I believe it is illegal to fly RC in a state/national park -- however (and this is a *HUGE* however), the actions of the helicopter pilot clearly created an unreasonable risk for the helicopter and its occupants. There was a very real chance of collision between that helicopter and the multirotor once they started using the rotor downwash to affect its flight path. If the drone opperator is to be fined for breaking the law then the helicopter pilot should surely receive a much greater censure for needlessly placing life and property in danger by way of what really was "dangerous flying". Of course we know that those who make and enforce the rules generally do not have to follow the rules. Indeed, authorities these days are increasingly operating on the "do as we say, not as we do" prinicple and this is apparent even when it comes to the safety of the national airspace. If the FAA don't prosecute this pilot then someone should take a private prosecution and show the authorities that they are not above the law themselves.
Wrong its only illegal at this park because its in the no fly zone around DC. I have flown legally in state and national parks. Now i havent been to a park sense jarvis started running his mouth so i don't know how seriously the other park superintendents are taking him . I know for fact the Assateague Island National Seashore has designated areas for you to fly your drones and kites in its compendium. I have flown my drones in state parks with the rangers watching. So saying its banned in all parks is BS
DJ Kinney dude stfu with its a phantom. Stupid fucks like you labeling something just like every other sheep. Come up with something new. Fucking idiot.
MrRaptur3 . Yep also did we mention the head quarters to the CIA is less than 3 miles away...Bad idea I had the common sense to ask that almost got me arrested. when FPV was still not the hipster thing to do a few years back before the Phantom Existed... The cops went all are you a terrorist bullshet on me and then forced me to identify myself. ROFL I didn't know about the CIA or the restricted airspace but the federal police were happy to grill me after explaining that....
So, over natural beautiful land, you are not allowed to fly an electric, tiny, no emissions, quiet, rc helicopter. Yet, are allowed to fly a large, loud, gas guzzling, emission spewing helicopter. MAKES SENSE!!!
there is another weird one that Canadians are scratching our heads over, in the US, Kinder eggs are illegal due to the potential danger of small children choking on the toy inside, yet fully automatic weapons are OK.....
Rob Nielsen To get a legal fully automatic weapon involves dealing with the BATF and your local police.....to get through all of that red tape you have to be a little more responsible than just some jerk-off who can walk in and buy a Kinder Egg...that would probably be some kid or some mom who shouldn't even be allowed to have kids. Although she would probably buy it hoping that the kid would choke to death on it....a fat lawsuit would set her up just fine.
nothing new here. Assholes with a badge are every where, and with this summers outstanding police work. We are in more danger from are own cops than ISIS, the most dangerous time of most American's life is a traffic stop for not signaling. A cop can shoot you for anything one "says" was a threatening to them. Putting your car in park when told to get out of the car. As happened in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The car moved some as cars do when put in park and you take your foot off the brake. Cop found to be with in his rights of self protection. "To serve and Prosecute." You want to see something scary?
***** Numerous deaths on the Potomac River, including kayakers and people stupid enough to swim in that portion of the river. That's why the US Park Police have a helicopter, as well as Fairfax County.
This is why there are people out there that that think cops are pigs. If its a national park you shouldnt have been flying there (stupid recommendation/law btw. But they have no right to try to take down your Thousand dollar + quad-copter. They could have easilly had a car pull up and ticket you (which it sounds like they did). They were putting their own, as well as Innocent peoples lives at risk (kayakers). Had you flown up and around their props, getting sucked down into them while you were full throttle trying to save you property (as I would) it would have been catastrophic. And the fucked part is the phantom pilot would have ended up with some involuntary manslaughter charges or something. I hope the heli pilot got what was coming to him. I see this story has become somewhat popular across the web.
i understand the no fly zone. what i dont understand is the helicopter pilot thinking that was ok? if the quad pilot hit the throttle to keep it up and that quad came out of the helo's rotor wash that thing could fly up into the rotor of the helo. worth it? i think not.
+marchingpackofCeHS - Exactly right, the proximity between the 2 aircraft was about 100 feet. The DJI pilot probably was at full throttle, there is all sorts of turbulence around the edge of the prop wash from the copter .... entirely possible that the DJI could have gone up real quick on the edge of the turbulence. All the rules and fuss about drones getting close to aircraft (fair enough) and then a police helicopter flies right over one in very close proximity and tries to crash it ! Mind boggling !
That drone would have literally done nothing whatsoever to a helicopters rotors had it flew into them. Hell, the pilot probably wouldn't have even felt anything.
jdmilanoeg helicopter blades are not as strong as one would really think. any contact like that could throw the weight of the blade off enough to bring down a helicopter. it doesn't take much at all to do.
The stupid laws and rules they have in fhis country are so stupid. Dont care what anybody says! Flying this drone over a river os not dangerous to anyone.
harassing wildlife gets you fined, commercial ventures in parks generally not aloud, fate hitting the kayaker and paddle boarder, imagine the enjoyment at a state park you pay for just swarmed with every wanna be flying crashing annoying everyone. just saying. But the americans will just get out their guns and castle law the whole thing.
I don't see any laws broken by the drone/quad the CHOPPER pilot should have his ticket pulled. DO send that video to the FAA to show them how their pilots handle themselves. I am curious. what was the $70 fine for exactly?
I understand that flying in a State Park is illegal, but that does not justify the actions taken by the park rangers. A simple tap on the shoulder and asking you to land the drone would have been enough (ticket or not). Not only were the actions an inefficient use of resources (fuel and piloting personnel), their attempt to destroy personal property is unacceptable. That's like a SWAT van trying to run over a guy on a bike because he wasn't in the dedicated biking lane.
From the looks of it the helicopter is trying to push your Phantom down into the stream. Good to see you kept it cool and flew it back to safety, be sure to find the largest platform you can find to tell your story as this is bordering on harassment by the police, basically causing for a dangerous situation and subsequently blaming you for it.
AGREED! Cops were way more wrong. If there is no sign, no danger, what's the problem. Rc pilot should have gotten a warning at worst. Heli pilot should be suspended. He could have caused an injury. Serve and protect? HOW ABOUT HARASS AND ABUSE AUTHORITY! I'D HI RIGHT TO THE NEWS MEDIA AND A LAWYER!!!
I was recently in Co. I decided to fly and video the awesome scenery of the mountains. I researched on the net and found nothing on regulations. I couldn't find a ranger either or I would have asked. Well, you fire up a quad and they came out of the woodwork. 4 in all! They were gruff at first but them became so intrigued that I spent 15 minutes showing them how it worked. No fine. Just advised not to do it. Not at any national park. I just went next and asked the local police station (not on a park) if I could film. They were awesome and stated there were no ordinances. They had me call their dispatch every time I flew and let them know. They blew any callers off that complained. Great video of the CO. mountains after that. That's my suggestion if you want to film in unfamiliar places. Call the sheriff or local police first and check for ordinances. :)
Footage was great! BUT... Well, you were kinda asking for it. I don't know if you knew that that whole area falls under DC's Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), besides being a National Park. Also, kinda irresponsible on your side at the time when people/media are having mix feeling about the hobby. For the sake of all the hobbyists and UAV enthusiasts, please study the local flight laws before you go fly.
Or say fuck it and have fun with your purchase that you made after you already pay taxes to the government like a good citizen. I'll die before I am afraid to fly a little RC drone wherever I shall wish.
That is crazy man. Firstly those were some great clips. Secondly that helicopter was dangerously low, a possible threat to the kayakers and such. I just don't understand it. Feel free to check out Aerials Rights. I'm trying to bring together like-minded and responsible recreational drone flyers.
Our tax dollars actually paid for a heli to force down your quad, hmmm. Oh and you got to buy those two some lunch! Sounds like a good trade huh?! That's just nuts!!! At least you got some nice aerials!
In March of this year, an FAA administrative judge ruled the FAA has no jurisdiction over model aircraft even when used commercially. As a result, he dismissed a $10,000 fine. The park service ban didn't happen until about the third week in June - sometime around the time of the original post. Not unreasonable that the OP wasn't aware of that change. One also has to keep in mind aircraft and model aircraft are two separate and distinct legal definitions within FAA regulations. The term "aircraft" doesn't apply to "model aircraft" any more than model aircraft applies to a 747. That is, unless the definitions have also changed in the past few months which isn't likely considering how slow the government moves. I could be wrong on that point. But the point is, the law changed literally within just a few days of the flight. I probably would have fought it in court.
This is why it's best to just avoid populated areas altogether. When I want to enjoy the outdoors, I tend to avoid places with paved roads, cops, crazy helicopter pilots and other annoying things.
Dude, how is it, this is considered a "populated area"?? The only thing at risk here was his Multi-Rotor into the rocks and water.. All these people cock swinging off the FAA, sickening, worse than a prostitute..
If you see other people, it's a populated area. I'm not saying he was wrong for flying there. I'm just saying that when you stay away from other people, your risk of having issues like that are lower. The government agents there were clearly on a power trip and were the only people creating a dangerous situation. The helicopter pilot should lose his pilots license for that stunt.
I love the way you pilot your drone back to safety considering both you and the drone where under pressure. You from the cops surrounded you and drone by those flying cops. Well done here. Shame you couldn't point the cam to see the helicopter...
If national parks have a rule that RC aircraft are banned they sure don't publish it where people see it. I've read the rules at a few parks and I saw nothing about "no RC aircraft". In any case the pilot of the police helicopter was more dangerous to the park and to the people than that little drone. The pilot's attempt in trying to destroy the drone bordered on felonious destruction of private property. No difference than if there was a no camera policy and the police took their billy club and smashed your $2,000 Nikon camera because you took their picture. Beautiful video in any case and you should go show it to the park enforcers for their entertainment.
The no-fly rules are in the FCC materials that drone pilots legally acknowledged on the FCC drone registration website. It is the responsibility of the drone pilot to understand the rules and regulations of where they can and cannot fly. Most modern drones that use a smartphone or tablet to connect with the drone have the no-fly zones in a database that gets updated and it will alert you that you are near or in a no-fly zone. As for the police pilot, yeah that was uncalled for. They could have spotted the drone operator's position on the ground and sent an office on foot to get the drone back on the ground.
The heli pilot tried to force the quad to crash by recklessly flying directly over it when members of the public were in close proximity. This dangerous act is mind boggling. So they fine you yet think it is okay to fly a heli in this manner near people? The "Safety" aspect of their actions is non existent. What if you lost control and flew into someone or worse the heli? It was their actions that would've caused this to happen not yours, but I bet they would try and blame you. I still cannot believe they did this. Not to mention the disruption to the wildlife from the low flying heli. Totally reckless. Glad I don't live in the "Good 'ol USA".
You were wrong to fly the drone without permission of the land owner. However the police response was both exorbitantly wasteful, disproportionate, and most importantly reckless. You should have filed a complaint.
That sucks man! Great footage taken in a safe manner unlike most phantom pilots. Hope this doesn't discourage your fun man. Keep flying safe and F em!!!
Is it illegal to fly inside a state park? I didn't know that. The pilot of the drone didn't seem to be bothering anyone. I liked the scenery until the big chopper came up. What a shame
+Brian Pair Well hell yeah dude, because of the noise they make. It's annoying to people that are out trying to enjoy nature. Meanwhile, that whisper-fucking-quiet full sized, gas turbine powered helicopter is _barely_ noticeable. Seriously man?...
I feel for you Brian. You're out there making a beautiful video to share with us and authorities bother you when you're not hurting anyone. Too bad for our hobby!
By the same logic it's made illegal, motor vehicles are just as illegal, because someone could have an accident resulting in destroyed property, injury, or death of others. Same for bicycles, and anything else that is used by people to do something. There's always a chance of accident, yet they're legal (as they should be) .. So it makes no sense that flying RC's is illegal.
Lets simplify, ban EVERYONE and EVERYTHING ....lol. it's almost come down to that anyway. How many times has a quad required crews of rescuers to risk life and limb to save it? But that snowboarder who went out of bounds, well hundreds are in danger to rescue them. You can't just say "oops, dammit. oh well. Not worth trying to rescue it. Not worth the cost and risk. What you need is a senator or two that flies to get involved. Otherwise, heck some could raise an issue of a woman sunbathing in a national park is a distraction and should be illegal. I know, let's start a religion based on R/C flying. then the feds will have to protect our right to freedom of religion.
I'm actually a bit confused. At the end, I saw what appears to be the quadcopter flying in and turning around then saw a cop reaching for it. Was that edited or did he really reach for a quad with blades still engaged?
It is terrible how silly and unfair and unfounded many laws are, but regardless of all that debate I love the footage that you got and I enjoyed watching it. There is so much wonderful footage being captured by quads and such, I hate to know that there is so much legal push to ruin this hobby. I am a HUGE believer in personal privacy and personal safety. However, the benefit and beauty of footage like this can not be denied. Good work, and thank you very much!
Ok you say you got the ticket for flying the drone in the park? What if you could have been outside the park an fly the drone into the park from the outside an returned to outside the park once finished? Would have they still been able to harass you.
+jim short As I understand it, you would be able to take off outside the park, fly over the park and land back outside. You just can't take off or land inside. That's not to say they wouldn't hassle you or give you a fine but you'd be able to beat it in court. This is what I was told by a lawyer that specializes in drone law.
Brian Needle - Ok I got one for you. I'm not to clear on the GPS capabilities. Can you not start a flight and an send the drone to a GPS position. IE you start it out side the park. Walk into the park and let the drone go to it's specific GPS coordinates and then once the power resources drop to certain level or on a time command return to it take off GPS start point. Basically hands off flight.
my english is not so good, but I have to say, and more often I have to think that the USA is a very unfree country is literally a police state, soon free than Russia ...
We can fly FPV Quads in Russia without any problems. So long as you don't fly over objects of strategic importance. Kremlin, SAM military bases, that sorta thing. But no such nonsense as in this video.
***** Thanks for replying! I believe that a 35kg payload is way more than most aerial photography UAVs will ever need. I'd say even cinema UAVs with RED cameras won't exceed 10kg payload.
Beautiful footage. Well worth $70! Stupid move by the helicopter pilot as he could have caused a collision which might have caused the chopper to crash.
Couple years ago in Arizona, a DHS helicopter pilot did the same thing to push down an ultralight aircraft full of dope that crossed the border from Mexico causing the ultralight to crash land. They recovered the drugs and don't remember what happened with the ultralight pilot... But the helicopter pilot was fired and was going to be facing his pilot license revoked. Dude get a lawyer and start a civilian action against the Police Department, the city, and the state for what they did... thrust me, you have a good case... I hope you can set a good legal precedence.
If you cut this video down to 1-2 minutes... it might get more views. Don't edit this one, just upload another smaller one and link this version as the full cut. Or at least tell us where the incident occurs in the video in the description... that might help.
Bob Builder 2 obvious reason, Hurting the environment and harming wildlife just to start with, Google Crashed Drone Park and list of issues is long, like Contaminated yellowstone hot springs, also in Death Valley spring, and CANNOT get it because it will disturb the water.
Though the authorities execution was stupid, so was the DJI owner for flying in the park. It is widly known in the R/C community that state and national parks are a no-go. It's because people like this that I now have to register myself as a "drone" pilot.
Because without a National Park Helicopter when that passenger jet went into the river from the DC airport no one would have survived the accident. The helicopter pulled, dragged the lucky ones from the floating wreck, no one else could get to them, all at the risk of their own lives because it was some fantastic flying on the part of the Park helicopter pilot and his crew member. They have other duties as well and that is to keep yahoos from doing their own thing. RC drones are becoming more and more popular and many of the flyers are itching to push the envelope in disregard to others and before long there will be incidents, we had one in the local area when an RC chopper pilot was killed by his own "toy". If I were out at a National Park that would be the last thing I would want to see and hear flying over my head, a buzzing quad copter or two ruining a peaceful day. Almost like trying to relax at the lake with 20 hotdogs on jet skies going back and forth and over wakes and waves at high speed. In one incident a friend of mine and his daughter were severely injured by a drunk jet skier who broadsided them on their jet ski, he kept going while they floated on the lake. He sped straight to shore and ran from the scene. You have to have rules to control the irresponsible ones getting into the hobby, just because you are flying what you think is a harmless machine around doesn't mean your a god or make the laws.
Hmmm, I just think a helicopter purely for a park is a bit wasteful. There are plenty of emergency helicopters over here, usually attached to hospitals, that help with search and rescue, medical emergencies, etc.
I think the Park Service pilots should be held accountable for flying near the drone like that. Incredibly dangerous thing to do, I just can't believe they did that.
Uh oh, it’s one of those felonious Phantoms. Last time I saw a police helicopter and 2 uniformed officers come in for the take-down, the burglars gave up. At first I thought the official helicopter was in kayak rescue mode. Your hobby footage of the otherwise unseen rushing water and rocks was great. I hope you continue to enjoy natures beauty with your phantom. We can all learn from this and monitor/affect/abide to regulations. This hobby is hotly debated, seemingly as gun control, as is evident in some extreme comments. Using common sense and respect to others goes far.
the reason why these cops are taunting this guy's is because they're bored on their jobs and have nothing to do with their lives so they try to make it dramatic
I have a Phantom 2 and I have had nothing but positive feedback from everyone I've encountered while flying in the city and out. I was shocked to read some of these negative reviews here regarding the Phantom. It has been used to rescue people at a much lesser cost than a helicopter and pilot. I'm sure that all parks are or will one day be using them to survey the area for lost or stranded people or for fires, you name it, phantoms are the future. That heli pilot may have been upset knowing one day he will be replaced by a Phantom at a lesser cost to the taxpayers!
I think it is funny how you can tell who is a cop and who is not, just by their comments. All you cops are brain washed to only see one side of things. WOW does it hurt to be that dumb? How about this one... all aircraft must say 1500 feet from any people. To go after a drone at my guess 300 to 400 feet the pilot of that chopper should lose his or her pilots license for pulling a stunt like that. Yes there is prescience for this and it has happened to a cop in Tampa Florida. I know because I had his ticket pulled. He landed his chopper in a parking lot to have a talk with me because he did not like where I was parked on my bike. I was with in 30 feet of a stop sign. It was actually 32 feet but he thought it was closer when he was at 1500 feet or should I say 500 feet. Now let me warn you I was harassed for almost a year by the cops during the investigation. But I won, now he cant fly shit any more and he lost his job. My guess is McDonald's is where he works now... by the way great video of the water falls. well worth the 70 dollars I think.
That is a great video, I am a local and am very familiar with that spot. You are very lucky!! Despite the FAA regulatory uncertainty, Great Falls happens to be with the Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) and the FAA regulations (put in place after 911) for the FRZ are very specific as it relates to UAV/UAS [Drones] and it state they are strictly prohibited, period. That said, great video!! I am glad to hear you walked away with your Phantom and only a $70 fine!
Aerial Strategies- Thanks for clarification of the rules for flying in that airspace. If the Phantom pilot was flying in the FRZ, he was clearly busting the rules. The fine was probably justified. The police on the other hand were clearly dangerous in their actions. A collision could have occurred and they would be the ones causing it. Although I'm sure the police would say otherwise. The other issue is the helicopter was dangerous in its actions by flying so low over people and wildlife and leaving absolutely no recourse if they should lose an engine. Helps need some altitude to accomplish an auto-rotation in the event of engine failure and this police held clearly did not have that trying to chase an insignificant drone. Besides, what was he doing in the FRZ?
Captain - Thanks for the comment. If is very difficult for anyone to know any/all the regulations for everything we do. I agree with you regarding the police and the helicopter being dangerous in their actions. The phantom was no endangering anyone or anything - except the phantom itself - water, rocks and trees are not a phantoms friends. thanks again for the comment. Still like this video.. :-)
Not so many years ago, before transistor radios, you could go to a beach and relax, listen to the sound of the waves, the call of the birds, converse with your friends. Soon, every third blanket had a radio and all you could hear was competing raucous music, jarring your nerves. If drones/quads are not kept out of parks, yes, there WILL eventually be dozens (at least) on any given day, and the peace will be gone. The fool things are noisy! (I'm not anti. I just bought one for my SIL's birthday. I'm assuming he will have respect for the peace of others.)
Hey while we're at it, we should ban cars, too. Not only do they make noise but pollute our environment. This logic is truly ridiculous. Not to mention as technology improves the sounds these drones make will decrease.
He is actually correct. They do make noise and can be dangerous to people. Flying over someones head is a no no. If it is lost he has no way to reclaim it. The lipo is a fire hazard as well if punctured. They burn extremely hot and violently. The people who argue that they should be allowed to fly in parks etc etc have no clue. That is the same thing as saying "Hey I should be allowed to fly my SAB 570 or my 700N in the park with people to!". I fly everything from fixed wing to 700 size Nitros/Elec. AMA pilot here respect the rules and stop trying to ruin it for the ones who fly smart and not like a jack ass.
Kenneth Oslund I never said they don't make noise... Also you can see the guy flying it away from people over a river (WITH WATER) and away from the group. If we ban them from parks, then where are you going to fly them? A guy dropped a drone from 1,000 FT (it's on YT) and it didn't catch on fire. Banning them because some people are irresponsible is fucking stupid.
I also had plans to fly at great falls but there were too many people around that weekend. Didn't want to get in any trouble like you. LOL I made a bunch of flights at Skyline Drive, ( in the mountains of Virginia ) but I made the flights very quick and packed up and moved to another location before trouble showed up. Great Video. Enjoyed the ride.
Isn't the park a public place to be enjoyed by the tax paying public. The genius pilot in the police helicopter should have never flown over your drone, according to the FAA a drone is considered as a aircraft and it is illegal for the helicopter to fly above another aircraft to force it down. Pilot should loose his license!!
+dkbaron1 Answer to your first sentence? Yes. Which is why no drone owner should be ruining it for those there to enjoy the park. The Drone owner has a right to visit the park, sure, the NORMAL way. Flying the toy around is merely annoying and upsetting to those that came to see, A) the park, B) selfish owners' drone hovering around? The answer is obvious.
The police just scattered all the wildlife! The phantom was able to fly over a bird and not spook it. Stupid police men, stupid helicopter pilot. It should be illegal to put so many people in danger with a chopper!
So your video says you got arrested but you state above that you were detained and given a fine. Which is it? Great Falls is a US national park, so it's illegal to fly there. You're lucky you were able to bring your Phantom home. They could have played the homeland security card and no more Phantom.
To what end? I think the whole notion that a national park is out of bounds for anything RC controlled loses its validity when a full scale helicopters is hovering at the same altitude, don't you think?
P.s. playing the homeland security card for flying a Phantom around a stream filming a few kayaks, what's so secretive about that really? Or would you consider a Phantom threatening to national security for that matter? If that's the case we're already doomed as there's millions out there apparently waiting to start a NWO? Lets keep it real shall we?
Brian Needle Being detained and being arrested are two totally separate things. I am not saying what happened did not totally suck, just saying there is a difference between the two.
What a waste of public funds to let the police chase a guy with a drone with a helicopter. Like 4 officers were involved? Two on the ground, two in the helicopter. Gee... Let them please go after some REAL criminals.
It's a National Park, so you were fined appropriately. But the helicopter pursuit was an egregious exercise of authority and waste of tax dollars. Those officers should have been suspended.
Often they will send a helicopter over to check for an existing condition that warrants police intervention. Especially if they are in the air already. In this case flying a drone in a Nat.park is not permitted. At no point did I see any helicopter "attacking" a drone. That title sounds more like clickbait. People who don't like this law should write to their reps and try and get the law changed. Complaining on You Tube won't accomplish anything.
You can clearly see the shadow of the copter at 4:27, using the downward air wash will send another full helicopter to the ground. Would crash a drone in my estimate, but the maneuverability of the drone would win, like a boxer dodging punches.
hojo70 The pilot was flying recklessly! He should be fined by the FAA for interfering with an aircraft in us airspace. The drone legal or not could have caused injury to persons kayaking or maybe someting else. This is definitely a violation on the part of the helicopter pilot. You should send this video to the FAA and tell them you admit your wrong doing, paid the fine. However this heli pilot risked a lot to try and down a toy!
The drone pilot did nothing legally wrong with the exception of flying in a park. If the kayakers were part of the operation, it is legal. There were also fewer restrictions in 2014. Th FAA does not mandate the reporting of an incident with
Actually its not. First we don't even see a helicopter in this video, only a shadow. So we don't know exactly how high or how close to anyone the helicopter was. Secondly in most large cities and large park areas police use helicopters to perform aerial surveillance and/or to reach areas that are hard to get to by land vehicle or would take a long time to get to. Most police helicopter pilots are continually undergoing training and updates from flight services and the companies who make the machines they fly. They are fully aware of what their machine is capable and what it isn't capable of and what maneuvers constitute a risk with a given model of helicopter and what maneuvers are safe. Believe me,the guys who fly these helicopters want to land and get home in one piece, they are not looking to crash and end up dead. Last but not least most helicopter pilots are not looking to kill themselves or anyone else nor are they looking to have their pilots licenses revoked by making reckless moves. The FAA is extremely strict when it comes to reckless flying and endangerment.
In some countries you cannot fly a drone or model airplane at all anywhere. Or,one can move to Somalia, pay the local warlord and then they can do anything they like. :)
Coming from an aviation mechanic, what that helicopter pilot did was far more dangerous than that quad copter flying pretty safely from the video and looked to be no higher than 500feet.
I agree with you sir. My dad was a jet mechanic and worked on fixed and rotary winged aircraft. What the helicopter pilot did was unsafe flying so close to the ground and if he had mechanical failure at that height, it would have been disaster. I am a registered Drone pilot with little experience but I respect the laws of flight, unlike that helicopter pilot.
+leegenix Hey man that's awesome. I am into fixed win RC. But I just picked up a blade nano qx 3D and I'm hooked on quad copters now. I went to FliteFest in Ohio last week and it was awesome.
Brett C Great, Brett. I have to report I just lost my drone. I flew it at night in a lit park because the wind was quiet. All of a sudden a gust of wind came and took it away. The batteries were low and lights were blinking. Otherwise I may have been able to bring it back. I'll look in the morning.
Beautiful photography. I don't understand their objection to your quad. To try to destroy your property if reprehensible and I think they should be made to answer for it!
These days they also would have confiscated your drone. This flight we see here was prior to the infamous drone (Phantom) crash on the White House lawn (Jan 2015) after which the DC FRZ became a "no drone zone" and it includes Great Falls. But any Phantom that has had a firmware upgrade since Feb 2015 is going to find that his motors won't start and the AC won't fly in the DC FRZ.
I have run into police over reaction to our evil 'drones' too (see my channel). Its a toy and they send a full size helicopter to battle it? Jeeze.... talk about dangerous situation. Good luck!
I actually saw your vid last week. Great job asking the questions that needed to be asked. That's the problem; nobody seems to know, police included, on what the rules actually are.
Okay, I understand the no drones rules in national and state parks for safety, privacy and noise issues. However, when you use a REAL helicopter to enforce the rule, it kinda makes the original rule look really silly. Hey! Your 1.5 lb electric toy is making too much noise, i'll use my V8 powered manned helicopter that can blow trees down to make you go away. There, much safer and quiter for our guests! Sorry ma'am for your lost hat, you can buy a new one in the gift shop
The more I see these videos, the more I'm convinced that RC hobbyists who actually put in the wrench time to build their multi-rotors are far more respectful and responsible fliers than those who just bought a RTF quad with gps waypoints and altitude hold. I'm looking at all you DJI Phantom buyers - who rarely understands how flammable a lipo battery is or the inertial your quad has falling from a great altitude...
Of course not, but like the X8, I started off with smaller safer toy-grade quads that didn't have GPS autopilot, altitude hold, fpv, or long range that forced me to be proficient at manual LOS flying first. I've also built a 250mm racing quad, so I've put in "wrench time" as well.
Great for 50 years? lol sorry but there is always goofs screwing around where they shouldn't, making it harder for us. Turbines they wanted to outlaw at fields for their danger, multi-rotor guys aren't the problem, it's the idiot users with no common sense. Lots of those at the flying fields too, old boys who nobody complains about when they can't fly worth shit.
Ronin's RCFreehold Great for 50 years means there was never a movement to outlaw RC, till now. Did you know this was happening? If I were to lose my right to fly safely and by the rules at my AMA sanctioned club fields do to this, I will be pissed and sad. It doesn't matter what happens at flying fields, that's why they are flying fields. National parks, beaches, historical monuments, populated areas and urban environments are not flying fields.
Ronin Pictures And there is a ton of old assholes there for sure. I had just opened my case and was swamped by a gaggle of old men giving me a free education, not only on the " club" rules but also the latest on the FAA interpretation of its outdated suggestions. I thank them for their Military Service, as some clearly served. Any where else but "their club" they would of been a bunch of old assholes putting their noses into what was not their concern. I sorry, but that's the truth. I had my AMA card visible, maybe not in a handy Tandy Leather Company stamped leather carrying case, but visible. So even membership in the AMA is not enough to quite the voices.
BTW - I am a Phantom pilot along with being a RC flyer for years. I follow the rules as they are now and will continue to do so. I look forward to "reasonable" regulations so that we can stop hearing about unsafe "drones"
Mr Needle, Before claiming that a helicopter tried downing your drone I suggest you take a flight lesson in aviation and understand what it is like to fly an aircraft. A small object at a high rate of speed is very hard to see. Imagine driving a vehicle at 150mph and having a light colored object the size of a bird in front of you. Think you can notice it and have time to react? Do some research on bird strikes in aviation. Maybe then you will understand that piloting your drone in an area frequented by helicopters put those pilots at risk. I also suggest you look up airspace rules. Clearly, you were in violation of a lot.
do your self a favor and re watch the video a few times.... the helicopter is clearly NOT going fast enough to have your point of view. also the helicopter has come to the toy.... and then proceeded to follow the toy. marksummers you should take a lesson in low flying helicopters near people, close to the trees, and close to a river bank.. there is no high speed maneuvers in that video PERIOD
Bruce, when you are referring to "helicopter" in your reply I assume you mean the drone. No where in this video can you see the actual helicopter. I suggest you learn some respect, son, as I am a retired helicopter pilot that is very familiar with this area. Flying for over 40 years, I have had my fair share of bird strikes, and these "toys" in the air now are going to be an even bigger problem than birds are for pilots. I am glad to see that the NPS has banned them, and am looking forward to the day that the FAA bans them too. Hopefully, this will happen before a catastrophic event. If any of you are familiar with this area, helicopters fly routes over the Potomac all the time. They are not "chasing drones, trying to knock them out of the sky" as the drone pilot stated. As I said earlier, traveling at a high rate of speed, (as the police helicopter was) it is very hard to see the drone. The helicopter had every right to be there (he was under ATC control since he was inside the flight restricted zone). The drone pilot had no right to be there. He broke many rules, to include operating a drone in a National Park, piloting an aircraft in the Flight Restricted Zone, operating an aircraft over a wildlife refuge below 2000 feet without approval, and probably broke controlled airspace.
Marksummers You must've missed the obvious shadow of the full scale helicopter clearly visible in the video and the sound of its engine to be heard over the noise of the Phantom's propellers? I would like to suggest you watch the video again, a little closer this time around.
Marksummers scroll to 4:05 look in the top right corner. You will see the helicopter. As for you flying in these areas.. a helicopter that low should be doing one of two things 1 landing or 2 search and rescue. At no other point should it be that low ..and that close to people. for you should know, your a retired helicopter pilot. And at that altitude and speed you would very clearly see the toy in question
Sandersessen, usually rivers are used as routes for helicopters. And yes, they are permitted to fly that low (altitudes are restricted to below two hundred feet over the tidal basin for helicopters, and we all know that area has a helluva lot more people than great falls). Now imagine if some fool is flying his drone in that area? Let me guess, it would still be the helicopters fault if they collide and something catastrophic happens? I don't think so.
Brian, I just saw this story on the nightly news and it pissed me off! Our local sanctioned AMA fields have just been closed down in the area. It's ignorant users like yourself that are ruining the hobby for those that follow the rules. Thanks buddy.
+ATCr That is just unfair and illogical. How was he suppose to know he couldn't fly there ? It was a totally innocent act that was dealt with extreme heavy handedness. Hardly generates respect for authority . Imagine if a drone flew that close to a helicopter, there would be hell to pay, but the other way around is ok ? Come on. You taking it out on the wrong people. Seems young people can't do anything nowadays without some crazy law stopping them, no wonder there are so many on Ice.
+Dave Love In the DJI manual, under safety guidelines, section 5 states, Observe Local Laws and Regulations • DO NOT fly in the No Fly Zones. You can find a complete list of these areas at flysafe.dji.com/ • The DJI No Fly Zone is not a replacement for local government regulations or good judgment. • Avoid flying in areas where rescue teams are actively using the airspace. Ignorance is not a replacement for stupidity. No pity from me. His fine should have been higher.
+ATCr I did a search on that flysafe.dji.com page for Great Falls in the USA and the only no fly zone is within 3nm of the International Airport, which does not appear to cover the area where he was flying. It covers no area where there is a river running. As I said a totally innocent act. There are some pilots that do the wrong thing and fly up to 5000 feet etc, this guy isn't one of them. He was 50 feet above a river and rocks.
I don't have a drone, and I do not understand what the 'authorities' are so damn scared of, but this treating of drone owners like they are the equivalent of a terrorist is absurd.
There is always gonna be some-one that wants to make an issue out of an innocent incident like flying your drone. The best thing I found is not argue and promise not to fly my drone in the area again. Works every time. Awesome video! Too many folks drones are used for nefarious purposes...lets prove them wrong.
You know, a helicopter pilot in Sunrise, FL got in trouble with the FAA for following a Quadcopter in a reckless manner, what that pilot did was endanger more people, and it was very reckless. You should report him to the FAA and show them your video as proof.
That was cool. Sorry you got arrested. Probably should have asked the Park Service if it was OK before you flew it. The only park where any kind of RC is allowed at all is at Manassas and then its only gliders with a special permit under certain conditions.
Irregardless of the legality of the flight, the police were there where the pilot was, all they had to do was wait for him to fly it home. It's not going to be able to fly more than 20 minutes or so with a good battery setup. Using a helicopter to try and crash it was completely out of line. The FAA needs to pursue a case against that helicopter pilot for intentionally creating a near-miss situation.
Franklin, a little local perspective. The US Park Police helicopter routinely flies low over the gorge. In fact the exact same flight path as this hobby drone is flying in. This section of the Potomac river is heavily used for some outdoor adventure activities, as such the need for rescue is high. The helicopter has saved countless lives in a dangerous flying environment. Last thing they need is a foreign object causing the helicopter to crash into the gorge walls. In the end this drone operator was in the wrong.
The actions of the helicopter pilot seemed to stem from an emotional response, rather than a logical act of duty and having the best interest in safety of the surrounding area. It was very immature and dangerous. They should be subject to legal charges and internal disciplinary action, as they evidently mishandled the situation entirely.
Beautiful area. If it's not allowed to fly there, the police should have just wrote you a ticket and sent you on your way. Being detained for an hour was a waste of time.
Hi Brian, I have looked through the Q & A but could not see you. Could you please say whether or not you knew that flying drones in a state park was against their laws. Personally I think it is a stupid law as long as the drone pilot is flying safely.
I believe it is illegal to fly RC in a state/national park -- however (and this is a *HUGE* however), the actions of the helicopter pilot clearly created an unreasonable risk for the helicopter and its occupants.
There was a very real chance of collision between that helicopter and the multirotor once they started using the rotor downwash to affect its flight path.
If the drone opperator is to be fined for breaking the law then the helicopter pilot should surely receive a much greater censure for needlessly placing life and property in danger by way of what really was "dangerous flying".
Of course we know that those who make and enforce the rules generally do not have to follow the rules. Indeed, authorities these days are increasingly operating on the "do as we say, not as we do" prinicple and this is apparent even when it comes to the safety of the national airspace.
If the FAA don't prosecute this pilot then someone should take a private prosecution and show the authorities that they are not above the law themselves.
Completely agree.
Faa how about get on that pilot flying over people. There is no balance its nuts.
Wrong its only illegal at this park because its in the no fly zone around DC. I have flown legally in state and national parks. Now i havent been to a park sense jarvis started running his mouth so i don't know how seriously the other park superintendents are taking him . I know for fact the Assateague Island National Seashore
has designated areas for you to fly your drones and kites in its compendium. I have flown my drones in state parks with the rangers watching. So saying its banned in all parks is BS
DJ Kinney dude stfu with its a phantom. Stupid fucks like you labeling something just like every other sheep. Come up with something new. Fucking idiot.
MrRaptur3 .
Yep also did we mention the head quarters to the CIA is less than 3 miles away...Bad idea I had the common sense to ask that almost got me arrested. when FPV was still not the hipster thing to do a few years back before the Phantom Existed... The cops went all are you a terrorist bullshet on me and then forced me to identify myself. ROFL
I didn't know about the CIA or the restricted airspace but the federal police were happy to grill me after explaining that....
So, over natural beautiful land, you are not allowed to fly an electric, tiny, no emissions, quiet, rc helicopter.
Yet, are allowed to fly a large, loud, gas guzzling, emission spewing helicopter. MAKES SENSE!!!
Vote for anarchy hahaha. No, but seriously I agree - it is stupid
All while flying recklessly, _actually_ endangering property and lives (I'm talking about the helicopter).
fuckin truth... the US government has sooo many contradictory laws
there is another weird one that Canadians are scratching our heads over, in the US, Kinder eggs are illegal due to the potential danger of small children choking on the toy inside, yet fully automatic weapons are OK.....
Rob Nielsen To get a legal fully automatic weapon involves dealing with the BATF and your local police.....to get through all of that red tape you have to be a little more responsible than just some jerk-off who can walk in and buy a Kinder Egg...that would probably be some kid or some mom who shouldn't even be allowed to have kids. Although she would probably buy it hoping that the kid would choke to death on it....a fat lawsuit would set her up just fine.
American Police; causing dangerous situations on purpose and then arresting you for it.
nothing new here. Assholes with a badge are every where, and with this summers outstanding police work. We are in more danger from are own cops than ISIS, the most dangerous time of most American's life is a traffic stop for not signaling. A cop can shoot you for anything one "says" was a threatening to them. Putting your car in park when told to get out of the car. As happened in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The car moved some as cars do when put in park and you take your foot off the brake. Cop found to be with in his rights of self protection. "To serve and Prosecute." You want to see something scary?
State park paid with state tax dollars by pilot flying dji quad. Great footage and crazy our tax dollars at work.
Shadow in certain parts looks really fake.
DJ Kinney No monetization here my friend. Not fake either.
***** Numerous deaths on the Potomac River, including kayakers and people stupid enough to swim in that portion of the river. That's why the US Park Police have a helicopter, as well as Fairfax County.
DJ Kinney Do your own research if you care. We cant spoon feed you everything.
DJ Kinney Sorry, DJ. I shouldn't have jumped the gun.
This is why there are people out there that that think cops are pigs. If its a national park you shouldnt have been flying there (stupid recommendation/law btw. But they have no right to try to take down your Thousand dollar + quad-copter. They could have easilly had a car pull up and ticket you (which it sounds like they did). They were putting their own, as well as Innocent peoples lives at risk (kayakers). Had you flown up and around their props, getting sucked down into them while you were full throttle trying to save you property (as I would) it would have been catastrophic. And the fucked part is the phantom pilot would have ended up with some involuntary manslaughter charges or something. I hope the heli pilot got what was coming to him. I see this story has become somewhat popular across the web.
Much easier to be tough against a Phantom pilot compare to the gangs in the ghetto.
+Jake Roman literally lmfao. Still laughing. Thanks
i understand the no fly zone. what i dont understand is the helicopter pilot thinking that was ok? if the quad pilot hit the throttle to keep it up and that quad came out of the helo's rotor wash that thing could fly up into the rotor of the helo. worth it? i think not.
+marchingpackofCeHS - Exactly right, the proximity between the 2 aircraft was about 100 feet. The DJI pilot probably was at full throttle, there is all sorts of turbulence around the edge of the prop wash from the copter .... entirely possible that the DJI could have gone up real quick on the edge of the turbulence.
All the rules and fuss about drones getting close to aircraft (fair enough) and then a police helicopter flies right over one in very close proximity and tries to crash it ! Mind boggling !
That drone would have literally done nothing whatsoever to a helicopters rotors had it flew into them. Hell, the pilot probably wouldn't have even felt anything.
But the FAA would sure enjoy adding it to their prized incident list.
jdmilanoeg helicopter blades are not as strong as one would really think. any contact like that could throw the weight of the blade off enough to bring down a helicopter. it doesn't take much at all to do.
The stupid laws and rules they have in fhis country are so stupid. Dont care what anybody says! Flying this drone over a river os not dangerous to anyone.
harassing wildlife gets you fined, commercial ventures in parks generally not aloud, fate hitting the kayaker and paddle boarder, imagine the enjoyment at a state park you pay for just swarmed with every wanna be flying crashing annoying everyone.
just saying.
But the americans will just get out their guns and castle law the whole thing.
OH YES! It's very DANGEROUS killing so reserve fish!! LOL
because suddenly now EVERY person in the park has a drone... such a stupid comment.
Everyone has a cell phone and they act like idiots with those. Pretty ignorant if you can't for see this kind of scenario.
great point made... because everyone with cellphones act like idiots... wow! you must live in a bubble.
I don't see any laws broken by the drone/quad the CHOPPER pilot should have his ticket pulled. DO send that video to the FAA to show them how their pilots handle themselves.
I am curious. what was the $70 fine for exactly?
National Park and in the DC No fly zone. Double whammy.
I understand that flying in a State Park is illegal, but that does not justify the actions taken by the park rangers. A simple tap on the shoulder and asking you to land the drone would have been enough (ticket or not). Not only were the actions an inefficient use of resources (fuel and piloting personnel), their attempt to destroy personal property is unacceptable. That's like a SWAT van trying to run over a guy on a bike because he wasn't in the dedicated biking lane.
From the looks of it the helicopter is trying to push your Phantom down into the stream. Good to see you kept it cool and flew it back to safety, be sure to find the largest platform you can find to tell your story as this is bordering on harassment by the police, basically causing for a dangerous situation and subsequently blaming you for it.
That's not NYPD, it was in Great Falls VA
fdnyfish I stand corrected, post edited, yet that doesn't change the fact that a police helicopter is trying to push the Phantom into the stream.
AGREED! Cops were way more wrong. If there is no sign, no danger, what's the problem. Rc pilot should have gotten a warning at worst. Heli pilot should be suspended. He could have caused an injury. Serve and protect?
HOW ABOUT HARASS AND ABUSE AUTHORITY!
I'D HI RIGHT TO THE NEWS MEDIA AND A LAWYER!!!
GGobblin How about checking where you can fly the things before you do it?
don't start nothin' won't be nothin' .
I was recently in Co. I decided to fly and video the awesome scenery of the mountains. I researched on the net and found nothing on regulations. I couldn't find a ranger either or I would have asked. Well, you fire up a quad and they came out of the woodwork. 4 in all! They were gruff at first but them became so intrigued that I spent 15 minutes showing them how it worked. No fine. Just advised not to do it. Not at any national park. I just went next and asked the local police station (not on a park) if I could film. They were awesome and stated there were no ordinances. They had me call their dispatch every time I flew and let them know. They blew any callers off that complained. Great video of the CO. mountains after that. That's my suggestion if you want to film in unfamiliar places. Call the sheriff or local police first and check for ordinances. :)
Footage was great! BUT...
Well, you were kinda asking for it. I don't know if you knew that that whole area falls under DC's Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), besides being a National Park. Also, kinda irresponsible on your side at the time when people/media are having mix feeling about the hobby. For the sake of all the hobbyists and UAV enthusiasts, please study the local flight laws before you go fly.
Or say fuck it and have fun with your purchase that you made after you already pay taxes to the government like a good citizen. I'll die before I am afraid to fly a little RC drone wherever I shall wish.
That is crazy man. Firstly those were some great clips. Secondly that helicopter was dangerously low, a possible threat to the kayakers and such. I just don't understand it. Feel free to check out Aerials Rights. I'm trying to bring together like-minded and responsible recreational drone flyers.
Our tax dollars actually paid for a heli to force down your quad, hmmm.
Oh and you got to buy those two some lunch!
Sounds like a good trade huh?!
That's just nuts!!!
At least you got some nice aerials!
Glad you got this footage when you did! This may be the only drone footage of this spot, due to its location.
In March of this year, an FAA administrative judge ruled the FAA has no jurisdiction over model aircraft even when used commercially. As a result, he dismissed a $10,000 fine. The park service ban didn't happen until about the third week in June - sometime around the time of the original post. Not unreasonable that the OP wasn't aware of that change.
One also has to keep in mind aircraft and model aircraft are two separate and distinct legal definitions within FAA regulations. The term "aircraft" doesn't apply to "model aircraft" any more than model aircraft applies to a 747. That is, unless the definitions have also changed in the past few months which isn't likely considering how slow the government moves. I could be wrong on that point. But the point is, the law changed literally within just a few days of the flight. I probably would have fought it in court.
This is why it's important to know, and obey, local laws before flying any craft - RC or otherwise.
+Zeb Cheek boooooooooo. having fun with a toy to dam muck gov ..... not a post agenst you simply a comantary
This is why it's best to just avoid populated areas altogether. When I want to enjoy the outdoors, I tend to avoid places with paved roads, cops, crazy helicopter pilots and other annoying things.
Dude, how is it, this is considered a "populated area"?? The only thing at risk here was his Multi-Rotor into the rocks and water.. All these people cock swinging off the FAA, sickening, worse than a prostitute..
If you see other people, it's a populated area. I'm not saying he was wrong for flying there. I'm just saying that when you stay away from other people, your risk of having issues like that are lower. The government agents there were clearly on a power trip and were the only people creating a dangerous situation. The helicopter pilot should lose his pilots license for that stunt.
Agreed
I love the way you pilot your drone back to safety considering both you and the drone where under pressure. You from the cops surrounded you and drone by those flying cops.
Well done here.
Shame you couldn't point the cam to see the helicopter...
I would absolutely love to see someone fly one of these over the white house
Your wish has been granted by some drunk dude. lol.
Ik I saw it a couple weeks ago on the news
That will never happen it would be shot out of the air.
It already did happen
Justin Kovalik Tells it like a boss! ah hahah
Crickey.!! It took me longer to read the comments made, than it did to watch this video..Great movie Brian, thanks for sharing..(U.K.)
If national parks have a rule that RC aircraft are banned they sure don't publish it where people see it. I've read the rules at a few parks and I saw nothing about "no RC aircraft". In any case the pilot of the police helicopter was more dangerous to the park and to the people than that little drone. The pilot's attempt in trying to destroy the drone bordered on felonious destruction of private property. No difference than if there was a no camera policy and the police took their billy club and smashed your $2,000 Nikon camera because you took their picture.
Beautiful video in any case and you should go show it to the park enforcers for their entertainment.
The no-fly rules are in the FCC materials that drone pilots legally acknowledged on the FCC drone registration website. It is the responsibility of the drone pilot to understand the rules and regulations of where they can and cannot fly. Most modern drones that use a smartphone or tablet to connect with the drone have the no-fly zones in a database that gets updated and it will alert you that you are near or in a no-fly zone.
As for the police pilot, yeah that was uncalled for. They could have spotted the drone operator's position on the ground and sent an office on foot to get the drone back on the ground.
Makes me wonder what they didn't want you to see
Good question!
The heli pilot tried to force the quad to crash by recklessly flying directly over it when members of the public were in close proximity. This dangerous act is mind boggling. So they fine you yet think it is okay to fly a heli in this manner near people? The "Safety" aspect of their actions is non existent. What if you lost control and flew into someone or worse the heli? It was their actions that would've caused this to happen not yours, but I bet they would try and blame you. I still cannot believe they did this. Not to mention the disruption to the wildlife from the low flying heli. Totally reckless. Glad I don't live in the "Good 'ol USA".
and as we used to say " keep on truckin" my friend you keep on flying. nice shot of falls.
PEOPLE ARE STUPID! If you arrest someone for flying a quadcopter, learn about them first.
There really is no hope for our nation when we are arresting people for committing such heinous crimes as flying a toy over the water.
Lol so true... Also much abuse of helicopter power....
Maybe some of us should take into account this flight was made early summer 2014 when many rules and guidelines regarding UAV flight were very murky.
You were wrong to fly the drone without permission of the land owner. However the police response was both exorbitantly wasteful, disproportionate, and most importantly reckless. You should have filed a complaint.
+TehJumpingJawa It is a state park iirc, so it is paid for by the people for the people's enjoyment.
+GeT_LeFt and he is one of the people. Its seems crazy you can't fly a drone in a national park. National parks are huge!!
+GeT_LeFt It is a National Park, not a state park.
+mblitch What is the deference? Both are paid for and owned by US people?
Daniel Lee The difference are the applicable laws and jurisdiction and not every state yet outlaws UAS within state parks. The difference is accuracy.
That sucks man! Great footage taken in a safe manner unlike most phantom pilots. Hope this doesn't discourage your fun man. Keep flying safe and F em!!!
Aren't manned aircraft supposed to stay above 500 ft other than take off and landing?
Military aircraft, gliders, and hot air balloons are exeption, as it is a military aircraft, It is legal, But also a fucking douche move
Helicopters can fly at whatever altitude needed. They don't have the same altitude rules as fixed wing manned AC
I liked this video mate, thumbs up. Cheers from the IGY Simpson Bay Marina, Sint Maarten in the Caribbean.
Is it illegal to fly inside a state park? I didn't know that. The pilot of the drone didn't seem to be bothering anyone. I liked the scenery until the big chopper came up. What a shame
+Brian Pair - Very wildly know in the R/C community that state-parks are a no-go.
www.cnn.com/2015/04/15/politics/aircraft-lands-on-capitol-grounds/
They missed this guy. Lol
+Rcbif I dont recall voting on this, this is public property, they never ask my permission about this.
+Brian Pair Well hell yeah dude, because of the noise they make. It's annoying to people that are out trying to enjoy nature. Meanwhile, that whisper-fucking-quiet full sized, gas turbine powered helicopter is _barely_ noticeable. Seriously man?...
Yeah for real. Lol
I feel for you Brian. You're out there making a beautiful video to share with us and authorities bother you when you're not hurting anyone. Too bad for our hobby!
By the same logic it's made illegal, motor vehicles are just as illegal, because someone could have an accident resulting in destroyed property, injury, or death of others. Same for bicycles, and anything else that is used by people to do something. There's always a chance of accident, yet they're legal (as they should be) .. So it makes no sense that flying RC's is illegal.
Lets simplify, ban EVERYONE and EVERYTHING ....lol. it's almost come down to that anyway.
How many times has a quad required crews of rescuers to risk life and limb to save it? But that snowboarder who went out of bounds, well hundreds are in danger to rescue them. You can't just say "oops, dammit. oh well. Not worth trying to rescue it. Not worth the cost and risk.
What you need is a senator or two that flies to get involved. Otherwise, heck some could raise an issue of a woman sunbathing in a national park is a distraction and should be illegal. I know, let's start a religion based on R/C flying. then the feds will have to protect our right to freedom of religion.
Dang man! Im glad it was just a $70 fine and they didn't shoot it out of the sky!
I'm actually a bit confused. At the end, I saw what appears to be the quadcopter flying in and turning around then saw a cop reaching for it. Was that edited or did he really reach for a quad with blades still engaged?
It is terrible how silly and unfair and unfounded many laws are, but regardless of all that debate I love the footage that you got and I enjoyed watching it. There is so much wonderful footage being captured by quads and such, I hate to know that there is so much legal push to ruin this hobby. I am a HUGE believer in personal privacy and personal safety. However, the benefit and beauty of footage like this can not be denied. Good work, and thank you very much!
Ok you say you got the ticket for flying the drone in the park? What if you could have been outside the park an fly the drone into the park from the outside an returned to outside the park once finished? Would have they still been able to harass you.
+jim short As I understand it, you would be able to take off outside the park, fly over the park and land back outside. You just can't take off or land inside. That's not to say they wouldn't hassle you or give you a fine but you'd be able to beat it in court. This is what I was told by a lawyer that specializes in drone law.
Brian Needle - Ok I got one for you. I'm not to clear on the GPS capabilities. Can you not start a flight and an send the drone to a GPS position. IE you start it out side the park. Walk into the park and let the drone go to it's specific GPS coordinates and then once the power resources drop to certain level or on a time command return to it take off GPS start point. Basically hands off flight.
+jim short Yes, you can do that.
+Brian Needle There's already lawyers for drone laws? Fuck. These grandpa-times laws are already making books on the new age.
Illegal, illegal, illegal! Period. Fallow the rules and stop ruinning the hobby for those that do fallow the rules.
well you broke the law flying in a state park.....what did you expect?
my english is not so good, but I have to say, and more often I have to think that the USA is a very unfree country is literally a police state, soon free than Russia ...
We can fly FPV Quads in Russia without any problems. So long as you don't fly over objects of strategic importance. Kremlin, SAM military bases, that sorta thing. But no such nonsense as in this video.
theeltea
Same here in Canada, except you need a license for drones that over 35kg, for some reason.
***** 35kg payload or take-off weight? 35kg is quite a heavy drone.
Payload. Sorry for not specifying!
***** Thanks for replying! I believe that a 35kg payload is way more than most aerial photography UAVs will ever need. I'd say even cinema UAVs with RED cameras won't exceed 10kg payload.
Beautiful footage. Well worth $70! Stupid move by the helicopter pilot as he could have caused a collision which might have caused the chopper to crash.
You do know there is a ban on NP's for no fly, another Phantom killing a great hobby.
Not a Phantom, a person with poor judgement
Beautiful footage...don't let it get you down. Keep flying!
Thanks buddy. I will......just not in a NP or anywhere near DC
police should focus on important stuff, this is just rediculous
Couple years ago in Arizona, a DHS helicopter pilot did the same thing to push down an ultralight aircraft full of dope that crossed the border from Mexico causing the ultralight to crash land. They recovered the drugs and don't remember what happened with the ultralight pilot... But the helicopter pilot was fired and was going to be facing his pilot license revoked. Dude get a lawyer and start a civilian action against the Police Department, the city, and the state for what they did... thrust me, you have a good case...
I hope you can set a good legal precedence.
If you cut this video down to 1-2 minutes... it might get more views. Don't edit this one, just upload another smaller one and link this version as the full cut.
Or at least tell us where the incident occurs in the video in the description... that might help.
Thanks for the tip. I added the time in the description.
Brian Needle Oh and do not break the law, Flying Quads at fed and many state parks is illegal. But you know that now.
SCHIZOPHRENlC the most important thing was, what did the police say at the very end during the cut-off?
EliteGeeks my question is WHY??? why is it 'illegal' to fly in a park?
Bob Builder 2 obvious reason, Hurting the environment and harming wildlife just to start with, Google Crashed Drone Park and list of issues is long, like Contaminated yellowstone hot springs, also in Death Valley spring, and CANNOT get it because it will disturb the water.
Though the authorities execution was stupid, so was the DJI owner for flying in the park.
It is widly known in the R/C community that state and national parks are a no-go. It's because people like this that I now have to register myself as a "drone" pilot.
Why would a national park need a helicopter for anything other than rescues? What a waste of public money.
Because without a National Park Helicopter when that passenger jet went into the river from the DC airport no one would have survived the accident. The helicopter pulled, dragged the lucky ones from the floating wreck, no one else could get to them, all at the risk of their own lives because it was some fantastic flying on the part of the Park helicopter pilot and his crew member. They have other duties as well and that is to keep yahoos from doing their own thing. RC drones are becoming more and more popular and many of the flyers are itching to push the envelope in disregard to others and before long there will be incidents, we had one in the local area when an RC chopper pilot was killed by his own "toy". If I were out at a National Park that would be the last thing I would want to see and hear flying over my head, a buzzing quad copter or two ruining a peaceful day. Almost like trying to relax at the lake with 20 hotdogs on jet skies going back and forth and over wakes and waves at high speed. In one incident a friend of mine and his daughter were severely injured by a drunk jet skier who broadsided them on their jet ski, he kept going while they floated on the lake. He sped straight to shore and ran from the scene. You have to have rules to control the irresponsible ones getting into the hobby, just because you are flying what you think is a harmless machine around doesn't mean your a god or make the laws.
Hmmm, I just think a helicopter purely for a park is a bit wasteful. There are plenty of emergency helicopters over here, usually attached to hospitals, that help with search and rescue, medical emergencies, etc.
Sweet footage mate...! Unlucky for getting busted...! Keep up the good work... M x
I think the Park Service pilots should be held accountable for flying near the drone like that. Incredibly dangerous thing to do, I just can't believe they did that.
Uh oh, it’s one of those felonious Phantoms. Last time I saw a police helicopter and 2 uniformed officers come in for the take-down, the burglars gave up. At first I thought the official helicopter was in kayak rescue mode. Your hobby footage of the otherwise unseen rushing water and rocks was great. I hope you continue to enjoy natures beauty with your phantom. We can all learn from this and monitor/affect/abide to regulations. This hobby is hotly debated, seemingly as gun control, as is evident in some extreme comments. Using common sense and respect to others goes far.
goes both ways, mate
Nature's beauty is best if you include its possessive apostrophe. 😁
the reason why these cops are taunting this guy's is because they're bored on their jobs and have nothing to do with their lives so they try to make it dramatic
And write tickets to generate revenue
its easier to get easy tickets and not bother with drug dealers or gang members
Well I mean they could always shoot one of us unarmed black guys when they're bored.
maybe they though It was a Mexican drone lol
I think you summed it up pretty good.
I have a Phantom 2 and I have had nothing but positive feedback from everyone I've encountered while flying in the city and out. I was shocked to read some of these negative reviews here regarding the Phantom. It has been used to rescue people at a much lesser cost than a helicopter and pilot. I'm sure that all parks are or will one day be using them to survey the area for lost or stranded people or for fires, you name it, phantoms are the future. That heli pilot may have been upset knowing one day he will be replaced by a Phantom at a lesser cost to the taxpayers!
I think it is funny how you can tell who is a cop and who is not, just by their comments. All you cops are brain washed to only see one side of things. WOW does it hurt to be that dumb? How about this one... all aircraft must say 1500 feet from any people. To go after a drone at my guess 300 to 400 feet the pilot of that chopper should lose his or her pilots license for pulling a stunt like that. Yes there is prescience for this and it has happened to a cop in Tampa Florida. I know because I had his ticket pulled. He landed his chopper in a parking lot to have a talk with me because he did not like where I was parked on my bike. I was with in 30 feet of a stop sign. It was actually 32 feet but he thought it was closer when he was at 1500 feet or should I say 500 feet. Now let me warn you I was harassed for almost a year by the cops during the investigation. But I won, now he cant fly shit any more and he lost his job. My guess is McDonald's is where he works now... by the way great video of the water falls. well worth the 70 dollars I think.
That is a great video, I am a local and am very familiar with that spot. You are very lucky!! Despite the FAA regulatory uncertainty, Great Falls happens to be with the Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) and the FAA regulations (put in place after 911) for the FRZ are very specific as it relates to UAV/UAS [Drones] and it state they are strictly prohibited, period. That said, great video!! I am glad to hear you walked away with your Phantom and only a $70 fine!
Better to explain that this spot is within 5miles (ish) of the whitehouse!
Aerial Strategies- Thanks for clarification of the rules for flying in that airspace. If the Phantom pilot was flying in the FRZ, he was clearly busting the rules. The fine was probably justified. The police on the other hand were clearly dangerous in their actions. A collision could have occurred and they would be the ones causing it. Although I'm sure the police would say otherwise. The other issue is the helicopter was dangerous in its actions by flying so low over people and wildlife and leaving absolutely no recourse if they should lose an engine. Helps need some altitude to accomplish an auto-rotation in the event of engine failure and this police held clearly did not have that trying to chase an insignificant drone. Besides, what was he doing in the FRZ?
Captain - Thanks for the comment. If is very difficult for anyone to know any/all the regulations for everything we do. I agree with you regarding the police and the helicopter being dangerous in their actions. The phantom was no endangering anyone or anything - except the phantom itself - water, rocks and trees are not a phantoms friends. thanks again for the comment. Still like this video.. :-)
Not so many years ago, before transistor radios, you could go to a beach and relax, listen to the sound of the waves, the call of the birds, converse with your friends. Soon, every third blanket had a radio and all you could hear was competing raucous music, jarring your nerves. If drones/quads are not kept out of parks, yes, there WILL eventually be dozens (at least) on any given day, and the peace will be gone. The fool things are noisy! (I'm not anti. I just bought one for my SIL's birthday. I'm assuming he will have respect for the peace of others.)
Silkendrum don't worry man if you're as old as you talk, you'll be deaf soon and not even hear it..lol
azorea You make assumptions based on no information, child.
Hey while we're at it, we should ban cars, too. Not only do they make noise but pollute our environment. This logic is truly ridiculous. Not to mention as technology improves the sounds these drones make will decrease.
He is actually correct. They do make noise and can be dangerous to people. Flying over someones head is a no no. If it is lost he has no way to reclaim it. The lipo is a fire hazard as well if punctured. They burn extremely hot and violently. The people who argue that they should be allowed to fly in parks etc etc have no clue. That is the same thing as saying "Hey I should be allowed to fly my SAB 570 or my 700N in the park with people to!". I fly everything from fixed wing to 700 size Nitros/Elec. AMA pilot here respect the rules and stop trying to ruin it for the ones who fly smart and not like a jack ass.
Kenneth Oslund I never said they don't make noise... Also you can see the guy flying it away from people over a river (WITH WATER) and away from the group. If we ban them from parks, then where are you going to fly them? A guy dropped a drone from 1,000 FT (it's on YT) and it didn't catch on fire. Banning them because some people are irresponsible is fucking stupid.
I also had plans to fly at great falls but there were too many people around that weekend. Didn't want to get in any trouble like you. LOL
I made a bunch of flights at Skyline Drive, ( in the mountains of Virginia ) but I made the flights very quick and packed up and moved to another location before trouble showed up.
Great Video. Enjoyed the ride.
Isn't the park a public place to be enjoyed by the tax paying public. The genius pilot in the police helicopter should have never flown over your drone, according to the FAA a drone is considered as a aircraft and it is illegal for the helicopter to fly above another aircraft to force it down. Pilot should loose his license!!
+dkbaron1
Sorry sir. Its illegal to fly in the parks. It saddens me because I had hoped to do the same thing.
+Tony Grove This is our land, we pay for these snakes and their over sized drones.
+dkbaron1 Right on, you are thinking like a sovereign!!!! They are our servants and that's our land! Thy FAA is also another scam! Peace!
+dkbaron1 Answer to your first sentence? Yes. Which is why no drone owner should be ruining it for those there to enjoy the park. The Drone owner has a right to visit the park, sure, the NORMAL way. Flying the toy around is merely annoying and upsetting to those that came to see, A) the park, B) selfish owners' drone hovering around? The answer is obvious.
What about the public servants drones, flying the million dollar tax payer drone on public property. I find that more than annoying.you?
wats up with all that a helo for a drone? they hiding something?
The police just scattered all the wildlife! The phantom was able to fly over a bird and not spook it. Stupid police men, stupid helicopter pilot. It should be illegal to put so many people in danger with a chopper!
Great footage. Maybe you could try selling it. Wonder if the Great Falls Park has good aerials?
So your video says you got arrested but you state above that you were detained and given a fine. Which is it? Great Falls is a US national park, so it's illegal to fly there. You're lucky you were able to bring your Phantom home. They could have played the homeland security card and no more Phantom.
To what end? I think the whole notion that a national park is out of bounds for anything RC controlled loses its validity when a full scale helicopters is hovering at the same altitude, don't you think?
P.s. playing the homeland security card for flying a Phantom around a stream filming a few kayaks, what's so secretive about that really? Or would you consider a Phantom threatening to national security for that matter? If that's the case we're already doomed as there's millions out there apparently waiting to start a NWO? Lets keep it real shall we?
I was detained for about 45 minutes and taken to a separate area with me and 3 officers. I believe that constitutes an arrest by definition.
Brian Needle Being detained and being arrested are two totally separate things. I am not saying what happened did not totally suck, just saying there is a difference between the two.
"Arrest is the apprehending or detaining of a person in order to answer for an alleged or suspected crime" -USLegal.com/definitions
What a waste of public funds to let the police chase a guy with a drone with a helicopter. Like 4 officers were involved? Two on the ground, two in the helicopter. Gee... Let them please go after some REAL criminals.
It's a National Park, so you were fined appropriately. But the helicopter pursuit was an egregious exercise of authority and waste of tax dollars. Those officers should have been suspended.
Often they will send a helicopter over to check for an existing condition that warrants police intervention. Especially if they are in the air already. In this case flying a drone in a Nat.park is not permitted. At no point did I see any helicopter "attacking" a drone. That title sounds more like clickbait. People who don't like this law should write to their reps and try and get the law changed. Complaining on You Tube won't accomplish anything.
You can clearly see the shadow of the copter at 4:27, using the downward air wash will send another full helicopter to the ground. Would crash a drone in my estimate, but the maneuverability of the drone would win, like a boxer dodging punches.
hojo70 The pilot was flying recklessly! He should be fined by the FAA for interfering with an aircraft in us airspace. The drone legal or not could have caused injury to persons kayaking or maybe someting else. This is definitely a violation on the part of the helicopter pilot. You should send this video to the FAA and tell them you admit your wrong doing, paid the fine. However this heli pilot risked a lot to try and down a toy!
The drone pilot did nothing legally wrong with the exception of flying in a park. If the kayakers were part of the operation, it is legal. There were also fewer restrictions in 2014. Th FAA does not mandate the reporting of an incident with
Actually its not. First we don't even see a helicopter in this video, only a shadow. So we don't know exactly how high or how close to anyone the helicopter was. Secondly in most large cities and large park areas police use helicopters to perform aerial surveillance and/or to reach areas that are hard to get to by land vehicle or would take a long time to get to. Most police helicopter pilots are continually undergoing training and updates from flight services and the companies who make the machines they fly. They are fully aware of what their machine is capable and what it isn't capable of and what maneuvers constitute a risk with a given model of helicopter and what maneuvers are safe. Believe me,the guys who fly these helicopters want to land and get home in one piece, they are not looking to crash and end up dead. Last but not least most helicopter pilots are not looking to kill themselves or anyone else nor are they looking to have their pilots licenses revoked by making reckless moves. The FAA is extremely strict when it comes to reckless flying and endangerment.
only $70??????
America, the country of freedom. LOL
In some countries you cannot fly a drone or model airplane at all anywhere. Or,one can move to Somalia, pay the local warlord and then they can do anything they like. :)
WitchidWitchid its only illegal in US, not in europa
That's what I've been doing for years!
USA, from country of freedom to policestate, thats true........within 10 years, europe are in much the same situation.
You mean U.S because in others country's In our continent America are different status about drone's
Coming from an aviation mechanic, what that helicopter pilot did was far more dangerous than that quad copter flying pretty safely from the video and looked to be no higher than 500feet.
I agree with you sir. My dad was a jet mechanic and worked on fixed and rotary winged aircraft. What the helicopter pilot did was unsafe flying so close to the ground and if he had mechanical failure at that height, it would have been disaster. I am a registered Drone pilot with little experience but I respect the laws of flight, unlike that helicopter pilot.
+leegenix Hey man that's awesome. I am into fixed win RC. But I just picked up a blade nano qx 3D and I'm hooked on quad copters now. I went to FliteFest in Ohio last week and it was awesome.
Brett C Great, Brett. I have to report I just lost my drone. I flew it at night in a lit park because the wind was quiet. All of a sudden a gust of wind came and took it away. The batteries were low and lights were blinking. Otherwise I may have been able to bring it back. I'll look in the morning.
Beautiful photography. I don't understand their objection to your quad. To try to destroy your property if reprehensible and I think they should be made to answer for it!
These days they also would have confiscated your drone. This flight we see here was prior to the infamous drone (Phantom) crash on the White House lawn (Jan 2015) after which the DC FRZ became a "no drone zone" and it includes Great Falls. But any Phantom that has had a firmware upgrade since Feb 2015 is going to find that his motors won't start and the AC won't fly in the DC FRZ.
I have run into police over reaction to our evil 'drones' too (see my channel). Its a toy and they send a full size helicopter to battle it? Jeeze.... talk about dangerous situation. Good luck!
I actually saw your vid last week. Great job asking the questions that needed to be asked. That's the problem; nobody seems to know, police included, on what the rules actually are.
cant even argue he was disturbing the wildlife, that one bird sittin on the Rock just stared at the drone, didnt even fly off
Okay, I understand the no drones rules in national and state parks for safety, privacy and noise issues. However, when you use a REAL helicopter to enforce the rule, it kinda makes the original rule look really silly. Hey! Your 1.5 lb electric toy is making too much noise, i'll use my V8 powered manned helicopter that can blow trees down to make you go away. There, much safer and quiter for our guests! Sorry ma'am for your lost hat, you can buy a new one in the gift shop
The more I see these videos, the more I'm convinced that RC hobbyists who actually put in the wrench time to build their multi-rotors are far more respectful and responsible fliers than those who just bought a RTF quad with gps waypoints and altitude hold. I'm looking at all you DJI Phantom buyers - who rarely understands how flammable a lipo battery is or the inertial your quad has falling from a great altitude...
Of course not, but like the X8, I started off with smaller safer toy-grade quads that didn't have GPS autopilot, altitude hold, fpv, or long range that forced me to be proficient at manual LOS flying first. I've also built a 250mm racing quad, so I've put in "wrench time" as well.
You multi rotor guys are killing RC. There are rules that we folllow and you break them. It's been great for 50 years till now. Stop.
Great for 50 years? lol sorry but there is always goofs screwing around where they shouldn't, making it harder for us. Turbines they wanted to outlaw at fields for their danger, multi-rotor guys aren't the problem, it's the idiot users with no common sense. Lots of those at the flying fields too, old boys who nobody complains about when they can't fly worth shit.
Ronin's RCFreehold Great for 50 years means there was never a movement to outlaw RC, till now. Did you know this was happening? If I were to lose my right to fly safely and by the rules at my AMA sanctioned club fields do to this, I will be pissed and sad. It doesn't matter what happens at flying fields, that's why they are flying fields. National parks, beaches, historical monuments, populated areas and urban environments are not flying fields.
Ronin Pictures And there is a ton of old assholes there for sure. I had just opened my case and was swamped by a gaggle of old men giving me a free education, not only on the " club" rules but also the latest on the FAA interpretation of its outdated suggestions. I thank them for their Military Service, as some clearly served. Any where else but "their club" they would of been a bunch of old assholes putting their noses into what was not their concern. I sorry, but that's the truth. I had my AMA card visible, maybe not in a handy Tandy Leather Company stamped leather carrying case, but visible. So even membership in the AMA is not enough to quite the voices.
BTW - I am a Phantom pilot along with being a RC flyer for years. I follow the rules as they are now and will continue to do so. I look forward to "reasonable" regulations so that we can stop hearing about unsafe "drones"
Mr Needle,
Before claiming that a helicopter tried downing your drone I suggest you take a flight lesson in aviation and understand what it is like to fly an aircraft. A small object at a high rate of speed is very hard to see. Imagine driving a vehicle at 150mph and having a light colored object the size of a bird in front of you. Think you can notice it and have time to react?
Do some research on bird strikes in aviation. Maybe then you will understand that piloting your drone in an area frequented by helicopters put those pilots at risk. I also suggest you look up airspace rules. Clearly, you were in violation of a lot.
do your self a favor and re watch the video a few times.... the helicopter is clearly NOT going fast enough to have your point of view. also the helicopter has come to the toy.... and then proceeded to follow the toy. marksummers you should take a lesson in low flying helicopters near people, close to the trees, and close to a river bank.. there is no high speed maneuvers in that video PERIOD
Bruce, when you are referring to "helicopter" in your reply I assume you mean the drone. No where in this video can you see the actual helicopter.
I suggest you learn some respect, son, as I am a retired helicopter pilot that is very familiar with this area. Flying for over 40 years, I have had my fair share of bird strikes, and these "toys" in the air now are going to be an even bigger problem than birds are for pilots. I am glad to see that the NPS has banned them, and am looking forward to the day that the FAA bans them too. Hopefully, this will happen before a catastrophic event.
If any of you are familiar with this area, helicopters fly routes over the Potomac all the time. They are not "chasing drones, trying to knock them out of the sky" as the drone pilot stated. As I said earlier, traveling at a high rate of speed, (as the police helicopter was) it is very hard to see the drone.
The helicopter had every right to be there (he was under ATC control since he was inside the flight restricted zone). The drone pilot had no right to be there. He broke many rules, to include operating a drone in a National Park, piloting an aircraft in the Flight Restricted Zone, operating an aircraft over a wildlife refuge below 2000 feet without approval, and probably broke controlled airspace.
Marksummers You must've missed the obvious shadow of the full scale helicopter clearly visible in the video and the sound of its engine to be heard over the noise of the Phantom's propellers? I would like to suggest you watch the video again, a little closer this time around.
Marksummers scroll to 4:05 look in the top right corner. You will see the helicopter. As for you flying in these areas.. a helicopter that low should be doing one of two things 1 landing or 2 search and rescue. At no other point should it be that low ..and that close to people. for you should know, your a retired helicopter pilot. And at that altitude and speed you would very clearly see the toy in question
Sandersessen, usually rivers are used as routes for helicopters. And yes, they are permitted to fly that low (altitudes are restricted to below two hundred feet over the tidal basin for helicopters, and we all know that area has a helluva lot more people than great falls). Now imagine if some fool is flying his drone in that area? Let me guess, it would still be the helicopters fault if they collide and something catastrophic happens? I don't think so.
Spectacular footage! I'd say it was worth the $70 fine.
dude, you got some amazing footage before the cops attacked your drone
Great footage!! Keep up the good work!
Brian, I just saw this story on the nightly news and it pissed me off! Our local sanctioned AMA fields have just been closed down in the area. It's ignorant users like yourself that are ruining the hobby for those that follow the rules. Thanks buddy.
+ATCr That is just unfair and illogical. How was he suppose to know he couldn't fly there ? It was a totally innocent act that was dealt with extreme heavy handedness. Hardly generates respect for authority . Imagine if a drone flew that close to a helicopter, there would be hell to pay, but the other way around is ok ? Come on. You taking it out on the wrong people. Seems young people can't do anything nowadays without some crazy law stopping them, no wonder there are so many on Ice.
+Dave Love In the DJI manual, under safety guidelines, section 5 states,
Observe Local Laws and Regulations
• DO NOT fly in the No Fly Zones. You can find a complete list of these areas at flysafe.dji.com/
• The DJI No Fly Zone is not a replacement for local government regulations or good judgment.
• Avoid flying in areas where rescue teams are actively using the airspace.
Ignorance is not a replacement for stupidity.
No pity from me. His fine should have been higher.
+ATCr I did a search on that flysafe.dji.com page for Great Falls in the USA and the only no fly zone is within 3nm of the International Airport, which does not appear to cover the area where he was flying. It covers no area where there is a river running. As I said a totally innocent act. There are some pilots that do the wrong thing and fly up to 5000 feet etc, this guy isn't one of them. He was 50 feet above a river and rocks.
+Dave Love All national parks are no drone zones.
+ATCr Well I suggest that DJI updates their no fly list to reflect that.
I don't have a drone, and I do not understand what the 'authorities' are so damn scared of, but this treating of drone owners like they are the equivalent of a terrorist is absurd.
Wow !! If I wouldn't have seen it on video I wouldn't have believed it ...
There is always gonna be some-one that wants to make an issue out of an innocent incident like flying your drone. The best thing I found is not argue and promise not to fly my drone in the area again. Works every time. Awesome video!
Too many folks drones are used for nefarious purposes...lets prove them wrong.
just out of curiosity isn't their some kind of military base just down river on maryland side, ive seen anti aircraft guns inside fences
when did it become illegal to fly over nature in a park?
gorgeous footage by the way.
Having watched the great video - What exactly did you do wrong ?
You know, a helicopter pilot in Sunrise, FL got in trouble with the FAA for following a Quadcopter in a reckless manner, what that pilot did was endanger more people, and it was very reckless. You should report him to the FAA and show them your video as proof.
Great footage. What was the fine for? And, why would a police chopper risk flying so low to knock your Phantom out of the air?
That was cool. Sorry you got arrested. Probably should have asked the Park Service if it was OK before you flew it. The only park where any kind of RC is allowed at all is at Manassas and then its only gliders with a special permit under certain conditions.
Irregardless of the legality of the flight, the police were there where the pilot was, all they had to do was wait for him to fly it home. It's not going to be able to fly more than 20 minutes or so with a good battery setup. Using a helicopter to try and crash it was completely out of line. The FAA needs to pursue a case against that helicopter pilot for intentionally creating a near-miss situation.
Wow the cops have certainly got their priorities straight when it comes to fighting crime.
Franklin, a little local perspective. The US Park Police helicopter routinely flies low over the gorge. In fact the exact same
flight path as this hobby drone is flying in. This section of the Potomac river is heavily used for some outdoor adventure activities, as such the need for rescue is high. The helicopter has saved countless lives in a dangerous flying environment. Last thing they need is a foreign object causing the helicopter to crash into the gorge walls. In the end this drone operator was in the wrong.
Beautiful shots of the falls A total tribute
LOL, that might have been the first police chase involving a quad : )
The actions of the helicopter pilot seemed to stem from an emotional response, rather than a logical act of duty and having the best interest in safety of the surrounding area. It was very immature and dangerous. They should be subject to legal charges and internal disciplinary action, as they evidently mishandled the situation entirely.
Beautiful area. If it's not allowed to fly there, the police should have just wrote you a ticket and sent you on your way. Being detained for an hour was a waste of time.
Hi Brian, I have looked through the Q & A but could not see you. Could you please say whether or not you knew that flying drones in a state park was against their laws. Personally I think it is a stupid law as long as the drone pilot is flying safely.
Beautiful filming, well done. 😊😊
what was the fine for? I thought Great Falls would be cool place to fly.