Peru shows how a domestic drone program should be used... In Peru, drones study ancient ruins and monitor crops Sun, Aug 18, 2013 - UNMANNED HELPERS: The specially developed drones gather data to estimate the health of plants and crops, and to help build three-dimensional models of lost cities
Granny wonderin' if'n one o' dem Colorado permits is good in Kentucky?... Marksmen line up for possible permits to shoot at drones Sat, Sep 07, 2013 - NO WHIMSY: A Colorado town said it could issue the permits for a quirky festival to draw tourists, but the man who started the idea is selling his own licenses
you can buy them on-line for a couple hundred bucks, don't even have to use a remote, just give them the gps info and away they go
One of these days... 'It Is Almost Inevitable That We Have a Drone Hit an Aircraft' October 8, 2015 | The Federal Aviation Administration aims to publish final regulations governing the safe use of small (under-55-pound) drones by June of next year, but those rules may not come soon enough, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) told the House Aviation Subcommittee on Wednesday:
Uncle Ferd wants Santy to bring him a drone fer Christmas... US Moves to Register All Drones December 14, 2015 - New regulation aims to promote safety and to link owners with their aircraft, Federal Aviation Administration says
Before you pilfer Santa's bag for your new drone, check this: Apparently yesterday's toys are of major interest to the government today, and not without good reason.
Some nitwit wanted to see what was up the private road I live on. He flew a drone up the street examining the houses. Someone with a 10 GA shotgun dispatched the drone in a matter of a few minutes.
Then things escalate? Americans are creative... [video=youtube;xqHrTtvFFIs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqHrTtvFFIs[/video]
The more significant new regulation is that you can't fly a drone over any property but your own regardless of whether it is registered. Thus, anyone but government or licensed by the government to do so who is flying a drone over your property is committing a criminal offense. Other regulations include that if the drone is used for any commercial purpose the operator must have a pilot's license. For example, if a farmer or rancher is using a drone to look over their land a pilot's license is required. - - - Updated - - - Privacy is not the only concern about drones. They are a real risk to aircraft and they are very suited for terrorist attacks and assassinations. I'm suprised the FAA allowed them to go as heavy as 50 pounds. Those are mega-costly and some can carry a heavy payload of 20 pounds or more.
I think there are a myriad of problems with drones and privacy, not to mention security. Drones are not always going to be easily thwarted. Someone will fix the laser vulnerability. At first they were a trendy toy and a cool way for Amazon Prime to deliver packages. Then someone changed them into remote-controlled weapons that can see you sitting inside your house through the window, when you have no idea it is even there. I think these drones just might be a paradigm shift.
Drone almost hits skier... Camera Drones Banned by Ski Federation After Near-Tragedy December 23, 2015 - The International Ski Federation (FIS) is banning camera drones from its World Cup races after one of the flying objects crashed and nearly hit Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher during a slalom in Italy. See also: FAA Prepares for Christmas Surge in Drone Registration December 24, 2015 - The U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has temporarily suspended its online drone registration to complete maintenance ahead of what is expected to be a busy Christmas Day with people registering unmanned aircraft systems received as gifts.