Progress in the drone dispute?
 

Don's letter to the other drone operators, as published in local news sources.

Seems much more conciliatory than "Game On B!t.h

BTW, "BVLOS" means: "Beyond Visual Line of Sight".

Vey interesting thanks for sharing

“Game on Bi@#h” doesn’t come across as very professional. The PDF is more like what I would expect from Don.

I'll go out on a limb and speculate on the "settlement" that will likely be forthcoming, before any real litigation starts.

Don and at least 1 other, will be allowed to continue making drone videos, with restrictions and vetting by the Developer.

Anyone who violated an FAA standard (BVLOS) will be threatened and as a condition of the Developer dropping the action, they'll apologize & get out of the TV Drone over-fly business.

The "other shoe to drop", is how this might effect Don Wiley's career as a County Commissioner, vis a vis, ethical standards for elected officials, involved in a controversy with someone who is often interacting with the Board of County Commissioners.

Expect an opinion letter from the Florida Commission on Ethics, if a settlement is reached.

.... just reading between the lines and rampant speculation.

Call me cynical, but is this part of the letter somewhat disingenuous?

The Developer used (presumably) snail mail to address his issues.

Within minutes, every drone operator ran to social media and posted the letter and/or new videos, decrying the Developer's actions. Now, the social media activity is doing harm to the community and county?

To say nothing of the fact, either the sender or one of the recipients of Don's letter, immediately went to the press and/or social media and posted it.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

I wouldn't use the word disingenuous, I would use futile. Wiley can attempt to take the lead on this and work with the Developer to find a resolution but he can't control what the other operators do. "Herding cats" is a phrase that might apply.

Guessing legal counsel was involved with any letter written, that could be made public

This is the "Game On". He realistically sees the best and least expensive path to what he wants as working with the Developer. If the Developer also gets what they want, why would he care? He's only interested in the outcome he prefers.

Don didn't run to social media. Papa Pineapples did and then several questioned why Don hadn't received a letter and made speculations, then Don revealed that he received the letter as well. Addressing it and then also recognizing that the harm of continuing to address it publicly isn't disingenuous, it's a balancing act and Don seems to have chosen his current point of equilibrium.

Knowing the Developer's concerns, I also have a softer feel for the letter. I have seen at least one drone video where the pilot flys it through a partially built home. That could certainly be dangerous.

I hope they resolve it in a way that makes both sides as happy as they can be.

Don stated that he met with the developer and that there WERE VIOLATIONS by some of the flyers that apparently triggered the developer's action. That news would also make me "back off" as then the developer has a case to maybe stop all from flying. Don wants to fly and do the videos. He loves doing it. He mellowed to help not only himself but other drone operators who do obey the laws! I would guess there will be an agreement in this dispute. Just not sure what it will be at this time.

IMO FAA rules clean cut.

QUOTE from Google.

While generally legal to fly drones over private property in Florida, operators must adhere to FAA regulations and avoid violating privacy and trespassing laws, particularly regarding capturing images or videos of people in places where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
FAA Regulations:
The FAA governs drone usage in the United States through Part 107, which outlines safety guidelines and registration requirements for both recreational and commercial operators.
Key FAA Rules:
Maintain a visual line of sight (VLOS) with your drone.
Fly at or below 400 feet above ground level (AGL).
Keep your drone away from airports and restricted airspace.
Privacy and Trespassing:
It's illegal to fly a drone over a person who is not participating in the drone operation.
It's illegal to use the drone to take a photo of any person on private property in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Trespassing and nuisance laws apply to drone use over private property.
Landowner Rights:
Landowners can take steps to address unwanted drone activity, including collecting records and evidence, reporting incidents to the police, and considering drone tracking technologies.
Some landowners may also want to register their land as a no-fly zone.
Moving Vehicles:
Drone pilots should avoid flying over moving vehicles as much as possible.
The FAA regulations require drone pilots to ensure that the small unmanned aircraft will pose no undue hazard to other people, other aircraft, or other property in the event of a loss of control of the aircraft

Where did you find those FAA rules? What I have found looks a bit different.

Which of those rules do you claim the TV drone pilots have violated?

The clear violations listed in the letter absolutely must be discontinued but they seem to account for a tiny amount of the content that has been produced.

Can you please provide the web address where I would go to register my land as a "no-fly zone".

Where would one report a drone flying over me, when I'm not participating in the drone operation?

Aprils fools, or Sheldon sign?

We found one of the internet lawyer Don was referencing!

All of these aerial views of The Villages construction was started as a hobby - for most.

In one flyer's case, it became more than that. This person now poor mouths himself exhaustively that the videos cannot be made without subscribers and advertisers, when early on, there were none.

The chastising of Villagers supposedly driving in construction zones is exactly what he does flying low through neighborhoods, or buildings under construction, parking on Villages property and operating his business along the roadsides.

I've witnessed first-hand him chasing prospective homeowners down on their dirt lots to solicit his business of documenting their home's construction - for a healthy fee.

The hobbyists all do a good job telling the story of The Villages, but only one continues to beg for support of his advertisers by soliciting subscribers. It makes the videos hard to watch when someone who for years did just fine as a hobbyist, now requires financing to continue making videos.

And as a paid county commissioner, there seems to be some level of conflict of interest when someone uses his "real" job to help dig through files and records to pride himself in "scooping" the developer on what's to come. That's what has led to the developer's response, I believe.

Or possibly they were willing to tolerate Don's flying but when hooligans started flying thru buildings under construction ( I mean....what the heck??!!) they were forced to do something.

Joe

Wow. Not the first time you have you have said this. Tell us you do not like a certain person without saying that you do not like a certain person.

Looks like it's AI generated.

I did a Google search and it said you can use AI to register your land as a no-fly zone or report drones.

Don does do an inspection via drone for people having houses being constructed. Wonder how low he needs to go in order to do this?

If he has the homeowner's permission, there is no problem flying the drone over the land.
He just has to follow the safety rules.

No permission is needed to fly over nearly any fixed object (certain airspace is restricted and there are rules about flying over people or moving vehicles).

Flying into a building under construction or flying near a person is something else.

While the home is being constructed, the "homeowner" is the Villages. There is a prospective buyer but ownership has not changed hands at that point.

Don, and every other person who flies a drone, can fly them at will. Nobody needs permission from any private entity except under very specific conditions.
That is the FAA rules, and the developer cannot trump federal law.

You have to meet requirements to be registered as a no fly zone. Permanent zones are around places such as airports where collisions are a possibility.
Temporary zones are in place around certain special conditions, such as the vicinity around air force 1 when the president is aboard.

So you can build a runway and have it operational daily, or get elected president. Otherwise the law is the law.

Perhaps there needs to be a bad drone pilot thread similar to the bad driving/parking threads on social media.

The Villages can claim damages and harm caused by Don's posting of videos and his commentary.

Please let me know when you get your property listing on the Registry as a "No Fly Zone" and how it's working out for you.

Thank you

Except that, if the home is "under construction", the land and everything on it, belongs to The Villages.

If they are flying under 400', the FAA doesn't control the air space. It is unregulated, Class G airspace.

Flying drones is not the issue.

Taking video and publishing it on social media is the primary issue.

Please don't confuse what's at issue here.

Simple search on drone flying rules in Florida. Not my words google it popped right up.

None, I don’t care one way or they other.

The FAA sees things a bit differently. From this FAA Airspace 101 page:

FAA rules apply to the entire National Airspace System -- there is no such thing as "unregulated" airspace.

Drones can fly below 400' in the uncontrolled Class G airspace but the FAA does have authority over that airspace.

But as you point out, for the most part the issue is the videography and not the actual flight.

Sorry I only do simple google searches.

Quote From Google



AI Overview
Learn more
While you can't directly "register" land as a no-fly zone, you can take steps to discourage drone use over your property and potentially seek legal recourse if necessary, focusing on local ordinances and privacy laws.
Here's a breakdown of how to approach this:
1. Understand the Legal Landscape:
Federal Regulations:
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates drone operations, but it's generally legal to fly drones over private property, as long as certain rules are followed (e.g., staying below 400 feet, maintaining visual line of sight, registering drones over 0.55 pounds, and obtaining a Part 107 certificate for commercial use).
State Laws (Florida):
Florida has the Florida Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act (330.41) that generally preempts local drone laws, but cities and municipalities can still pass laws on specific topics like privacy and harassment.
Local Ordinances:
Check for any specific ordinances in The Villages or The Villages area that might restrict drone use, especially regarding privacy or harassment.
2. Take Preventative Measures:
Clear Signage:
Post "No Drone Zone" or similar signs on your property to deter drone operators.
Communicate with Neighbors:
Discuss drone concerns with neighbors to foster a sense of community awareness and potentially coordinate efforts.
Document Drone Activity:
If you observe drone activity that you believe is violating your privacy or property rights, document the time, date, location, and any relevant details.
3. Seek Legal Advice and Enforcement:
Contact Local Authorities:
If you encounter drone activity that violates local ordinances or state laws, contact the local police department or relevant authorities.
Consult with an Attorney:
If you believe your privacy or property rights have been violated, consult with an attorney specializing in drone law to explore legal options.
Consider Privacy Laws:
Florida has laws regarding the use of drones to capture images of private property without consent, and you can explore these laws to protect your privacy.
Drone Laws in Florida (2025) - UAV Coach
This ordinance also requires that commercial drone pilots register with the town police department before doing any kind of commer...
UAV Coach

Florida Drone Laws - Jack Bernstein, Injury Attorneys
Florida Law 330.41 – Florida Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act A large portion of Florida drone law comes from the Florida Unmanned Ai...
Jack Bernstein Injury Law

Part 107 Waivers - Federal Aviation Administration
Step 3: Submit the waiver application. * Log in or create an account online at FAADroneZone. Click on the button labeled “Add a S...

Federal Aviation Administration (.gov)

Show all
Generative AI is experimental. For legal advice, consult a professional

However, the land/lot had to paid for in advance. We had to put 10% down to secure the lot and the balance paid once the home building contract was signed. For those of us that built, we paid the lot off before the first concrete pour was even planned.

There's part of the problem. Generative AI gives a guess at a summary based on whatever text it was trained on. Guesses at summaries can be wrong, details matter.

Had no idea you have to pay in full that early

It's still not yours until the transaction closes. You may feel differently, but these are legal definitions.

I could be wrong and I'd be interested to hear if I am ... but

I believe you are required to "deposit" the amount of the land cost, prior to construction, but there is no "deed" (Grant) involved.

Which would mean you have an equitable interest in the land, but no "ownership" of the land.

If there was an actual "closing" and you took possession of the land and then signed a new contract for "construction", that would be a different story.

In essence, I'm saying the same thing as VAtoFLA said, above. It may sound like semantics, but there's a significant legal difference in those 2 processes.

Who thought it was OK?
 

Who thought it was OK to actually fly inside a building under construction? That's just common sense and downright inconsiderate!

The fact that even the "Homeowner" that is contracted to purchase the home is not really the "Homeowner" until the home is completed and closed would be a problem for me. If I contract to build a home I will be on site pretty much everyday if possible. I couldn't handle having a house built and not be allowed on site during construction.

Yes
 

Correct, the lot is paid for before a home is ever constructed. We bought our lot in Moultrie Creek. We had to put money down, then we had a design appointment, then we had to pay for the lot in full before we left for them to build.

A shout out to Goldwingnut, we love what you do and are glad you didn’t cave to the builder. Keep em coming. You do a great service for us all.