Quote:
Originally Posted by photo1902
As a fellow drone enthusiast, I was wondering how you get away with driving over people and moving vehicles?
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I'm actually not "getting away with" anything. I actually work real hard to not fly over any people or moving vehicles by using the overhead map view when flying to try to stay to the outer edges. If and when I do fly over a given area I make sure it doesn't have any activities going on that would present a danger to people. If you see people in the video they are no where near under the UAS due to the altitude and camera angel. Trying to use FPV, for me, is more difficult to keep a safe flight because of the distances involved and the short camera focal length that make everything appear farther away.
All the interpretations of CFR14.107.39 that I have been reading indicate that flying over a house or residential are is not considered unacceptable due to the low density, very low probability of an injury or mishap, and almost everyone is under protective cover (inside the house). Yes, it is a bit of a gray area. Now flying over one of the town squares during the evening music or market night, there is little doubt that that is forbidden without waivers (only 4 wavers have ever been issued for this type of flying since the restrictions have been enacted), that's a quick ticket to a huge fine or worse, and is something I avoid at all costs.
YES, great caution is required and practiced when flying a UAS. Fortunately, aircraft have become much more reliable than they were even a year or two ago, they are not perfect however so operator attention is still required.
Most of the entire flight over Fenney/DeSoto was flown near or outside the outer edges of the housing areas or over construction areas to help mitigate any risk to people below. As these areas become more populated I take less risk and generally try to avoid the areas.