Hi everyone, Chris from Gloucester here, now a week into owning a Mini 3 Pro I still have trepidations whenever I send her up! I have had a YouTube Channel for a long time now concentrating on maritime and walking films. I thought a drone an ideal companion to enhance my films. However having a drone does seem to bring out the worst in people. This morning a good example. Standing in a quiet area, on a wide public footpath I suddenly had a chap dressed in reflective clothing asking me what I was doing. I was filming a passing train and he told me that it is frowned upon to do that. I did stay calm!!
3 Likes
Hi @Bargemaster and welcome to Grey Arrows 
Looking for recommendations of places to fly? Check out our interactive map on Drone Scene - be sure to log in to gain access to the full suite of features and map layers:
And please feel free to add locations of your own too!
Looking for Public Liability Insurance? Then look no further, we offer £5,000,000 worth of cover to our Insured Members! Details of our insurance can be found at:
Interested in becoming a member of our Club? Read about all the benefits of membership at:
Wondering whether you can fly a particular model of drone under particular circumstances? Check out Good 2 Go where you’ll soon find the answer 
Have you seen our members map? (Click the burger-menu in the top right) You may find some pilots living near you. Feel free to add yourself to the members map too 
We’re a well established club with many knowledgeable members so it’s very likely that any issues you come across will have been discussed here before. Our discussion forum has very powerful search features which should help you find what you need but if you get stuck you can post a new question in the Questions & Answers category.
Our Associates are able to enjoy a lot of great services for free but our Members are eligible for a whole lot more! You can find all the details about our Membership Benefits on our FAQ 
And finally, if you are new to drones and wondering what it’s all about, have a look at Resources for a beginner.
Welcome once again!
1 Like
Hello @Bargemaster chris welcome to the club.
1 Like
Hi Chris @Bargemaster and welcome to GADC 
1 Like
Hi Chris - welcome to GADC
1 Like
Hi Chris from Gloucester, sadly, it does happen from time to time. Hoping that the Karens of this world will get used to drones, like the did with cars a century ago.
It is the exception, not the rule though, so please don’t be put off. I have only had 3 encounters like yours in over 1,000 flights.
-
If your drone isn’t in the air at the time, my advice would be remain polite, and explain to them that you are legal and within your rights to fly.
-
If you are flying when they approach, ask them to wait so you can land the drone, as interfering with a pilot whilst flying a UAV can land them in trouble.
I’m only 20 minutes south of you, so if you are out an about, feel free to message me to meet up.
Welcome to the forum Chris, you’ve come to a great place. To be fair there’s no bad thing about people asking questions, but the manner in which they ask will solicit different respnses from form me. They range from:
Afternoon mate, how are you today? Yeah I’ll bring it in and show you.
Genuinely interested and ask all the same questions. How far, how fast, how much
To
Foxtrot Oscar my friend, call the police if you want to waste their time, yours, and mine.
Typical busy bodies that think you’re up to no good and also think they are carrying out some sort of public service. They think they know the laws, but they really don’t.
To
Fuck off you prick
Fortunately the first answer outweighs the rest by 100 to 1 (at least). Most people are genuinely interested, but there are the 0.5% that are just dicks for the sake of it. I have only met two so far.
Don’t let these people put you off, as long as you fly safe and within CAA rules then all is good. Know your rules and rights and politely stand your ground.
Hi Chris, welcome to Grey Arrows 
Common place ,I’ve had the Police attend because I was flying a Drone and someone called it in ,I have tol point set out coned ,pre flight checks logged in log book,cones round tol,hi viz with Drone Pilot on back if I have someone with me they wear hi viz with Drone Crew on the back ,magnetic signs on van front and rear ,used to phone 101 and give them what 3 words location ,ish now don’t bother have ID card with relevant numbers and Insurance details ,people just don’t understand each flight is recorded,and can be reviewed.
WOW, do you seriously go to those lengths for every flight? I take it you are commercial?
No retired Professional,if you can’t do it right just don’t do it,don’t mind horses but no desire to labled Cowboy .
I aint no cowboy. But cones NO, HiViz NO, log books NO, drone crew NO, call 101 NO
I do it right though, I stick to the CAA rules. Aint never killed or harmed anyone or anything.
If I had to go through that shit every time I flew a drone I’d put the fuckers in my woodburners for extra heat.
Now get off your milk and drink your horse 
YEEHAAAW
Well, that’s 1,500 flights less for me then 
Very unusual but get out there again and fly.
You did nothing wrong.
Frown upon … Well I frown when people leave their dogs off the lead. Can’t do anything about it nothing wrong. Shared space and all that .
One tip, as I flew more I had confidence to go higher. At 20m+ especially at 80m+ with a dji mini 3 it almost impossible to hear. So no one notices.
Again I have one frowned upon moment, I remained calm offers to delete all footage and explain how I was flying legally. They went off happy. Every other time people think it fun and keen to see the screen.
1 Like
Hi Chris and welcome aboard GADC site
Many thanks for the notice, will certainly do as you do, print it off and keep with drone.
Best wishes
Bargemaster, Gloucester