6 ms·

You should have to undergo some kind of training. It's wildly routine to see drone pilots flying at the end of a runway because they didn't realize the runway

You should have to undergo some kind of training. It's wildly routine to see drone pilots flying at the end of a runway because they didn't realize the runway was there and they didn't know aeronautical charts exist and/or how to read them. Buying a flying battery pack doesn't entitle you to circumvent airspace rules and endanger lives and property.

sharemywin 8y ago
Neither does buying an automatic weapon ... oh wait never-mind ...
- lostapathy 8y ago
  Buying an automatic weapon is incredibly hard in the US.
  - Sebguer 8y ago
    It's not hard, it's expensive.
    - gweinberg 8y ago
      It's nearly impossible to do legally.
      - marshf 8y ago
        It is actually very easy to do legally. Just expensive. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/779349893 https://www.gunbroker.com/item/779349893
        lostapathy 8y ago
        Technically yes, technically no? The supply of transferable machine guns is fixed, and low, and it only shrinks over time. Technically yes, if you have the money you can buy one today. Technically no, we can't all go buy one because there aren't enough to go around.
      - Spooky23 8y ago
        Depends on the state. There’s a national firearms act license and transfer tax.
diego 8y ago
a $40 micro drone is training. It's a completely harmless toy, even less harmful than a soccer ball. This is not a $1000 hobby grade drone (for which you definitely should undergo training). A $40 drone typically has extremely weak brushed motors. You don't need training to operate a frisbee but you definitely need training to operate a discus. This comment is an example of how the general public does not know enough about the subject matter.
- kevin_thibedeau 8y ago
  Why would a quad require training and not an RC heli?
  - taneq 8y ago
    I think the line between "r/c toy" and "drone" is long range plus camera feed enabling the pilot to fly it out of visual line of sight. Adding any kind of autonomous flight (GPS waypoints or whatnot) definitely puts it over that line. A toy quad isn't a "drone" and shouldn't be treated like one.
- dmitrygr 8y ago
  So nice of you to decide that is it ok for you to endanger my life because you think that something is harmless. Thanks. Your quad will break my windscreen on short final (since i am doing 80 knots or so), distract me, and possibly make me crash on landing.
  - jsjohnst 8y ago
    A $40 drone is usually an under 2” device that fits in the palm of your hand with an operating range of under 100ft and barely can be used outdoors (due to wind). I’ve had similar size devices fly into me (including in the face) and I didn’t even get scratched, let alone remotely hurt. If it hits your windscreen, you were more likely driving where you shouldn’t be rather than someone with a literal kids toy doing something wrong.
    - 8y ago
leetcrew 8y ago
a $40 "drone" is really a small RC quadcopter with a 5-8 minute battery and probably no more than 150ft range. such a device is unlikely to make it any farther than the neighbor's roof/tree. fixed wing air-hogs that kids have been flying (unregistered) for decades pose a greater threat to public safety.

sharemywin 8y ago

Neither does buying an automatic weapon ... oh wait never-mind ...

lostapathy 8y ago
Buying an automatic weapon is incredibly hard in the US.
- Sebguer 8y ago
  It's not hard, it's expensive.
  - gweinberg 8y ago
    It's nearly impossible to do legally.
    - marshf 8y ago
      It is actually very easy to do legally. Just expensive. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/779349893 https://www.gunbroker.com/item/779349893
      - lostapathy 8y ago
        Technically yes, technically no? The supply of transferable machine guns is fixed, and low, and it only shrinks over time. Technically yes, if you have the money you can buy one today. Technically no, we can't all go buy one because there aren't enough to go around.
    - Spooky23 8y ago
      Depends on the state. There’s a national firearms act license and transfer tax.

diego 8y ago

a $40 micro drone is training. It's a completely harmless toy, even less harmful than a soccer ball. This is not a $1000 hobby grade drone (for which you definitely should undergo training). A $40 drone typically has extremely weak brushed motors. You don't need training to operate a frisbee but you definitely need training to operate a discus. This comment is an example of how the general public does not know enough about the subject matter.

kevin_thibedeau 8y ago
Why would a quad require training and not an RC heli?
- taneq 8y ago
  I think the line between "r/c toy" and "drone" is long range plus camera feed enabling the pilot to fly it out of visual line of sight. Adding any kind of autonomous flight (GPS waypoints or whatnot) definitely puts it over that line. A toy quad isn't a "drone" and shouldn't be treated like one.
dmitrygr 8y ago
So nice of you to decide that is it ok for you to endanger my life because you think that something is harmless. Thanks. Your quad will break my windscreen on short final (since i am doing 80 knots or so), distract me, and possibly make me crash on landing.
- jsjohnst 8y ago
  A $40 drone is usually an under 2” device that fits in the palm of your hand with an operating range of under 100ft and barely can be used outdoors (due to wind). I’ve had similar size devices fly into me (including in the face) and I didn’t even get scratched, let alone remotely hurt. If it hits your windscreen, you were more likely driving where you shouldn’t be rather than someone with a literal kids toy doing something wrong.
  - 8y ago

leetcrew 8y ago

a $40 "drone" is really a small RC quadcopter with a 5-8 minute battery and probably no more than 150ft range. such a device is unlikely to make it any farther than the neighbor's roof/tree. fixed wing air-hogs that kids have been flying (unregistered) for decades pose a greater threat to public safety.