Flying Drones under-the-radar is now much harder
About a year ago, I wrote a column about the number of people I have come across since I have been flying who were admittedly..
Flying Drones under-the-radar is now much harder
Friday July 19th 2019 - 11:53 AM ESTBy: Air Aspects
About a year ago, I wrote a column about the number of people I have come across since I have been flying who were admittedly flying for clients without an FAA license or liability insurance.
Many people see the drone as a means to get rich quick. They buy a drone and say they're an aerial photographer. However, once they buy the drone, they find out that there are requirements for registration, FAA testing, and licensing.
Since these cost more money, and involve studying, people put it off or decide not to get licensed at all.
All
of the unlicensed people I have met have had a, "They can’t find me,"
sort of attitude. They think they are fine flying without a license or
insurance because nothing is going to happen.
I
can usually spot an unlicensed pilot because of how they are behaving.
Many times they are hiding behind buildings, bushes, or dumpsters. These
people believe that they can hide, get photos or videos, and be landed
and away before anyone can report them and have law enforcement show up.
That may have been true a year ago, but it is not the case anymore.
For
Fourth of July, my family and I took our sailboat to Yorktown to enjoy
the events and fireworks. As we pulled into the docks, we spotted a
large drone hovering over the water. Once we were tied up, I saw where
the drone had landed and went to introduce myself, thinking it was maybe
someone taking photos.
For unlicensed pilots trying to avoid fines of up to $20,000 for them,
and for anyone who hired them, simply hiding behind a bush is becoming
a lot less secure method of not being found.
The
drone was piloted by a team from the Yorktown Sheriff’s Department who
were involved in crowd surveillance and unauthorized drone monitoring.
While
we were talking, one of the deputies showed me a very cool drone
detection system called AeroScope. On the screen, we could see not only
their drone but any others within a three-mile radius.
As
we watched, they announced that a drone had powered up. We watched as
it took off, and AeroScope showed exactly where it had come from, along
with other information such as the drones serial number. Deputies were
dispatched immediately and were with the drone owner within two minutes.
This technology is now being implemented by most law enforcement agencies and military establishments.
For
unlicensed pilots trying to avoid fines of up to $20,000, and for
anyone who hired them, simply hiding behind a bush is becoming a lot
less secure method of not being found.
Several
things have to be considered when you’re using aerial photos and video
to promote yourself. This is where an experienced, licensed and insured
photographer can really make you stand out from the crowd.
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