Drones and the Negligent FAA
People get ready to Sue the FAA
Never has a government agency been more negligent than the FAA has when it comes to controlling drones when they are exploding in popularity, and with the obvious and increasing danger to manned aircraft. Get ready to sue, it's only a matter of time before someone gets killed as a result of the FAA's lack of acting promptly and responsibly.
Several months after the FAA institued the Drone Registration requirement, it was struck down by the legal system and the FAA had to return the funds they had illegally collected. It was just, the registration requirement hadn't accomplished anything except to stroke the ego of the FAA anyway. When the common person don't know where the airport or hospital heli-port is, much less what 400-feet is, or care about what the FAA says about line-of-sight. Who could expect such a rediculous demand. It was reminiscent of the '70s when the FTC required people to register their CB radios. The FAA does nothing more than what strokes their ego, it's that simple.
The peoples right to privacy
Neither the FAA nor your local law enforcement think you have a right to privacy, and no one cares. Some state governments have taken action as a result of the FAA's failure by passing laws regarding privacy. The FAA on the other hand boasts about being the ultimate authority regarding aircraft and airspace, but they haven't acted inteligently nor responsibly when it comes to Drones.
TheDrone registration requirement has been rescinded, but it took the court system to yank the chain of the FAA. There is significant foolishness on the part of the FAA when it comes to drones. But more than that, in the industry overall. Some compared the dangers of UAVs to bird strikes; HOW RETARDED; birds naturally try to avoid aircraft, drones (UAVs) don't. Others stated that since UAV operators can't legally operate over people the risk to people is low. Again I say how stupid can these people be? Every UAV I have seen was being operated over gatherings of people filming the events. Neither this group of people involved, nor the FAA engaged common sense in this consideration. Yet another issue is the requirement to operate below 400-feet and within the line-of-sight. Every operator I have talked to has made some boast about how high and how far away they could fly their drone (UAV). One stated to me that he had flown as high as 1,600 feet, and two miles away. When I asked about the possiblity of losing the aircraft, he stated that it will always come home. The FAA is in charge of something that they will wait to properly control until there are deaths, and deaths there will be.
Drones have been around for a long time, but with modern technology which enhances stability, there is no longer any actual skill needed to fly one. Also, as with any other technology, they rapidily become cheaper over time so now virtually anyone can aford one. The FAA as great as they are in their own mind, are years behind. As usuall, the FAA is doing nothing. See this document on exactly what the FAA does say about drones. Note especially page 13, the second full paragraph where the FAA states, that they expect operators to abide by the "long standing rule". You think the FAA isn't stupid? They are so gullible as to really think that the idiots buying and operating drones actually know that AC 91-57 exists, much less that they really give a shit or have actually read it! The FAA is just waiting for accidents to occur, and they will.
Meanwhile... People are taking their drones out to accidents sites, fire sites, filming near hospitals and airports, and countless other negligent activities, all while the FAA does their usual NOTHING. Helicopters have been unable to land at accidents, and fire fighting aircraft have been unable to fly on active fires because of the Drone hazzard.
Commercial companies such as Amazon want the right to buzz everyones property between 200 and 400 feet. If they are given permission to do, so can your neighbor spy on you or your daughter in that same airspace. What is the worst of all is that this is just the beginning. Any moron can purchase and fly a drone with minimal investment, no brains, and no training. All this in a society that is becoming dumber all the time. This is reflected more and more in the FAA.
What should occur and does not?
- Every drone purchased should inlude a copy of the regulations pertaining to their use.
- Every drone that will be used anywhere except at a model aircraft designated area should have to be equiped with an altitude limiter because none of these people knows what 400-feet is.
- Every drone that will be used anywhere except at a model aircraft designated area should have to be registered, and the person operating it should have to obtain a certificate of some kind.
- If the drone will be operated out of the line of sight, then it should be equiped with a transponder.
- When someone is caught operating a drone illegally or negligently, they should be fined enough that they won't ever be able to afford a drone again in the future.
But, what the FAA will do is what they always do, nothing. That is not until there are accidents and the NTSB makes a bunch of noise, then as always they will do some things that they should have done in the beginning, and a bunch of stupid stuff because that is what the FAA always does. That is the FAA. END Jump to Top