That’s just not me I’m afraid. I will argue my point, always keep it polite and try NOT to antagonize but I will not just accept that I can be told what to do because someone, anyone, just feels they have the right to do so when they really don’t.
It may seem petty to some and they may wish to just toe the line in fear of upsetting the status quo but as I said, that’s not me. Unless there is push back by those that know their rights and aren’t afraid to stand by them then absolutely nothing will change. Unless the likes of the NT are challenged they will have absolutely no reason to change and they’ll continue to try and enforce their obsolete bylaw and the drone community will continue to be the losers.
And it’s worth remembering that any applications for a new bylaw or an update to an existing bylaw that specifically bans overflight of an area must be backed up with documented evidence (nuisance, damage, injury, harassment, invasion of privacy etc) to justify the banning on that flight. The NT has none.
Every one of the emails you have posted here have been antagonising so you aren’t trying very hard.
At the end of the day you are simply harassing some poor pen pusher that realistically has little to do with it and is in no place to change anything. Behaving in that way only leads to further sanctions and will just convert more people to being anti as they probably didn’t know anything about any of this until you decided to start a crusade.
Our answer with skating was always to simply be friendly and engaging, not arguing and going on our way when someone questioned us the next time we went back they would normally leave us alone because they likely realised we are just people trying to enjoy ourselves and are not causing harm.
Sorry I meant approach to go on one of the existing UK drone related podcasts, not via your actual radio. I thought as someone comfortable in that format it might be something worth talking about on one of the podcasts, and maybe the podcast people could get someone from NT/EH on as well so you could have a constructive conversation. Although I’m sure they would turn down the approach, but at least you’d tried and could still talk about the topic on the podcast.
Dont tell me your end goal is flying your quad around tescos (I actually skated around working in tescos when i was 16 while I can be a smart arse, we stopped doing that because it was dangerous :p)
True 99% of my quad flying is entirely illegal anyway, I just apply common sense as to not endangering others or their property (same as skating as well I guess)
Does anyone talk about things on the internet with the hope of actually changing someone’s mind?
An open mind is like a fortress with the doors unbarred.
Every discussion doesn’t have to be a matter of attempting to change people’s minds, most aren’t. It’s good to get others perspectives and for people to be able to present their perspective whether people agree with them or not.
My email was addressed to NT in a constructure way to point out to them that each of there points highlighted on their site was wrong and that by continually pushing laws and regulations that are wrong will then just drive people to ignore them.
Yes it went to a pen pusher, but that’s the route in to the NT at least initially. The evidence so far is that they have no intention of changing their current policy in any way to actually match the latest regulations or something that they could practically police.
I for one thank you for your efforts and agree with your approach. If people don’t make a stand, then expect to be dictated to by those who force their own bias by using their own interpretation of law.
The blow me jack I’m alright attitude and I will just do what I like, is all well and good until one finds themselves alone and in trouble.
IF the law is on the pilot side and they are flying legally there wouldn’t be. However surely its a better approach to ensure that one remains within those laws and all parties have a clear understanding of such. Simply interpreting a law or regulation to suit ones own agenda is a recipe for disaster.
What is the point of Drone training, registration and insurance if one claims that they ignore laws 99% of the time?
None. Which is why I advocate anyone stand your ground and not just say sorry, land the drone and walk away.
In a way my correspondence with the NT and others is nothing more than sticking up for one’s rights. Like muscles, flex them or they wither and die. We have the right to fly legally over any property not restricted by either the CAA or statutory implement such as a bylaw or other piece of local legislation so long as we adhere to the Drone Code. The minute you allow anyone to dictate that you can’t you are perpetuating their belief that they are in the right. If at the end of the day the NT do change their stance and change their UAV policy to reflect the regulation changes then that’s win win for the whole drone community.
There’s 2 types of pilots. Those that know the rules and fly where they know they can. Then there’s those that don’t know the rules, don’t care about them and fly wherever they want. The first don’t need the NT rules changing because they know where they stand legally. The other don’t give a toss if the rules are changed or not.
And there is a third. Those that aren’t quite sure and if confronted by a member of the public or National Trust employee will air on the side of caution, apologise, land their drone and walk away feeling they’ve have done something wrong. They are reason the likes of the NT need to change their policy.
