Drones at the Track

MikeH wrote: There have been many incidents of drones crashing into spectators at sporting events

Which is probably the biggest reason that CTMP does not want them at the track.

At Indian Summer we had a guy flying one from 2A out over the track, directly above cars...

What's that thing again? Oh yeah common sense being not all that...

Imagine something like this happening while hovering over 2A....What could possibly go wrong says the operator.... Have it dropping in front of an open cockpit, like a radical or 1600 booming thru there about 120MPH

The FAA's (regulators of U.S. airspace) fear in the U.S. is that it is estimated that a million drones will be sold this Xmas and that Governments haven't kept pace with new technology. Their main concern is interference with aircraft but no one is discussing interference with personal privacy or personal property.

Already we have seen a homeowner arrested in the U.S. because a drone was flying over his property and hovering over his sun bathing teenage daughter. He shot the drone down using a shotgun and then was arrested for firing a weapon within City limits. The drone owner is suing for destruction of private property and the homeowner is suing the drone owner for trespassing. What a mess.

The drone manufacturers have addressed part of the safety issue by moving away from the open prop concept to the enclosed ducted fan designs and now foam bodies. That solved the issues of blade injuries but not the issue of a 2lb drone hitting you on the head as it falls from a height of 50 feet.

As the prices come down (as they always do) more and more 'kids' will be getting their hands on these 'toys' and controlling them from a smartphone that has 4% power left...

We need regulations that require these devices only be operated over your own property and or uninhabited land and not public property. Its not being fun sucking to protect people.

Another issue NOT being spoken about by manufacturers of these devices, (I do recognize they talk about safety in their manuals) is what happens when you hit me with one of these things. Do people realize that when they give their kid one of these things and it hits me that I'm calling Diamond & Diamond? Do you have a million dollar home ownership personal insurance umbrella policy to draw upon when you answer the knock on the door and get served? Just asking...

Well the FAA is stepping it up a notch south of the boarder. They are making owners of drones to register them starting Dec. 21st. I believe this only affects those over a certain weight, 8oz i think it is... Should be interesting on how that unfolds...

Transport Canada will most likely follow suit (they normally do with the FAA). For now, they are taking an approach on education - specifically the little know regulation outside the Aviation world that it is illegal to fly a UAV within 9km of a registered Airport, Aerodrome or Heliport. $25,000 fine.

And of course, the general public knows where all of those are.....

Our new Transport Minister even went to the trouble of producing several videos to explain this.

Air Safety - Drones