I have some upcoming missions that where I will be flying over some residential areas collecting images of the corridor within the ROW, but as you know folks get excited about a drone flying overhead...So does anyone have or has anyone attempted to calm the masses with notice letters that they would be willing to share? Thoughts, or experiences in this matter?
With a fixed wing this is rarely a problem as it is so quiet nobody notices. However, when we are concerned we put up a few notices just before flying starts - on street lighting posts or something similar - saying we are mapping using a SUA and giving an office contact number. It is best not to say where you are or give your mobile, as otherwise you might end up with an unwanted audience. Nobody has ever responded!
How does flying over residential areas comply with Part 107 ("Small unmanned aircraft may not operate over any persons not directly participating in the operation")?
I would think a letter might attract people with shotguns...
Good question. That I have often wondered. But if we send them a letter stating the mission plans and offer to them that "unless they respond they are agreeing and shall be considered participants in the mission" Would that work? Also we will be really be flying over the roads but will be seeing their entire properties due to flight levels.?ÿ
A few ideas:
Maybe a newspaper article, with a nice techno-blurb, to interest the nerds, engineers, and future drone jockies. Make it into an human interest story, and how it's been done, @ higher altitudes, in the past, with full size aircraft, and now it can be done at lower altitude, with less impact. Be sure to include pixel counts, and some accuracy numbers, and how you are saving city hall 10 billion bucks, and a bit about it, so that it will spread around, get you more business, and keep you flying. Maybe even include a few pics of an interchange. Note: do not put any pics up, that show details, that could build resistance to your endeavors. Keep it professional, and get a lawyer to give it a look before you publish.
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Let's say something goes wrong, the drone crashes in front of a car driving down the street, the driver panics and crashes into a utility pole and is seriously injured.?ÿ Their insurance company sues your company, and you turn to your own insurer and say, "Whew -- I'm sure glad we bought that drone liability coverage."?ÿ And your insurance company points to Part 107 and says, "Sorry, you weren't operating in accordance with FAA regs as stipulated in your policy, we deny your claim."?ÿ What then?
I agree and think that the "letter" should come from the Public (ie City). I know there will always be people shooting at drones but a letter serves as as notice of good will and respect for the general public privacy. The technology is here and will become common place we just need to find the best way to get the general public to accept and acknowledge that we are keeping their best interest in mind.?ÿ
Let's say something goes wrong, the drone crashes in front of a car driving down the street, the driver panics and crashes into a utility pole and is seriously injured.?ÿ Their insurance company sues your company, and you turn to your own insurer and say, "Whew -- I'm sure glad we bought that drone liability coverage."?ÿ And your insurance company points to Part 107 and says, "Sorry, you weren't operating in accordance with FAA regs as stipulated in your policy, we deny your claim."?ÿ What then?
For this particular operation the road will be closed to traffic. There is also a process where we can apply for a waiver to fly over humans. While this is not commonly granted the FAA is aware that this is a great need for us professionals and as long as we show that our aircraft has methods (ie parachute) to reduce the amount of force upon impact and the mission is flown with great care and notice to all the waiver could be granted.?ÿ
Here is a good article and info on this waiver application
https://www.dronepilotgroundschool.com/faa-waiver-flying-over-people/
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Let's say something goes wrong, the drone crashes in front of a car driving down the street, the driver panics and crashes into a utility pole and is seriously injured.?ÿ Their insurance company sues your company, and you turn to your own insurer and say, "Whew -- I'm sure glad we bought that drone liability coverage."?ÿ And your insurance company points to Part 107 and says, "Sorry, you weren't operating in accordance with FAA regs as stipulated in your policy, we deny your claim."?ÿ What then?
There's always some element of doubt as to how the rules are interpreted. Following several incidents with DJI Matrice and Inspire suffering power failure in flight the UK CAA issued a safety notice on 9th. November. This restricted those particular makes of aircraft from carrying out any overflight of persons at any height, but clarified the rule that a minimum distance of 50m. needs to be kept from any person - 150 metres where large numbers are present OUTSIDE.
In the example Jim quotes, the aircraft would have presumably been more than 50 metres away from the vehicle when failure occurred, otherwise the car would have been past before the aircraft crashed. There's also the problem of how the different types crash. A rotary will generally drop more or less straight down, but a fixed wing will probably glide for up to 500 metres. Paradoxically, the safest place for a fixed wing is probably directly above the crowd!
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The FAA issues guidance documents for many of their rules. I get updates every week or two and they are very helpful.
Most of my projects were over open and active roadways. Not a big deal if you mitigate exposure by adjusting flight lines to avoid continuous flight over occupied lanes.
It almost seems easier to hire it done the old fashioned way. We just had a huge area flown and I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Drones would have cost 5-10 times as much at least.?ÿ
It almost seems easier to hire it done the old fashioned way. We just had a huge area flown and I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Drones would have cost 5-10 times as much at least.?ÿ
I agree on most large projects. But on small'ish projects I can fly at 250-300 feet and get enough detail to count shingles, read the words on manhole lids, see pavement cracks and joint lines. And I can have that info in about 15 mins. I would think it would be difficult to get that from manned aircraft flying at 2500-3500 feet. But then again they have serious cameras and lots of Voodoo...
Just do it, by the time you are done they won't even know what was going on.?ÿ ??ÿ
Yes.
permission vs forgiveness
The F in FAA is not for forgiveness...
