Just watched the excellent video by @ianinlondon on the new regs. Thanks for that Ian, makes everything clear.
Some of you may know that I’m partial to flying over fish farms, spreading the news about Scottish Salmon. As they are undoubtedly “commercial areas” then I’m pretty much buggered now and will have to stay 150 metres away, which is a huge problem.
Question is, what will give me the best 1080p video quality, my M2 Zoom at full 4X zoom 150 metres away or a Mini 2 at 50 metres away?
The short question is, do I need a Mini 2 to carry on doing the work I’m doing?
Sorry, yes, my mistake. I realise the Mini 2 will be unrestricted, until the end of the transition period. But then I’d probably be buying something new anyway! Is there any point keeping the M2Z or should I just use it as a doorstop?
Personally I’d ignore the 150m rule in this situation, but that’s just an opinion. Is it any different to forestry or agriculture? I don’t think those should be treated as “commercial areas” even though they are clearly commercial activities. The aim of the rule is to keep you away from places with a higher risk to uninvolved persons, and I think 50m (with A2 CofC of people are present) would be defensible.
But clearly you need to make your own judgement - don’t rely on advice from random weirdos on the internet!
Common sense would say that, I agree. The trouble is, we are waging a war against very wealthy salmon farming companies, who have very expensive lawyers and if we make the slightest mistake, you can guarantee they will be falling over themselves to take legal action. We’re doing damage to their profit margins and they’re looking for any excuse to nobble us.
You already have shocking (and effective*) close-up footage of the salmon in their pens, so just use the 150m footage to keep track of their installations and commercial activity, and intercut with the old close-up material?
not bought Scottish farmed salmon since seeing the footage
Thanks Andrew. That’s a good point, but I do like to try and get new stuff. Especially white lesions on the fish, which mean disease. I haven’t managed much of that yet. Also, the killer shot will be the workers loading dead fish into the on-board incinerator! Every one counted for the records, of course!
Of course I can’t deny the thrill of skulking about in the bushes doing covert filming.
Apologies if I haven’t read the regs correctly, they are very confusticating at times, I thought the 150m rule was only for directly ABOVE a building, or installlation. I was of the understanding that the 150m ‘bubble’ had been removed and you could go to within 50m horizontally but not within 150m vertically above. Maybe someone can enlighten me.
With the A2 CofC certificate you are now allowed to fly in industrial, residential and built-up areas, though still keeping 50m from uninvolved people (how hard is that going to be!). Do these not count as industrial?
Without the A2 CofC you’re in the A3 (Transitional) subcategory, which does specify a 150m limit from residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas.
But once you have the A2 CofC you can fly the M2Z in the A2 (Transitional) subcategory, and then it’s all about the people (50m horizontally from uninvolved persons) and you don’t have the 150m limit for the specific area types.
With the Mini 2 you’re in the Legacy A1 category, and that’s “Fly over uninvolved people, but not crowds”.
Couple of things I’d be considering:
How far out from shore are the farms? The Mini 2 disappears from view a lot quicker than the Zoom, so will you be able to maintain VLOS and get close enough?
You might be okay to fly very close with the Mini 2 under CAA regs, but I’d be wary of opening yourself up to accusations of harassment. I’m no legal expert and don’t know how it would fare in court (I’d like to think there’s a ‘public interest’ defence) but is it worth the hassle if you can get the shot you need from further out?
Knowing what our weather is like, the Zoom is going to give you more options when the breeze picks up.
Personally, I’d go for the A2 CofC and stick with the Zoom at 50m. I’ve just done mine through UAVHUB and highly recommend it - easy course to follow, no classroom involved any more, and a proctored exam so you can book a slot in the middle of the night if that’s what suits. If you put your mind to it I reckon you could do the course and exam over a weekend. Also, at £99 it’s a good bit cheaper than getting the Mini 2.
Saying that, I’ve just got the Mini 2 and it is very nice. Quite looking forward to plucking up the courage to take it for a spin in town
I must have misunderstood somewhere along the line. I thought that with an A2 Cof C You were OK up to 50 metres from people but still had the 150m limit from residential, commercial, industrial etc.
Is there any point keeping the M2Z or should I just use it as a doorstop?
