Lol, that sounds like an Ozzy Man Review of FPV drones 
Don’t bow too hard. Maybe I can’t hit a 100’ x 200’ gap. 
Exactly!!! Spot On!!!
We are not the drone police, the drone police are.
How on earth are you meant to fly a drone, intended for making videos and pictures, without taking your eye off the drone? How do you compose your shot? How do you compose your video? Do you always have someone with you? You, looking at the drone, while your someone looks at your screen and tells you when to press the shutter button?
Nobody here is encouriging anything, only suggesting how to do it more safely.
The CAA don’t care about how you go about videoing or photographing, they are only concerned with how safely you fly the drone. I sort of assume that because they are not stupid and know a lot more about flying than I do, they are fully aware that drones cannot be flown strictly to their requirment (VLOS at all times) because, as well as the camera, you have to consult the screen for battery, signal, gps satellite, height, distance and all sorts of other info vital to your safe flying of the drone.
Now, I’m not comfortable with this. Not so uncomfortable that it would prevent me from flying my drone or video/photographing from it, but it bothers me. I am by nature a law-abiding person, not only out of respect for my fellow humancreatures but also to immunify myself against crimimal or civil legal action; I obey the law so I’m safe, right? Well, sort of at least.
But where is my immunification? Suppose, for example, that I was flying my drone and collided with another drone while I was looking at my screen for a legitimate purpose, destroying both drones and crashing onto a main road causing a serious RTA. There will be an ensuing criminal and civil legal mess, and I suspect that if it becomes known that I was not looking at the drone at the moment of collision, I’m gonna be liable for damages and possibly imprisoned. And any defence lawyer worth his fee will do his best to ensure that this is exactly what happens. Ok, it’s an unlikely scenario, but not an impossible one! Thank fuck for GADC’s £5million indemnity, but it won’t keep me from having to pay fines or go to prison.
But, to take motoring as an example, similar in the sense that drivers are required to look where they are going at all times but have to glance away to check instruments, mirrors, &c., I doubt there have ever been any instances where a car driver was found at fault for checking his speedometer or mirrors. This seems to be an established interpretation of the laws, and a reasonable one at that. I’d just be happier if a similar established interpretation had been set by case law regarding drones. but I suspect drones have not been around long enough for this to be in place. Comment from anyone who knows their legal onions would be appreciated.
If I know that I’m going to be looking at the screen for any longer than a very brief period, camera settings or altering waypoints for example, I am currently adopting the practice of hovering while I do so. This means that a) I know where the drone is when I look back from the screen, and b) if anyone hits me, it’s their fault (but I suspect the onus would be on me to prove it!). It’s a general background worry and I’d like a definitve answer, but probably won’t get one. General consensus seems to be ‘fly and be damned’, but I’m not that keen on being damned…
I reckon that this situation will change in the future. Prediction; manual flying of drones will be discouraged, possibly illegal, and probably impossible, drones will become more autonomous and waypoint flying will be normal. A waypoint -based flight plan will be authorised in real time online by the CAA or any authority concerned, you turn up, log on, plan is approved by app possibly with reminders about nearby FRZs, NOTAMS, ground hazards, you press fly, and concentrate on filming; the drone and waypoint app will do the rest. In the case of a crash. flight records will determine culpability, you, the other pilot, the app, shared damages. Flight records have already established that the loss of my Mini 2SE to mobbin seagulls was not my fault and enabled my insurer to authorise a payout. BVLOS will be normal and there will be no requirment for VLOS; range will be whatever the drone is capable of (I reckon my Mini2 is theoretically capable of an out-and-back mission of about 8km, about 7 and a half km BVLOS) but there may well be a lower altitude safety limit, say 30m, except for TOAL. To achieve this it will be normal for drones to have all-round obstacle sensors in 3 dimensions.
And lasers for the seagulls of course… SquaaAAAAKKK, splashplop, hisssss!
Rather good impression of a lasered seagull’s expression…
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Many thanks for the advice Ian. I shall look that and do a bit of practise!
Many thanks for the heads-up on the NOTAM. I am actually planning to do a fly through in December, when the sunrise is in the right position and hopefully tide and weather conspire to give me the best possible outcome. I am ever the optimist! I’ll have a better idea a week or so ahead of the planned flight, as its a 1 1/2 drive plus a 45 min walk from Lulworth to Durdle Door (in the dark) as the carpark at DD will be closed. So a very early start!
Way point planning seems a clever sensible approach. I hadn’t thought of that. I shall try that at home. I just need to find a building and a safe environment where I can execute a trial. Ie fly around the back of the building with no LOS.
Which drone do you have?
Edit: Just seen in another thread - Mini 4 Pro.
It’ll probably be during the week, to limit the likelihood of there being many people about. It’ll be mid December so it’ll be pretty cold I imagine!
Thanks for the advice. Having done some research online, it appears that using Waypoints (and a setting 'To continue" within Waypoints, if signal is lost ) will enable the drone to continue flying with a caveat of RTH if signal is completely lost, which is unlikely. Watch this space!!
Loved your film. It perfectly captures the realtime feelings when you’re doing some flying that is a bit edgy and risky. Well done, great job. Secretly I think, to most of us there is some appeal in that mini adrenaline rush when it’s all hanging by a thread, but has a happy ending!!! Alternative scenarios are not so fun!!
Thanks for the reply. Having done a little research, there appears to be another option other than DJI phone, namely The Hollyland Lark M2 remote mic which is described as having a sound pic up to 300m! Slightly cheaper as well, but gets very good reviews. I’m thinking Christmas list!!
All these possible scenarios are really interesting! Thank you! DoC Col has said the hole is 30m wide and 61m high. I wonder if this would be picked up by the sensor if I go straight for the middle of the hole! I am planning to do a hand take off from the shoreline, so I’ll be pretty close to it, to gauge.
Very sound advice, thank you.
That is also very good advice, thankyou.
That is precisely when I plan to fly. Around midweek, the middle of December, when the sun will be at its most SE position. Just need the weather, the sea state and the sun to be onside!
No. I have flown through way smaller archways without incident, although only a few over rivers and non over the sea. 
The potential issue is the drone lowering to avoid an obstacle above straight into the drink. Sensors are not so robust and can get confused when over water.
Here’s an example using a mini 3 Pro in OA mode set to bypass.
