From the SUAS Feed
Earlier this week a pilot from was preparing to begin a spray run through a field. Barely visible ahead of him was a small stationary object. He decided it must be a kite since a bird would not remain motionless. As he neared the object, it rapidly shot straight up. The pilot took evasive action but it passed so close to the airplane that he was unsure if it had missed the aircraft and spray system. It was close enough for him to be able to identify the make and model of the quad-rotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). He did not see the vehicle again as he finished the field but he did see the suspected operator/pilot in a car near the field. When he went to the next field, the car followed him where he observed the car’s occupant taking pictures with a hand-held camera.
Full article here: UAV near miss with crop duster
Comments
For better or worse, flying cameras with complete dunderheads are in our future and probably going to grow faster than any other segment.
We need to figure out how to handle this.
One concept I have says if you cam make them small, light and inconsequential enough the safety concerns rapidly approach zero.
And given the newest breed of cell phone cameras (Ambarella 9) it seems like we could make a bare "chip" based a camera with integrated tiny brushless gimbal (optical stabilization) that would actually let us build Quads in the sub 8 ounce (maybe even 4) that could qualify.
People determined to haul around big bulky heavy cameras (like the GoPro) actually need to learn how to fly but these little ones would be reasonably safe even with the current crop of idiots,
The privacy and annoyance issues are another ball of wax but from my thoughts on that - the horse has already left the barn.
Bingo Rob, well put!
Anybody else think the next releases of consumer 'flying cameras' will come from Sony, Canon, Nikon, ...??
They have all the industrial base needed to pull it off.
While I was driving through Arkansas, SW of Memphis several weeks ago, I watched the Ag pilots doing their thing. Often, several were working different fields simultaneously. I turned my head to look out the driver side window as one passed over my car, about 75 to 100 feet...over a busy road. He wasn't landing to reload, just going to the next field. I did get to see one land for reloading. Those guys land on some sketchy surfaces and do it all day long.
The Ag Pilot knew his stuff. The quad pilot should have dropped throttle regardless of where it was...even if it got sprayed.. which it probably would not have as the Ag Pilot would not unload with someone in the path of whatever he was spraying - probably.
Consumers - Great for product sales, terrible for overall safety and public opinion.
-=Doug
@Rob,
Nice observation:-)
Regards,
TCIII ArduRover2 Developer
Because these people are not flying model aircraft out of an interested in aviation. They are buying flying cameras.
I agree with the others who say the Phantom pilot was not automatically at fault for being where he was. If the duster had not been there, we'd all say he was safely flying at low altitude in a remote area. Suddenly and without warning a crop duster appears, and all of the sudden it's he's flying dangerously? Sorry, that's not realistic.
Now, once the crop duster appeared, it's not clear what happened. Did the Phantom pilot control his aircraft properly? Better yet, did the crop duster?
I imagine the crop dusting industry have a vested interest in tarring and feathering the UAV industry, since in the near future they will be direct competitors, with UAV's able to spray fields more accurately, faster, and at lower cost...
The the crop duster pilot saw an unknown flying object, which he suspected to be a kite but continued to fly towards it? hmmmmmm If you see a potential hazard and you continue to fly towards it, you're an idiot!
When it comes to aviation law, it's clear, ALL pilots have a duty to SEE and AVOID. If he hits any object, then he is equally to blame. If that was a manned balloon or glider, then in fact he would have been at fault as unpowered aircraft have the right of way, and then there is the rule where two aircraft on a converging path, the aircraft on the right has the right of way.
Until a new rule that says unmanned aircraft shall give right of way to manned aircraft (which is probably a good idea), then as it stands, an unmanned aircraft has the same RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES a manned aircraft to be below 400ft outside controlled airspace. The Farmer has no ownership over the airspace over his property, except ask that the pilot of the unmanned aircraft not physically stand on his property.
@Tom Mahood I also wondered if UAS are being played. The crop dusting folks asked for reports and got one.... This is not of course the first UAS cropduster airprox, that was in Australia.
That said though your comment about giving way to manned aircraft rather smacked of it being a problem for you. UAS will and must always give way to manned aircraft.
Its time for many RPAS operators to grow up and start reading airlaw and carrying aviation charts. The FAA is not helping with its lack of action and rush to enforcement rather than training. Other aviation authorities rather use the carrot than stick.
According to latest news worldwide, flying drones have caught the attention of government regulators such as FAA, Civil Aviation Board and others. This is because there are complaints from people... and incidents such as this one and many more. Yes safety first and...above our passion for flying. I think we should all be more responsible as hobbyists...even though... others are not.
Once again I am uncomfortable with all of the speculation about motives here (regarding either operator). As has been mentioned the article is extremely vague on some of the details and guessing about who was doing what why or with what permission is unhelpful.
As many have pointed out - below 400 feet line of sight over an un-populated area is entirely legal and responsible flying (in this case for both operators) and the responsibility in this situation rests equally with the drone operator and the Ag pilot to see and avoid (as it seems happened here).
The drones do seem to be getting excess coverage - for light GA there would be dozens of incidents a day like this where pilots see each other and appropriately get out of the way. Thinking back to my flying C152s in the local training area you would spot 2-3 other aircraft per flight and would stay clear of them.
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