It just sounds and feels very defeatist and complacent to accept this. The more we accept, the more we're expected too. Like I said earlier, it's about far more than flying our little plastic toys.
Recreational drone now illegal in most of Canada...
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Hi JW -- thanks for sharing your preliminary thoughts. Maybe they will help a few more of us overcome inertia and weigh-in on this issue. I've been rolling these issues around in my mind for the last few days as well.
I'm planning to reach out to Garneau's office myself, but I think our letters will be more persuasive if we avoid trying to compare hobby drone safety to the country's transportation infrastructure. I think it's weak to compare drone rules to, eg., motor vehicle regulation. Motor vehicles are essential. Hobby drones aren't. Makes it too easy for Transport Canada's policy analysts to ignore our input.
You're right that cars cause injury and death. I'm sure if we could ban cars we would. We can't practically ban cars, but we can ban hobby drones with very little impact on society. Similarly when it comes to plane safety we can't control birds, but we can, at least, attempt to reduce the risk of drones. Either way the plane's taking off. Some risks are hard to mitigate, but (unfortunately for us) the perceived risks of hobby drones are not among them.
We're also not likely to convince anyone there should be no rules. Nor will we come to a consensus among ourselves on what the perfect rules would contain.
But it's fair to say the rules as drafted are (imo) significantly over-broad. That's the point Jim Ewing from Great Hobbies makes very well in his letter. If we just rant we'll be ignored. But if we point out that the altitude, lateral distance and aerodrome perimeter limits, for instance, are excessive and impractical, and explain why, then maybe we can get them improved. But we'll need to convince Transport Canada there's practically no risk to changing the rules. Simply telling them they've overestimated the risk isn't, I don't think, going to get us very far.
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And to say nothing of drone racing,,that's would be history now...at least 3 regs broken doing that..DUMB.!
I absolutely agree.
Any letter has to be factual, objective and realistic if it's to be given credence. While there are comparisons that can be made, it's crucial to keep them relevant and only as substantiated as need be to make a point.
My suggestions for topics are far from refined, but much like you mentioned, I also need to overcome my own inertia, so by dropping "broad strokes", and with motivating replies such as yours, I'll get there faster.
I've thought of a dozen more points; it's choosing the best to keep a letter concise, and getting them formatted that's laboursome.
For example, everything is relative; cars weren't not essential at one point. Nor were planes, computers or space travel, which Mr. Garneau should be able to relate to.
But the point to be made here is NOT that we should expect that drones may become essential, or that they should even be equally categorized with the above, but rather that the mass use of ANY innovation breeds further innovation and the refinement of it, and only then will we realize it's full potential.
And until that point comes, while rules are important, they shouldn't be so stifling as to virtually eliminate their casual use, which is close to what these restrictions do.
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Can we have a place to talk about flying drones where we don't have to read about your dubious political opinion please.
I tend to look "bigger picture" with a lot of this stuff, and I think that planting that very seed with Mr. Garneau may provoke attention as well.
For example, what do these things use, and use a LOT of?
Batteries: their widespread use may very well accelerate the development, use and refinement of LiPo batteries by years, for any number of uses, be it cars to help reduce emissions, or lifesaving equipment in the medical field.
Wireless signals: widespread use may significantly contribute to enhanced wireless signal systems, whether that be wifi, Lightbridge or an as-yet untapped potential.
Autonomous flight: of the people on this forum, who seem to average in age on the mature side of the spectrum, I'd suggest that most would never have thought autonomous cars would be a reality in their lifetime. These devices may very well be a precursor to the personal transportation of tomorrow.
GPS: again, widespread use of a GPS reliant device may be a significant contributor to other uses of the signals that didn't exist such a short time ago.
Just saying. There are a lot of things that such a restrictive impact can have; and not because they are trying to take away our toys, but because these toys are highly innovative and stifling their use can significantly impact other innovations derived from their use.
For example, what do these things use, and use a LOT of?
Batteries: their widespread use may very well accelerate the development, use and refinement of LiPo batteries by years, for any number of uses, be it cars to help reduce emissions, or lifesaving equipment in the medical field.
Wireless signals: widespread use may significantly contribute to enhanced wireless signal systems, whether that be wifi, Lightbridge or an as-yet untapped potential.
Autonomous flight: of the people on this forum, who seem to average in age on the mature side of the spectrum, I'd suggest that most would never have thought autonomous cars would be a reality in their lifetime. These devices may very well be a precursor to the personal transportation of tomorrow.
GPS: again, widespread use of a GPS reliant device may be a significant contributor to other uses of the signals that didn't exist such a short time ago.
Just saying. There are a lot of things that such a restrictive impact can have; and not because they are trying to take away our toys, but because these toys are highly innovative and stifling their use can significantly impact other innovations derived from their use.
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Thank you very much. That makes me feel a little better anyway. I just hope we can get more of these restrictions relaxed somewhat so that it makes it possible to fly our quad copters without a great deal of worry.
Bud
Bud
...until someone feels empowered to call 911 as they are now being encouraged to do. Because, of course, someone flying a drone responsibly and with common sense is clearly an imminent threat that needs to be stopped.
Absurd doesn't even cover it.
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Wouldn't drone racing be sanctioned by MAAC and in a field somewhere that meets the 75 meter distance rules? spectators can be placed away from the action and everyone else is "part of the staff"
I would think they'd have it covered better than we individual drone flyers, don't you?
Bud
I would think they'd have it covered better than we individual drone flyers, don't you?
Bud
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Let them, let them come, I really don't care at this point. By the time the cops actually show up, if they show up, I'll be gone. I doubt the local police will be rushing out to capture someone flying a drone.
Better yet, before I fly, maybe I'll call my local police because I think I saw a drone flying 5km down the road.
Seriously though, he's onto something. Overwhelm the cops with calls to show it's unenforceable
Seriously though, he's onto something. Overwhelm the cops with calls to show it's unenforceable
True... it's no less ridiculous than the restrictions themselves!
Although I am not happy with the new regs,,I DO have a problem with putting my personal information on my craft. I already have my FAA numbers on it.. I registered so I could fly in the US. Next we will need to put personal information on our cars in case we do something illegal??
What's funny is I put mine on in case I lost it. Now I want to take it back off.
Well, M1, in the US, it's the shooters that are blowing drones out of the sky, freaked out about government surveillance or just freaked out about everything. As a liberal, and a gun owner, and a drone pilot, I'm much less concerned about liberals than god forbid I should fly my drone over a fellow gun owners property.
Sign this petition (hopefully one of many) against this new drone law.
https://www.change.org/p/marc-garneau-immediate-halt-of-transport-canada-new-safety-rules-for-recreational-drone-use-in-canada
Spread the word
https://www.change.org/p/marc-garneau-immediate-halt-of-transport-canada-new-safety-rules-for-recreational-drone-use-in-canada
Spread the word
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Maybe DJI would send a P3S to the honorable Minister of Transportation, Marc Garneau, so that he could actually see how much fun we have with ours - oh hold it.... he would have to actually find a place to fly first, away from people, airports, helipads, buildings.... 
I spent 30 minutes driving outside of Edmonton to fly yesterday - and even then I had a really tough time finding a suitable spot that had some things that might be worth taking pictures / videos of.
I spent 30 minutes driving outside of Edmonton to fly yesterday - and even then I had a really tough time finding a suitable spot that had some things that might be worth taking pictures / videos of.
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