[NYTimes] New F.A.A. Report Tallies Drone Sightings, Highlighting Safety Issues

[NYTimes]

New F.A.A. Report Tallies Drone Sightings, Highlighting Safety Issues

The list is not comprehensive, but it still provides a good idea of why the F.A.A. and others are increasingly concerned about the safe operation of drones.


http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/26...ty-issues/

[twistyplain]

This situation will definitely get worse fuelled by a massive influx of cheap Chinese drones available from most online retailers. It's just a matter of time before these drones start colliding with commercial aircraft.

[Bacon_Puffs]

Honestly I'm more frightened of government use of drones and loss of public privacy than the possibility of crashes and such that might be caused by civilian use. I realize it's two totally different issues... Just saying.

[twistyplain]

Honestly I'm more frightened of government use of drones and loss of public privacy than the possibility of crashes and such that might be caused by civilian use. I realize it's two totally different issues... Just saying.

Yeah, we don't need to worry about government drones - they are flown by very skilled 'pilots'. You have no idea how effective those guys can be when blowing up a miniscule target thousands of miles away while seated on a chair with a joystick in hand.

Things get awry when civilians get access to drones. A pilot said that he saw a drone 4,500 feet high Was the guy flying the drone seeing it at all? Imagine controlling an object as tiny as a drone from 4,500 feet away? Is it even possible?

[Trenzalore]

Yeah, it's possible. Drones with FPV setups with strong antennas. They don't really need to see the drone.
Skilled hobbyists get really impressive videos with setups like these. Very bold, in my opinion (perhaps almost stupid). Risking your drone and GoPro camera for clips? Yikes.

I completely agree with Bacon_Puffs. It's terrifying to think how the government will have so much resources and many opportunities to spy on people. But of course, there will still always be messed up civilian drone pilots that would tarnish the genius of drones and use them for evil.

[twistyplain]

If civilian drones can fly that high, I'm now thinking about a new kind of threat: Drone terrorism. What if a person straps live explosives on a drone and intentionally flies it into the path of oncoming commercial aircraft? Imagine the kind of horror that people will have when their planes fly over known terrorist-controlled areas?

[Trenzalore]

civilian drones have limited payload capabilities. Generally speaking drones have rough flight conditions. The drone being flown would be placed in a very unstable and vulnerable situation to carry explosives.

Of course, further developments to drone tech can absolutely make that scenario you've drawn, possible. Hopefully, there would be laws to hinder those attempts when that time comes.

[Bacon_Puffs]

civilian drones have limited payload capabilities. Generally speaking drones have rough flight conditions. The drone being flown would be placed in a very unstable and vulnerable situation to carry explosives.

Of course, further developments to drone tech can absolutely make that scenario you've drawn, possible. Hopefully, there would be laws to hinder those attempts when that time comes.

Yes, but somehow I'm doubting terrorists will be interested in following the laws.

[Trenzalore]

HAHA true. but keeping the more powerful drones on lockdown might at least slow them down?