy. There is another ASRS report this year about a helo which had a near-miss with a drone (it was identified positively as a drone) and the rotor wash sent the drone tumbling down (probably to its demise). So conflicts and collisions probably are happening, it's just a) rare and b) the drone is the one taking the worst of it.
i think you have a good point being that when someone spots a UAV in the air its open season for destruction. maybe because there isnt someone attached to it like the gopro next to the fisherman or a guy shooting pics with a DSLR on the pier. he surely wouldnt do that it it were a maned helicopter. it he lost his pole to the UAV, he'd be pissed.but nobody would tell him he was wrong in trying to bring it down.From the article:
"Another congressional option would create an initiative to help local communities prosecute unsafe and intrusive drone behavior under state laws."
And who defines "intrusive"? The ******* fisherman claimed that the quad was intrusive to his "lazy afternoon of fishing" when he tried to bring it down while all along, right next to him was a guy wearing a GoPro on his hat.
BOT
