NPS Drone Ban

[Oakman]

The National Park Service is getting serious about the ban on drones. Personally I don’t think the fine was stiff enough.

“In the first application of the National Park Service’s anti-drone regulations, a German citizen named Andreas Meissner has pleaded guilty to several charges related to an ill-fated drone flight in Yellowstone National Park in July. He was sentenced to a one-year ban from the park, a year of unsupervised probation, and more than $1,600 in fines.
While visiting from Germany, Meissner was using his drone and a GoPro camera to capture footage documenting a bicycle tour for a charity called Run and Ride for Reading. The drone crashed into Yellowstone Lake shortly after takeoff on July 18; it was recovered by a diver working for the park service 10 days later. Meissner was caught when he reached out to the park service to recover his drone.
Drones, which have been showing up in all kinds of outdoor areas in the past couple years, were banned in all national parks in June. According to KUSA, two other drone pilots, including a man who crashed his drone into Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring, have been charged under the new law.”

Earlier this year a tourist crashed his camera equipped drone into Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring.

[2gypsies1]

Here's the National Park Mission:

http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/mission.htm

It's all about preservation of our natural resources not about Toys R Us or doing whatever we want.

[down_home]

RVcircus wrote:
What makes a drone different than an RC plane or helicopter? Most of these so called drones are no different in design and are operated within line of sight. I think the gov't is using this as an excuse to come up with new regulations that aren't needed. A true drone is operated remotely and guided via GPS (and typically carry hellfire missles). Classifying a hobby aircraft as a drone is a stretch. I don't even think FPV aircraft wouldn't fit the drone classification unless we're just going by the looks of the aircraft and not the actual function.

National Parks are not supposed to be city scapes or your neighborhood. They are supposed to preserve what is left of our national treasures. A model airplane buzzing along would be no more welcome. If you fly the thing over my property kiss it good bye. I treasure my privacy and piece of mind. A model airplane I will look over, if a kid is just flying for fun. Doubt he could have a control. with that much range though. The National Park Service is on the right track. All drones whether surveillance or snooping by anyone has to be banned. How would you feel, if your Daughter was sunbathing ,somewhere in supposed privacy and some drone operator likes the picture for porn or anything else. Privacy is a right, I don't care who keeps repeating it is not trying to persuade us and official interpretation it is not.

[wilber1]

dodge guy wrote:
I didn`t think the NPS or anyone for that matter owns any airspace? if that is the case I don`t want anyone flying over my house either.

There are all kinds of laws governing the use of airspace. It would be chaos without them.

[bka0721]

Whatever the law is, I don't wish to have my well earned trip, to a National Park or property, to be diminished by seeing or listening to a Quad/Drone/or unmanned aircraft. I have witnessed two of these devices being flown in two National Parks. They were not being operated by very talented operators and both ended up where the operator had no plans for them to land. I found the noise annoying, disruptive. There are many locations to fly these Hobby Devices and I welcome those to do so. In Yellowstone around a Hot Spring? Nope.

As for a person should do whatever they wish, in a National Park, even though in their mind they feel it is capricious? Like walking their dog on a trail, when prohibited? I love dogs and exercise my dog everywhere. I don't feel I need to take mine to a National Park to enhance my dog's experience. So what is the difference? Fly the Drone or Walk the dog? There are people making sure my next visit to a National Park is enjoyable and without noise and a person trying to get a chipmunk out of pup's jaws.

b

[Alfred622]

For those that like a little Fact upon which their opinions will be based, here is the NPS Announcement: NPS News Release Link

Is "unmanned aircraft" the same as "drone"? I would presume so. Also would be the same a RC airplane or RC helicopter.

[is_it_friday_ye]

I say everyone should just relax. I fly big RC airplanes with gasoline engines at a club only and have insurance. Some people also fly "drones" and helicopters. I think that the media created this paranoia when there was more talk about the military using unmanned drones in combat. The $500 "drone" is no military drone. It's a toy and I doubt would be used to do harm more than any other toy or anything else. Better get rid of kites, model rockets, and sit in our basement with our helmets on. The media is great for blowing everything out of proportion. We don't need anymore laws either. End of rant. Thank You.

[patperry2766]

Yes, our life is always full of danger and fraught with peril, but sometimes we do have to update the laws to catch up with technology and to address current issues.

If you have RC experience, then you know the potential for danger that they pose. 99.99999999% of the time the worst that can happen is to destroy your plane, suffer a little humiliation from your buddies and start building a new one. But the dumb-a who flew his into the GPS at Yellowstone is the .000001%. Hell, he probably thought he was a very responsible pilot, but one malfunction still has his aircraft at the bottom of the water unable to be recovered at this time. What about my rights? I have the right to see Yellowstone without crashed drones littered thruout the park don't I?

Should they do away with background checks on firearms because only a small fraction of people use a gun in the commission of a crime compared to total gun ownership?

Should a 18 YO who just enlisted in the military be allowed to legally buy alcohol when he can fight and die for our country before ever being able to go into a bar?

Should they do away with the posted speed limits and allow people to drive at any speed they want?

Should somebody be able to use a hairdryer in the shower despite what the warning label says? HELL YES

[RVcircus]

patperry2766 wrote:
What point?...that they shouldn't be banned even though RC airplanes and helicopters already are. You're primarily the only one defending their use in NPS parks. You're discounting everything and everyone who disagrees with your opinion. What about my right as a paying park guest not to have a RC flown into the middle of my campsite?

Since you said that you have never been involved in the RC hobby, yet you seem to talk from a position that they pose absolutely no risk whatsoever to the park patrons, wildlife and park resources is completely ludicrous.

Your attempt to make a point with me who obviously has more experience in this hobby than you is silly. While I have provided examples of probably the most extreme cases, I'm sure the guy who flew his drone into the springs at Yellowstone thought he was a pretty good pilot...right up to the point that it crashed into the water.

We do have to establish laws and make rules because of stupid people. Since prices have come down, this has enable less skilled people to take to the hobby so they are just trying to keep up with the times and stay one step ahead of the masses.

I would have absolutely no objections to certain parks allowing RC flight as long as they're kept at least 3 miles away from crowded areas and wildlife.

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,6970,00.html/#/photoessay/image/0406091956_M_warningclorox1-jpg

I never said I didn't have RC experience. I just don't fly these days, but have plenty of experience and knowledge.

I'm OK with disagreeing with the majority of people that responded to this post on this topic. I don't expect to sway anyone and would expect RVers not to want drones arounds for various reasons. They're just no more dangerous than many other activities that are regulated instead of banned completely.

[patperry2766]

What point?...that they shouldn't be banned even though RC airplanes and helicopters already are. You're primarily the only one defending their use in NPS parks. You're discounting everything and everyone who disagrees with your opinion. What about my right as a paying park guest not to have a RC flown into the middle of my campsite?

Since you said that you have never been involved in the RC hobby, yet you seem to talk from a position that they pose absolutely no risk whatsoever to the park patrons, wildlife and park resources is completely ludicrous.

Your attempt to make a point with me who obviously has more experience in this hobby than you is silly. While I have provided examples of probably the most extreme cases, I'm sure the guy who flew his drone into the springs at Yellowstone thought he was a pretty good pilot...right up to the point that it crashed into the water.

We do have to establish laws and make rules because of stupid people. Since prices have come down, this has enable less skilled people to take to the hobby so they are just trying to keep up with the times and stay one step ahead of the masses.

I would have absolutely no objections to certain parks allowing RC flight as long as they're kept at least 3 miles away from crowded areas and wildlife.

http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/0,4644,6970,00.html/#/photoessay/image/0406091956_M_warningclorox1-jpg

[kcmoedoe]

I believe this one is pretty black and white. The park service has decided you cannot fly your toy airplanes in the National Parks. The fact that someone thinks they should, the fact they think it is a silly rule, the fact they think it shouldn't apply to them, because they are a "responsible" person doesn't really matter. They had incidences caused by people who if you asked them would say they too are responsible people. As a result, now there is a clear cut policy on them. Get caught operating one, pay a big fine.

[Raften]

Just thought I would mention the word Drone is a hot button for RC folks.. Most of them just call them Quads regardless of how many props the have. Where I live I see driverless cars most every day, are they drons?

[RVcircus]

Dog Folks wrote:

RVcircus wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:
Laws are made when stupidity prevails.

Guess this is the case here.

This is not to disparage the many drone fliers who fly with responsibility.

What's the threshold for stupid behavior. I certainly don't see this as an epidemic. There's the occasional story about someone doing something stupid that rarely leads to injury (I think I've seen one story reporting minor injuries). This isn't some great tragedy we're being protected from.

It seems to me that those in favor of a ban want it beacuse drones are annoying or don't look good in their photos. The safety issues all seem far fetched. There are much greater causes to be concerned with.

You said: "This isn't some great tragedy we're being protected from." I ask: How many laws are now protecting us from "great tragedy?" I would be willing to bet not a majority.

It is not a "epidemic" yet, but a big enough problem that people are beginning to say: "There ought to be a law." That happens just before a law is made.

Also,at home,drone use becomes a question of privacy and trespass in your own home. Some laws are going to be made because of abuses of the technology. Some laws have already shown up in Texas. The matter has also been discussed in the courts.

I am NOT saying I advocate more laws, I am just commenting on what is coming.

Exactly...the squeeky wheel gets more laws/regulations.

[RVcircus]

patperry2766 wrote:
You take the position on pg 1 that they should not be banned and personal responsibility should be the guiding edict for actions within the park.

I'm saying your examples are ridiculous. If someone does something that hurts someone else they should certainly be held liable. Everything you named is allowed by NPS (with limits) except for RC aircraft. We don't (at least I don't) need regulations that prevent responsible people from enjoying a hobby to protect us from the few idiots out there.

I'm pretty sure we won't agree on this and I don't care enough about the topic to keep making my point.

[rk911]

RVcircus wrote:
What makes a drone different than an RC plane or helicopter? Most of these so called drones are no different in design and are operated within line of sight. I think the gov't is using this as an excuse to come up with new regulations that aren't needed. A true drone is operated remotely and guided via GPS (and typically carry hellfire missles). Classifying a hobby aircraft as a drone is a stretch. I don't even think FPV aircraft wouldn't fit the drone classification unless we're just going by the looks of the aircraft and not the actual function.

precisely.