Unwanted drone advice

[sar104]

I think we are in agreement. The “they” in my note “they prohibit drones from” referred to the USFS not the FAA. When asking the rangers at the North Conway side of the Kancamagus Highway if I could fly a drone, they said “No”. They did comment (this was in early summer) that the USFS was working on a more definitive pollicy, but until the review was completed, drones (and manned aircraft) could not take of or land in the national forest. They agreed that once you took off or landed, the FAA’s jurisdiction took over and you were governed by their rules. This is in agreement with the reference you posted. Do you know of where a map can be obtained to determine what parts of the park are Designated Wildreness areas? The local rangers seemed to be unable to make this determination and denied drone activity throughout the White Mountain National Forest where they had responsibiity.

I think you received bad advice from whomever you talked to. USFS policy is not to prohibit sUAS use pending policy review, and this is the first case that I've heard of where that has been asserted.

Wilderness boundaries are clearly marked on both the USFS and USGS topo quads. For example, from the latest USFS 2016 map of that area:

or the USFS 2013 quads:

 

[Technical Bob]

As it is your property/camp, just stick a managers reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone not following the rules, with a No Drones policy, with signs for none members of staff telling them so, simples. . .

 

[GadgetGuy]

As it is your property/camp, just stick a managers reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone not following the rules, with a No Drones policy, with signs for none members of staff telling them so, simples. . .

Exactly. You may not be able to legally prevent him from flying over your property, from off your property, but you can certainly refuse him as a guest for flying over your property, in violation of your camp/property rules, in which case, he will likely go somewhere else and fly somewhere else, or agree to comply, just to remain a guest! Use the power you have, to gain power over what you otherwise cannot control!

 

[jwmcgrath]

Much like others have mentioned, but to simplify the interpretation, “unsafe” is “unsafe”, and regardless the activity or jurisdiction, local law enforcement will investigate a report of unsafe behaviour.

It’s not illegal to walk around with a baseball bat, but local law enforcement will certainly investigate someone walking through a mall with one swinging it recklessly and endangering people.

Unfortunately enforcement can be a different matter, and as usual, proof becomes paramount. If you can capture proof of unsafe activity, that can speak volumes.

Otherwise, again as others have suggested, just make access and enjoyment as difficult as you can for him, within your rights, and I suspect he’ll give up and move on.