Drone use in and around The Villages [TV]

[AzAuSenior]

We now have a drone in our neighborhood. We live near the perimeter of TV and the drone may be from outside TV. Drones legally are usually considered aircraft and may not be interfered with through illumination, jamming, spoofing, etc. Some associations have flyover restrictions. Does anyone know if TV has flyover restrictions; or, if not, are any flyover restrictions in process? Alternatively, what does Florida law allow for residents to protect against the invasion of privacy by drone overflights? Any comments on drone use by Villagers and Non-villagers over and around TV, particularly against clandestine drone use?

[retiredguy123]

I think the real estate agents use drones to photograph houses for sale.

[Papa_lecki]

If you are on the edge of The Villages, you are probably seeing Goldwingnut’s drone.
Find his YouTube page.
He knows the rules around drone flying and adheres to them.

[twoplanekid]

DRONE FLYERS CLUB - Home (https://droneflyertv.weebly.com/) here in the Villages with Don as president

[AzAuSenior]

The drone in question was out surveilling the neighborhood at 11 PM; not the kind of monitoring one would expect from a drone club or Gold Wingnut. We're not concerned about legitimate drone use, but rather exploitation by others using drones for questionable purposes and what can residents do when suspicious drones are observed operating in a neighborhood.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The drone in question was out surveilling the neighborhood at 11 PM; not the kind of monitoring one would expect from a drone club or Gold Wingnut. We're not concerned about legitimate drone use, but rather exploitation by others using drones for questionable purposes and what can residents do when suspicious drones are observed operating in a neighborhood.

It's a valid question. I don't have the answer to that.

Another "odd" occurrence was yesterday - someone had one of those remote-control cars, they're only around a foot long and 6 inches high - and was zipping it back and forth across the road at the corner at Spanish Springs Town Square. And this was a pretty busy night last night. Up the sidewalk, across the road to the other sidewalk, and back. Over and over again. I watched it from a distance while I was waiting in line for a drink. By the time I got back to my seat the guy was gone. Otherwise I would've looked for a Community Watch person or police officer to ask him to take that thing to the back of a parking lot where no one could trip over it or run it over and puncture their tire - or freak out a dog who might not realize it's -not- some weird metal cat.

[EdFNJ]

The drone in question was out surveilling the neighborhood at 11 PM; not the kind of monitoring one would expect from a drone club or Gold Wingnut. We're not concerned about legitimate drone use, but rather exploitation by others using drones for questionable purposes and what can residents do when suspicious drones are observed operating in a neighborhood.

The Villages has no drone flyover rules. Don can provide more specific details but generally speaking since the FAA controls the airspace and controls use of drones by flyers (both commercially licensed and recreational via Part 107 regs) they would be the ones to contact unless you actually see a crime committed by a drone then you'd of course contact the PD. Up to 400' feet is considered uncontrolled (free & open) airspace by the FAA with exceptions. How one can prove a drone is being used for "questionable purposes" unless it is taking photos into your windows or hoovering over your home at low altitudes for long periods of time itself is questionable. :) "Surveilling your neighborhood" could be a kid with a new Christmas toy flying around the area. Commercially licensed pilots and recreational pilots have their own set of rules for where and when they can fly as well as general rules that apply to all. Bottom line is The Villages has no control of airspace and FAA rules take precedence over local rules.

OH, you can't shoot them down and gun laws aside it would be a "federal offense". Lot's of stories out there about those that did. I'm studying for a commercial part 107 UAS license and it ain't easy. The aeronautical weather maps and airspace maps are killing me. :D

Some interesting articles: Drone Laws in Florida 2021: Everything You Need to Know | Cult of Drone (https://cultofdrone.com/drone-laws-in-florida/)

and this: How to Stop Drones From Flying Over Your House | Cult of Drone (https://cultofdrone.com/stop-drone-flying-over-your-house/)

Can I shoot down a drone?: Are you allowed to shoot down a drone? (https://www.kpax.com/news/national/what-are-your-privacy-rights-when-it-comes-to-drones)

and this from Don's website (Florida laws) Section (3) is the most applicable to this discussion and I always carry a copy with me when I fly: https://cdn.website-editor.net/s/03245889a1eb408d99cdfe8da3b5c89d/files/uploaded/FL%2520law%2520summary.pdf?Expires=1643579897&Signature=ZiwoiyHMTJOomIOacjgHhMrr~FixzI2aAYYdkdvK M6PgEj-hniSWn~6tqu3GlW-hCVRK4mjIyBSf5zH7-RSJTh3glqbsqPidVNgrXwtgCgjoWeY~-krUo8cOV5kTSFQRzf9RficXYAR422cBDa06GwXB8qizD~G6oYE inlBxTTzsYdhU8Z7n~hFKilB4houHn5hFsQljuEHich0S45WqD NsvmHtJ0PVwNXy9UQdLpj1JNbanhHOL3ZNKyux6h4bt-AP2Jd6sLh7w7LLnF9L8FyBXei~GIjjDFhwjLSquxwrz-f4hP55cnSz5x1j3jsRX-zDViP~fRrTaT-iljmd0Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=K2NXBXLF010TJW

Don's website: Goldwingnut.com (https://www.goldwingnut.com/)

[DaleDivine]

It's a valid question. I don't have the answer to that.

Another "odd" occurrence was yesterday - someone had one of those remote-control cars, they're only around a foot long and 6 inches high - and was zipping it back and forth across the road at the corner at Spanish Springs Town Square. And this was a pretty busy night last night. Up the sidewalk, across the road to the other sidewalk, and back. Over and over again. I watched it from a distance while I was waiting in line for a drink. By the time I got back to my seat the guy was gone. Otherwise I would've looked for a Community Watch person or police officer to ask him to take that thing to the back of a parking lot where no one could trip over it or run it over and puncture their tire - or freak out a dog who might not realize it's -not- some weird metal cat.

Golfer's Get ****ed at RC Car!!!! (MUST SEE) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihu9FudmUY0)

:popcorn:

[ThirdOfFive]

The Villages has no drone flyover rules. Don can provide more specific details but generally speaking since the FAA controls the airspace and controls use of drones by flyers (both commercially licensed and recreational via Part 107 regs) they would be the ones to contact unless you actually see a crime committed by a drone then you'd of course contact the PD. Up to 400' feet is considered uncontrolled (free & open) airspace by the FAA with exceptions. How one can prove a drone is being used for "questionable purposes" unless it is taking photos into your windows or hoovering over your home at low altitudes for long periods of time itself is questionable. :) "Surveilling your neighborhood" could be a kid with a new Christmas toy flying around the area. Commercially licensed pilots and recreational pilots have their own set of rules for where and when they can fly as well as general rules that apply to all. Bottom line is The Villages has no control of airspace and FAA rules take precedence over local rules.

OH, you can't shoot them down and gun laws aside it would be a "federal offense". Lot's of stories out there about those that did. I'm studying for a commercial part 107 UAS license and it ain't easy. The aeronautical weather maps and airspace maps are killing me. :D

Some interesting articles: Drone Laws in Florida 2021: Everything You Need to Know | Cult of Drone (https://cultofdrone.com/drone-laws-in-florida/)

and this: How to Stop Drones From Flying Over Your House | Cult of Drone (https://cultofdrone.com/stop-drone-flying-over-your-house/)

Can I shoot down a drone?: Are you allowed to shoot down a drone? (https://www.kpax.com/news/national/what-are-your-privacy-rights-when-it-comes-to-drones)

and this from Don's website (Florida laws) Section (3) is the most applicable to this discussion and I always carry a copy with me when I fly: https://cdn.website-editor.net/s/03245889a1eb408d99cdfe8da3b5c89d/files/uploaded/FL%2520law%2520summary.pdf?Expires=1643579897&Signature=ZiwoiyHMTJOomIOacjgHhMrr~FixzI2aAYYdkdvK M6PgEj-hniSWn~6tqu3GlW-hCVRK4mjIyBSf5zH7-RSJTh3glqbsqPidVNgrXwtgCgjoWeY~-krUo8cOV5kTSFQRzf9RficXYAR422cBDa06GwXB8qizD~G6oYE inlBxTTzsYdhU8Z7n~hFKilB4houHn5hFsQljuEHich0S45WqD NsvmHtJ0PVwNXy9UQdLpj1JNbanhHOL3ZNKyux6h4bt-AP2Jd6sLh7w7LLnF9L8FyBXei~GIjjDFhwjLSquxwrz-f4hP55cnSz5x1j3jsRX-zDViP~fRrTaT-iljmd0Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=K2NXBXLF010TJW

Don's website: Goldwingnut.com (https://www.goldwingnut.com/)
My brother says that if he ever sees a drone flying over his place, it's coming down. And he's a hell of a good shot.

His "place", by the way, is 80 acres about an hour south of the Canadian border deep in the woods of Northern Minnesota. People up there value their privacy.

[DaleDivine]

My brother says that if he ever sees a drone flying over his place, it's coming down. And he's a hell of a good shot.

His "place", by the way, is 80 acres about an hour south of the Canadian border deep in the woods of Northern Minnesota. People up there value their privacy.

He won't get much privacy in jail.
:boom::boom:

[Lil GTO]

We now have a drone in our neighborhood. We live near the perimeter of TV and the drone may be from outside TV. Drones legally are usually considered aircraft and may not be interfered with through illumination, jamming, spoofing, etc. Some associations have flyover restrictions. Does anyone know if TV has flyover restrictions; or, if not, are any flyover restrictions in process? Alternatively, what does Florida law allow for residents to protect against the invasion of privacy by drone overflights? Any comments on drone use by Villagers and Non-villagers over and around TV, particularly against clandestine drone use?

It very well could be the CVS pharmacy drone. They’ve been using drones to deliver prescription drugs out of the store on 466 for several months now.

[Luggage]

Really? Wow that is so future!

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Just wait until Amazon starts using Drones to make deliveries in the Villages! It’s coming.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Golfer's Get ****ed at RC Car!!!! (MUST SEE) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihu9FudmUY0)

:popcorn:

that’s funny :a040:

[Dana1963]

We now have a drone in our neighborhood. We live near the perimeter of TV and the drone may be from outside TV. Drones legally are usually considered aircraft and may not be interfered with through illumination, jamming, spoofing, etc. Some associations have flyover restrictions. Does anyone know if TV has flyover restrictions; or, if not, are any flyover restrictions in process? Alternatively, what does Florida law allow for residents to protect against the invasion of privacy by drone overflights? Any comments on drone use by Villagers and Non-villagers over and around TV, particularly against clandestine drone use?
I propose a new entertainment venue much like clay shooting clubs. At my summer residence someone took out the drone with a tennis racket for getting to close. The tennis racket is OK

[RICH1]

The 2 ladies on the golf cart have stepped up their game!

[Rheinl271]

Might also be police activity. Sumter uses drones.

[Cliff Fr]

that’s funny :a040:
That golfer running better be careful or he will have a heart attack. He was justified in wacking the rc car though, imo

[jarodrig]

It very well could be the CVS pharmacy drone. They’ve been using drones to deliver prescription drugs out of the store on 466 for several months now.

OP said it was @ 11 PM !

Doubt it would be my type of delivery 🤔

[jrref]

I bought a drone last month and had a lot of the same questions.
For all the information you need about Drones see DRONE FLYERS CLUB - Home (https://droneflyertv.weebly.com/)

Fortunately we have one of the most experienced drone pilots living here in the Villages and the president of this club, Don. He has all the "official" answers.

At a high level,
The Villages doesn't restrict drone flying since the FAA regulates the airspace.
There are recreational and commercial drone flyers. For Recreational flyers recent changes by the FAA require you to take and pass a TRUST test and register your Drone with the FAA.
You can see the TRUST information here FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute (https://trust.pilotinstitute.com/?_ga=2.169091553.190528217.1641217714-553156296.1641217714)
You can register your drone here FAA Drone Registration (https://www.faaregisterdrone.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA2sqOBhCGARIsAPuPK0jsp65TxXQR4j6k3l3 D70qZWEe3vnb-wk0yauWaUGL6ZlIMBw-aZZoaAlTQEALw_wcB) Technically you can't buy a drone over 250 grams and just fly it like a toy. If there is a complaint with the FAA you will be facing some serious problems depending on your situation. One of the big reasons you need to do all this is Safety AND you might live near an airport and or restriced airspace where you need to get permission to fly your drone even lower than 400 feet so the FAA want to make sure you understand the basic recreational flying rules.

If you make any money flying your Drone, even using footage on your YouTube channel, since you get some amount of money from YouTube your flying is considered Commercial. Then you need to get a Part 107 Commercial Drone pilots license. There have been some YouTuber's getting notifications from the FAA about this. Whether you agree or not, this is the way it is.

At the end of the day, the FAA is concerned about safety and is taking steps to enforce the rules.

The Villages also gives a Drone course given by Don which is also very good explaining everything you need to know. The Villages Drone Flyers Club flys once a week so if you are interested in Drones you can talk to Don and or the other members there or join the club that meets once a month.

[airstreamingypsy]

There goes skinny dipping in the pool.

[JMintzer]

OH, you can't shoot them down and gun laws aside it would be a "federal offense".

Well, crap... There goes my evening plans... PULL! :boom:

[davem4616]

My brother says that if he ever sees a drone flying over his place, it's coming down. And he's a hell of a good shot.

His "place", by the way, is 80 acres about an hour south of the Canadian border deep in the woods of Northern Minnesota. People up there value their privacy.



IMHO anyone living that far out in the boonies has very little to worry about when it comes to 'peeping Tom' drones

[triflex]

I was playing golf early one morning and looked up and there was a fella in his lanai smoking a cigar. The only thing he was wearing was his cigar. He puffed away like he was commander of the universe. A real porch pioneer he was.

He had the mindset of Lewis and Clark and the body of Homer Simpson. $1M+ house too.

Buck naked posh-porch-pioneers don't care about your drone.

[Goldwingnut]

Ok, I guess it's time for me to ring in on this one. I spend about 2 hours in my class taking about the laws here in Florida that apply to drone flying and I've had my run ins with the FAA in the past so I am VERY familiar with the laws and rules as they apply. A lot of good and accurate information has been put out in this thread, jrref and edfnj have posted some great information that is spot-on. I'll try to limit my comments to 4 areas:
1) Can you fly a drone over The Villages/homes
2) Can you shot down a drone
3) Why are they spying on me
4) Flying a drone at night


1) Can you fly a drone over The Villages/homes

As EdFNj stated, I've a link to document on the applicable laws for flying drones (I give this to all my students in my classes), you'll find these on my download page HERE (https://www.goldwingnut.com/downloads)
There are 3 laws that apply in Florida 330.41, 330.411, and 934.50
330.411 is the easiest, in short you can't weaponize a drone in any way here in Florida.
330.41 is in my opinion a drone pilots friend and similar laws exist in almost every state. The short version is that the State and FAA make the rules not the cities, towns, counties, or other government body. Here's what it says"

330.41.(3)(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided, a political subdivision may not enact or enforce an ordinance or resolution relating to the design, manufacture, testing, maintenance, licensing, registration, certification, or operation of an unmanned aircraft system, including airspace, altitude, flight paths, equipment or technology requirements; the purpose of operations; and pilot, operator, or observer qualifications, training, and
certification.

So The Villages (the community, the CDD's, and the developer) can't make any rules nor enforce any restrictions.

934.50 talks about search and seizure using a drone and discusses privacy and surveillance. Key in this discussion is the definition of what surveillance is with the salient points being recording an image, sufficient visual clarity, and intent. All of these must be met. The first is generally easy to prove, intent you must prove they were trying to look at you, and visual clarity is the easiest to defeat. I dig into this one a little more in #3.

2) Can you shoot down a drone
In a word, NO! The FAA considers a small Unmanned Aircraft System or sUAS (the correct term for what most consider a drone) the same as any other aircraft and the same laws that protect other aircraft from being shot at or discharging a weapon inside an aircraft protect drones. The FAA is prosecuting on this offense.

Don't think nobody will know it was you if you shoot one down. The pilot knows where the aircraft is and telemetry data is recorded in the flight software that they are using on the ground that can be used to determine incident location. Most aircraft also have cameras that will save a copy of the video they shoot on the ground station system so even if the aircraft is a total loss or unrecoverable there is a record (see my video of the Brownwood bridge move for an example of this). If that video footage show identifiable evidence of the incident, you're screwed and will be caught.

I love the tennis racket comment that Dana1963 made, if they are close enough to you to hit with a tennis racket, they by all means do so, the S.O.B. is breaking the law and invading your privacy and deserves it. Beyond that range, you are braking the law.

3) Why are they spying on me
They're probably not, even at a very moderate altitude of 50 ft the field of view is wide and most things are small, at 100 ft (still very low and in risk of trees) hundreds of homes become visible and you are not likely of any interest.

Just because they are over or near your home doesn't mean they are looking at you. Yes the camera can be pointed straight down but most pilots only do that when they are landing. Just because someone is standing in the street or near your home doesn't mean they are looking in your window, the same applies to drones. Just because you see a drone flying over doesn't mean it's looking at you; if a car goes past your house is the drive looking in your window or are they looking where they are going? The same holds true when flying a drone.

As far as the cameras go, what you see on CSI or NCIS when they "zoom in" and "enhance" a picture and magically get a crystal clear image is all great television fiction and not reality. At 150 ft a 30 lb dog becomes a mass of colored blocks when you try to zoom in too far (make it 10% of the viewable image or less). At night it's even less effective or useful. This goes back to 934.50 when it talks about "sufficient visual clarity", it doesn't exist to meet the definition of surveillance. It makes great television but it simply isn't real.

4) Flying a drone at night
In early 2021 the FAA changed the rules about flying at night to make it easier. It's not blanket permission to fly at night and has several rules that MUST be followed, the big two are: 1) lighting (strobe) that must be visible for 3 miles and 2) a special test from the FAA that you must pass. If these are met (and the rest of the rules) the pilot is in the wrong and if caught stiff fines are imposed.

I've met all the requirements for flying at night and have done it several times, most recently when shooting the Christmas lights at the town squares. Overall, it is too risky to do casually and without a lot of planning - the trees are too hard to see in the dark - it's not worth risking a $1500 bird (again) to do without strong consideration of the dangers and consequences.

If you see someone flying at night without the lighting requirements being met (the lights that are standard on all drones do not meet the visibility requirements) they call the police/sheriff to investigate or follow it to where it lands and you can then file a complaint with the FAA.


At the Drone Flyers Club meetings we talk about these very subjects frequently and we emphasize courtesy and respect for our neighbors and others and following the laws. We don't want anyone to be "that guy" who annoys the neighbors or is on the evening news due to stupidity. But of course we all know, you can't fix stupid.

[golfnut]

The drone in question was out surveilling the neighborhood at 11 PM; not the kind of monitoring one would expect from a drone club or Gold Wingnut. We're not concerned about legitimate drone use, but rather exploitation by others using drones for questionable purposes and what can residents do when suspicious drones are observed operating in a neighborhood.

What does a suspicious drone look like, as opposed to a legitimate one?

[JMintzer]

What does a suspicious drone look like, as opposed to a legitimate one?

This one might raise suspicion...

https://www.oneindia.com/img/2015/12/18-1450380507-drone.jpg

[rockyhyder]

We had a drone in our neighborhood for a while. It’s like living with a peeping Tom! I contacted everyone I could think of and was basically told TV has no rules against drones. The Sheriff had a detective call me to get enough info to check the guys license status. I started documenting every fly over near my house with cell phone video, building a case file of evidence to eventually get the guys license revoked, have him arrested, sue him or get the law changed. Don Wylie (the nut with a gold wing) was no help, he gave nothing but reasons why drones can fly legally, and the federal law is not nearly as liberal as he claims. My advice, read the federal law yourself so you understand what is legal and not, start documenting the flights and contact the Sheriffs Office to get a case file started. It will take a little time but you will eventually get the right video and with the right lawyer and circumstances you might even get a nice paycheck.

[EdFNJ]

What does a suspicious drone look like, as opposed to a legitimate one?


This ??????? (see attached) ... :)

[EdFNJ]

We had a drone in our neighborhood for a while. It’s like living with a peeping Tom! I contacted everyone I could think of and was basically told TV has no rules against drones. The Sheriff had a detective call me to get enough info to check the guys license status. I started documenting every fly over near my house with cell phone video, building a case file of evidence to eventually get the guys license revoked, have him arrested, sue him or get the law changed. Don Wylie (the nut with a gold wing) was no help, he gave nothing but reasons why drones can fly legally, and the federal law is not nearly as liberal as he claims. My advice, read the federal law yourself so you understand what is legal and not, start documenting the flights and contact the Sheriffs Office to get a case file started. It will take a little time but you will eventually get the right video and with the right lawyer and circumstances you might even get a nice paycheck. Nice story but what was the final result ? Did you subpoena his videos? Did you have a nice payday? Did the FAA get involved? Was the pilot identified? Was he arrested ? Did he lose his license? Did you sue? Sign a complaint? Any news articles ? Police reports? Sounds interesting so I'd be interested specifically in that case and how it ended up. In Florida there must be a public record somewhere. Any reference info? Did the "other website" (the one we can't name) have a story on it? ;)

I do agree somewhat that Federal Drone Laws aren't quite that liberal since I have been reading them but your story does sound just a bit overzealous. :)

[AzAuSenior]

What does a suspicious drone look like, as opposed to a legitimate one?

A suspicious drone comes over the wall around TV late at night and flies above the houses and the yards of the residences on TV perimeter with the camera on and no lights at an altitude of approximately 100 ft. This seems to be just right for casing houses and not for recreational flying.

[DAVES]

I was playing golf early one morning and looked up and there was a fella in his lanai smoking a cigar. The only thing he was wearing was his cigar. He puffed away like he was commander of the universe. A real porch pioneer he was.

He had the mindset of Lewis and Clark and the body of Homer Simpson. $1M+ house too.

Buck naked posh-porch-pioneers don't care about your drone.

That is the anti drone response club.

[DAVES]

A suspicious drone comes over the wall around TV late at night and flies above the houses and the yards of the residences on TV perimeter with the camera on and no lights at an altitude of approximately 100 ft. This seems to be just right for casing houses and not for recreational flying.

Height is very hard to judge. Sadly privacy is lost and was lost a long time ago.
People do not realize our government has satellites where the video is so good they can read your license plates.

[Goldwingnut]

We had a drone in our neighborhood for a while. It’s like living with a peeping Tom! I contacted everyone I could think of and was basically told TV has no rules against drones. The Sheriff had a detective call me to get enough info to check the guys license status. I started documenting every fly over near my house with cell phone video, building a case file of evidence to eventually get the guys license revoked, have him arrested, sue him or get the law changed. Don Wylie (the nut with a gold wing) was no help, he gave nothing but reasons why drones can fly legally, and the federal law is not nearly as liberal as he claims. My advice, read the federal law yourself so you understand what is legal and not, start documenting the flights and contact the Sheriffs Office to get a case file started. It will take a little time but you will eventually get the right video and with the right lawyer and circumstances you might even get a nice paycheck.

If you want to insult me at least have the courtesy to spell my name right.
I am more familiar and aware of what the state and federal laws are concerning sUAS operations than all but maybe one or two living in The Villages.

I remember the correspondence with you, I may still have the video you shot that the District Staff forwarded to me and asked me to address. Nothing shown in the video was or is illegal as I tried to explain to you.

What is legal is legal, even if you don't like it. Just because you disagree or don't like something doesn't make it illegal. If someone is doing something that is illegal with a sUAS, I will be the first to jump onboard, help get it documented, and help you get the idiot pilot grounded and fined. The FAA will step in when there are illegal activities that are adequately documented, local law enforcement has very little jurisdiction in these matters.

By the way, no "license" is required under either state or federal law to operate a sUAS for recreational purposes. To operate for commercial purposes a Remote Pilot Certificate for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems is required, it is not a "license". Had you taken the time to read 14CRF107 for what it said instead of what you wanted it to say, you would have known even this most basic of information.

[EdFNJ]

By the way, no "license" is required under either state or federal law to operate a sUAS for recreational purposes. To operate for commercial purposes a Remote Pilot Certificate for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems is required, it is not a "license". Yea, I sit corrected on that. :) I call it a license because I keep relating it to the Ham Radio license I got about 60 years ago except that test seemed easy since they didn't care what the weather was at 20,000 feet or what an aircraft at 15,000 feet was experiencing. :D Although the certificate does give you privileges or "license (verb OR synonym)" to do things you can't without it. :)

[jrref]

I still feel you need to prove intent. Dones typically can fly only about 30 minutes on one battery and if it's not high up in the sky or in line of site the operator has to be fairly close and thus easy to find. I would think if you see a low flying drone over your house every night you could easily find the operator and report them to the FAA assuming they were doing something malicious or illegal. They FAA can and will take action if there is a problem.

Conserning "spying" and malicious activity you have to remember the controller needs to communicate with the Drone and it can't do that very well if it's not high enough in the sky or with in visual line of site. You can't fly a drone at 10 - 20 ft down the back yards of a long row of homes for example to without being fairly close. And if you are flying a drone legally it shouldn't be flying over people, golf carts, the turnpike or following people and or cars for example and if it's high in the sky it's not going to be peering into your windows or causing a disturbance. As Don suggests, look at the basic rules for Recreational Drone flying and you will see common sense prevales and it's not very difficult to determine whether someone is flying a Drone legally or not. Again if you have a neighbor who is flying legally but causing a disturbance it's best just to ask them not to fly over your house and property and i'm sure they will comply.

[Dennys37Packard]

We now have a drone in our neighborhood. We live near the perimeter of TV and the drone may be from outside TV. Drones legally are usually considered aircraft and may not be interfered with through illumination, jamming, spoofing, etc. Some associations have flyover restrictions. Does anyone know if TV has flyover restrictions; or, if not, are any flyover restrictions in process? Alternatively, what does Florida law allow for residents to protect against the invasion of privacy by drone overflights? Any comments on drone use by Villagers and Non-villagers over and around TV, particularly against clandestine drone use?
I’m sure there is no invasion of privacy. Most consumer drones are for fun. They can’t peer in windows nor can they see who you are from up high. It’s probably someone learning how to fly, taking aerial sunset photos or seeing what the night looks like from above. And yes, some drug stores are testing them, UPS uses them in certain areas and Amazon will eventually use them. Go visit the Villages Drone club and see exactly what you can and cannot see with them. That should calm your nerves. Most people that are worried, have no clue of their limitations.

[Luggage]

If a drone falls from the sky into your backyard. Do you return it or keep it or trash it question I wonder what some people would do?

[dewilson58]

If a drone falls from the sky into your backyard. Do you return it or keep it or trash it question I wonder what some people would do?

If no one is around, does it make any noise??

[davem4616]

If a drone falls from the sky into your backyard. Do you return it or keep it or trash it question I wonder what some people would do?


I suspect that the drone operator would have a good idea where the thing landed...

I'd most likely not be aware that a drone had fallen on my property, unless I was outside, or it hit the house.

So the question I have is... would the drone owner be bold enough to just walk onto your property to retrieve it?

What if the drone was on your roof?

that said...the chance of this happening is very slim

[rockyhyder]

If you want to insult me at least have the courtesy to spell my name right.
I am more familiar and aware of what the state and federal laws are concerning sUAS operations than all but maybe one or two living in The Villages.

I remember the correspondence with you, I may still have the video you shot that the District Staff forwarded to me and asked me to address. Nothing shown in the video was or is illegal as I tried to explain to you.

What is legal is legal, even if you don't like it. Just because you disagree or don't like something doesn't make it illegal. If someone is doing something that is illegal with a sUAS, I will be the first to jump onboard, help get it documented, and help you get the idiot pilot grounded and fined. The FAA will step in when there are illegal activities that are adequately documented, local law enforcement has very little jurisdiction in these matters.

By the way, no "license" is required under either state or federal law to operate a sUAS for recreational purposes. To operate for commercial purposes a Remote Pilot Certificate for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems is required, it is not a "license". Had you taken the time to read 14CRF107 for what it said instead of what you wanted it to say, you would have known even this most basic of information.

Didn’t mean to misspell your name so may I refer to you as Mr Nut. What I was pointing out to the OP is that your information is biased and shouldn’t be taken as the whole truth and nothing but. You may know the rules well but there are differing legal opinions out there and just because you think you know it all doesn’t make it true (just like when you challenged the trail fee allotment and almost screwed the Executive courses over in the process). You keep preaching your interpretation to the drone club and I’ll keep documenting drones compromising business interest, capturing images on private property without consent and impeding the flow of traffic because eventually the damage will be addressed by the Courts.

[JMintzer]

If a drone falls from the sky into your backyard. Do you return it or keep it or trash it question I wonder what some people would do?

If no one is around, does it make any noise??

If a man speaks in the forest, and his wife isn't around to hear him, is he still wrong? :icon_wink:

[Bob McKeever]

There goes skinny dipping in the pool.

That problem is self rectifying. Anybody that sees me naked will never want to fly near my house again!

[Marathon Man]

Didn’t mean to misspell your name so may I refer to you as Mr Nut. What I was pointing out to the OP is that your information is biased and shouldn’t be taken as the whole truth and nothing but. You may know the rules well but there are differing legal opinions out there and just because you think you know it all doesn’t make it true (just like when you challenged the trail fee allotment and almost screwed the Executive courses over in the process). You keep preaching your interpretation to the drone club and I’ll keep documenting drones compromising business interest, capturing images on private property without consent and impeding the flow of traffic because eventually the damage will be addressed by the Courts.

A wise person shared this with me, maybe you will find the same wisdom in these words. “He who angers you controls you”.

[Boomer]

Yea, I sit corrected on that. :) I call it a license because I keep relating it to the Ham Radio license I got about 60 years ago except that test seemed easy since they didn't care what the weather was at 20,000 feet or what an aircraft at 15,000 feet was experiencing. :D Although the certificate does give you privileges or "license (verb OR synonym)" to do things you can't without it. :)

Hey, Ed, whatever that piece of paper is called, when I read that you are studying for it, your post caused me to nag Mr. Boomer.

Mr. Boomer is a licensed, single-engine pilot, with an instrument rating, and a seaplane rating.

He bought a drone a while back. It cost a few bucks. (I don’t really want to know how much. It is the third drone he has owned so it definitely looks like an upgrade from the two he has given away. The first one was basically a toy, but that was years ago.) Anyway, he does not fly it much.

Last year, a wicked storm hit our northern neighborhood and caused a lot of roof damage. Some of the neighbors asked him to take some roof pictures for them. He did.

Even though he did not even consider charging for those pictures — and he never would, I would feel better if he covered his drone flying with the official paperwork.

So I just now asked him about this course.

Turns out he had already downloaded it from King Schools, just had not done anything with it yet. He said what pilots have to know for their licenses gives him a head start on the drone course.

Btw, he has 3 — I think it’s 3 — ham radio licenses. Some of the single-engine pilots we know also have ham licenses.

Now, go study! Both of you. :)

Boomer

[Boomer]

Yea, I sit corrected on that. :) I call it a license because I keep relating it to the Ham Radio license I got about 60 years ago except that test seemed easy since they didn't care what the weather was at 20,000 feet or what an aircraft at 15,000 feet was experiencing. :D Although the certificate does give you privileges or "license (verb OR synonym)" to do things you can't without it. :)



Hey, Ed, whatever that piece of paper is called, when I read that you are studying for it, your post caused me to nag Mr. Boomer.

Mr. Boomer is a licensed, single-engine pilot, with an instrument rating, and a seaplane rating.

He bought a drone a while back. It cost a few bucks. (I don’t really want to know how much. It is the third drone he has owned so it definitely looks like an upgrade from the two he has given away. The first one was basically a toy, but that was years ago.) Anyway, he does not fly it much.

Last year, a wicked storm hit our northern neighborhood and caused a lot of roof damage. Some of the neighbors asked him to take some roof pictures for them. He did.

Even though he did not even consider charging for those pictures — and he never would, I would feel better if he covered his drone flying with the official paperwork.

So I just now asked him about this course.

Turns out he had already downloaded it from King Schools, just had not done anything with it yet. He said what pilots have to know for their licenses gives him a head start on the drone course.

Btw, he has 3 — I think it’s 3 — ham radio licenses. Some of the single-engine pilots we know also have ham licenses.

Now, go study! Both of you. :)

Boomer


Whoops. Now, I must stand/sit corrected, too. . .

I did not know what I was talking about when I said Mr. Boomer had 3 ham licenses. After I wrote that, I asked him. He said it is only 1 license because the last part overrides the first 2 — or some such thing — so it’s still one license.

(Had to get that correction out there before somebody tells me to go stand in the corner or whatever because I did not get things exactly right.)

Anyway, Ed, Mr. B. is at his desk working on the drone thing even as we speak. So, thank you. . .I think. . .there could be a new drone on his mind. . .

One thing can lead to another around here — like when I saw a Sawzall for the first time and innocently said, “That looks like it could be a handy tool.” Next thing I knew, I received one from Mr. B. as a gift. (I do not use power tools.) Fortunately, I have a sense of humor and we still laugh when he refers to it as, “your Sawzall.”

Boomer

[rockyhyder]

A wise person shared this with me, maybe you will find the same wisdom in these words. “He who angers you controls you”.

Sir you are a wise man indeed!

[Velvet]

The drone in question was out surveilling the neighborhood at 11 PM; not the kind of monitoring one would expect from a drone club or Gold Wingnut. We're not concerned about legitimate drone use, but rather exploitation by others using drones for questionable purposes and what can residents do when suspicious drones are observed operating in a neighborhood.

Wish those surveillance drones would fly over the pools where some people are really breaking the rules and often getting away with it. And I’d like to know who was the person eating peanuts and throwing the shells around the pool area and who was the one that left garbage stuck on the deck chairs for the next user to enjoy.

[frose]

knock it down

[Altavia]

Anyone else noticed the strobe lights, of what may be a drone, nightly near the Coleman area?

[Madelaine Amee]

Golfer's Get ****ed at RC Car!!!! (MUST SEE) - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihu9FudmUY0)

:popcorn:

Another good reason not to mess with old people :boxing2:.

[Boomer]

I was playing golf early one morning and looked up and there was a fella in his lanai smoking a cigar. The only thing he was wearing was his cigar. He puffed away like he was commander of the universe. A real porch pioneer he was.

He had the mindset of Lewis and Clark and the body of Homer Simpson. $1M+ house too.

Buck naked posh-porch-pioneers don't care about your drone.


Oh wonderful. Now I can’t un-see your description and I thought I had put the guy of my nightmares out of mind. Your imagery reminded me.

We bought in TV several years ago, after looking for a while.

It was funny you should say what you said because when we were looking for a house, I always said that it could not have a lanai that backed up to another lanai — because I figured my neighbor would end up being a cigar-smoking, buck naked (or is it butt naked?), loud-mouth guy, sitting around, watching his blaring television.

That guy was only in my real estate nightmares. He never actually happened because I was not taking any chances. When we walked into the house that backed up to a courtyard villa, that was it. We liked the house fine, but that wall behind it sealed the deal.

Boomer