This magazine isn't online, but you can get it on your iPad, Kindle or Android tablet via NextIssue. The article is a pretty basic overview, with examples of using a Rite Wing Zephyr and a hexacopter along with a Canon s100 modified with the IR filter removed. But it's notable that drones are getting this kind of attention in agriculture.
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If you want to see the program the did here is the link:
http://www.agriculture.com/successful-farming/machinery-show/drone-...
You obviously do not live in Kansas were we can see everything for miles and with multiple spotters watching and listening, I am SURE we would know if a crop duster were in the area. I have only seen one plane that was miles away during all the times we have been flying. I guess if you live at the end of LAX, you might have a case.
I have heard the issues with crop dusters before, but cannot believe anyone flying these UAVs could not hear them coming and get the heck out of the way long before there is a problem. If we are dealing with stupidity, then there is no way to make it safe, but I am assuming that those flying a UAV do not want it shredded and will get the heck out of the way. A farmer is going to know if he has hired a crop duster, and will hear the plane long before it gets to him if his neighbor is dusting his field.
I can see an area of risk: CROPDUSTERS!
But one has to consider that to be efficient, cropdusters have to fly in insane conditions, and I'm not even sure that cropdusting flight conditions meet any rule....
I honestly would not like to be a cropduster pilot and know there is a UAV flying in the vicinity... Chances of an encounter are way to great.
Therefore, I think that a gentleman's agreement has to be put in place, that no UAV be flown in the vicinity of cropdusting operations.
Comments are welcome
I had the opportunity to show some of our aircraft to a group of Kansas legislators recently. The meeting was not specifically about UAS use in agriculture, but it turned into a lively discussion on the topic. There were no mention of legislation to restrict UAS use in agriculture from any of the legislators in the group. Is it just Kansas, or do most people recognize the obvious benefits of allowing UAS in agriculture? I suspect that even the FAA would prefer to be seen as a friend to agriculture, rather than as a roadblock to progress in this area. As long as it can be done safely, agricultural use of UAS technology enjoys wide support. I hope we can get the FAA to allow agricultural use under specific rules suited to the application, rather than opting for a one size fits all approach.
Thanks Monroe. The meeting is actually in the field where flying demonstrations will be made for the US Senator, and talks will be given by several including the Senator. This one is a invitation occasion and so I will just have to let people know how it turns out, but I hope to talk to the Senator about FAA regulations that need some attention.
Yes, the COA helps keep academics from flying and doing valuable research in the same areas hobbyists can fly in without restriction.
Monroe, several of us are meeting with one of our Washington DC senators on Tuesday to discuss these very issues.
@Kevin no you are right there has not been a huge increase in airproxes in the UK where there are 130 licenced UA operators and perhaps thousands of enthusiast operated UA. There was also not large organised opposition from AOPA and sensible forward thinking folks at the regulators.
They should allow VLOS flying to start and gather data from licenced operators and then increase size and distance permitted, but that's not how its being done. Day one they want hummingbird to global hawk size rules in place.
I won't continue the rant, ag ops are a great idea just look at the success of Project Ursula
I have eyeballs and when we have flown in the rural ag areas, we never even see another plane. Hobbyists can fly in these areas with no problem and few restrictions. So, why is it ok for them and not a commercial companyor academics, and why can they fly in UK and not the US?
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