Nice piece Nick, well done.
I wish I had the patience to explain in such detail.
Nicely written 
Unfortunately, drones have been to subject to so much bad publicity by:
- Unsubstantiated drone incidents that in reality most likely never occurred such as Gatwick.
- Pilots who crashed their aircraft and were looking for a quick get out for their own stupidity so blamed impact by drone (Later confirmed as rubbish by the AIB).
- Pilots with immaculate vision who at one stage reported seeing UFOs in their airspace, now reporting drones that they spot flying past their windows at 200+kts or which later may possibly have been a polythene bag in the windā¦ hard to tell at that speed I guess.
- News and especially the BBC (Bulls##t Boll##ks Corporation) who produce scaremongering documentaries with fake scientific basis or by using security specialists want to boost their own income. Funny how the BBC use drones in almost every programme filled outside.
- Animal rights idiots who think they scare animals to death, however never seem to think of the reality of using helicopters instead when filming those amazing save the planet documentaries.
- People who just want something to moan about reality and hate everything.
- People that canāt afford them.
During the recent drone registration scheme review one thing that was of important note was that the reviewing comity advised that something needs to be done to counter the negative perception with regards to drones.
I guess that we can live in hope.
The most that we can do is try to improve perception ourselves. When I fly both camera and racing drones, as often as possible I ask people watching to come over so that they can have a look at my screen or use the spare FPV goggles that I usually carry. I walk them through the flight and show them the best views that I can get at the time. Itās amazing how peoples perceptions changeā¦ and kids go home wanting one!
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This. Anyone who stops to watch I always invite over to chat drones. Not had one snarky comment yet, just people amazed by how cool the mavic 2 is.
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With regard to the general points being made by Zelly Restorick in the Hastings Online Times, and subsequently answered by Nick, I asked a legal colleague of mine about where the law stands on some of the issues, and particularly āPrivacy invadedā (to quote Zelly).
From this university-based Lecturer in law, the first thing pointed out is that every camera user should be aware of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998. Other legislation which may also be relevant include Public Order Act 1998, Protection from Harassment Act 1997, Sexual Offences Act 2003, and Public Nuisance.
There are three legal areas likely to be of more significance to drone users than to other camera users. They all fall under ātortā law (the duty not to engage in behaviour which wrongfully infringes the rights of another):
a. trespass - if my drone lands on another personās property
b. nuisance - if my drone interferes with a personās right to the use and enjoyment of their land
c. privacy - the most relevant, and most contentious, issue covers the āreasonable expectationā of privacy - if my drone is a threat to privacy
On the latter, there is little caselaw in the UK specifically covering drones. Prior to being accused of invading privacy, however, it would be wise to ensure we are compliant with The Information Commissionerās Office guidelines on drones. This is useful, since there are examples of likely invasion of privacy (othersā back gardens or hovering outside windows), and certainly compliance with this code could form the basis of a legitimate defence.
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it seems to me that no matter how much responsible owners do the press, authorities and public will only remember what irrisponsible owners do
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Iāve been flying on the local closed golf course this afternoon - lots of dog walkers and runners - all super friendly. A couple of them even sat down to watch and have a chat 
When my little Cygnet is at full chat itās a heck of a lot noisier than a Mavic 
Lots of live and let-live people near me
Iām yet to meet someone abrasive when Iāve been out flying, which is probably for the best - Iām not sure I could be as polite as some of you have been when incorrectly confronted 
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Sometimes itās what isnāt said that can cause frustration.
Today I was in a far flung corner of a very rarely used Rugby pitch. I chose the location for the seclusion and for the fact itās surrounded on all sides by tall trees to reduce wind issues.
The reason for the flight was to tune a new build, a large Dead Cat frame with a Pixhawk, not the easiest due to its asymmetrical shape. I was using Autotune so the craft pitches, rolls, and yaws, quite violently during this process so it needs the undivided attention of the operator to catch it if it starts to run away.
Anyway, no sooner had I started the process, and as if by magic, a dog walker and three dogs suddenly appeared. Two of the three dogs start jumping up at me and the third runs under the quad. The owner of the dogs just ignored the two that were clawing me and followed the third underneath my quad. I may not look it most of the time but Iām disabled and rely on a cane for walking so having two dogs jumping up at me was tempting fate that Iād tumble. I shouted to the owner, politely, for him to call his two dogs and his reply was āYouāre a big lad, they wonāt hurt youā, and with that he turned his back and carried on walking under the quad with his third dog.
Thinking back on this it could have easily gone very bad for all concerned and if it had, even though Iām insured to the hilt and have all the permissions now required of me, I know that Iād have been the one with a major headline news article flaming me.
Regards
Nidge.
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Lovable family pets killed by irresponsible drone.
I guess it would keep The Duke of York out of the papers for a few days ;o)
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FFS
Was he being passive-aggressive or just stupid?
I guess Iām just lucky 
(I was trying out some new rates today too - still not right but no unscheduled landings 
)
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This has really annoyed me, some people really are tossers.
I had one last night with 2 dogs, 1 walked up and had a dump (the dog not the owner) right next to meā¦ The owner was mortified and we had a good chat about drones and how useful they are, he was an ex-fireman and said they should be used more in that sort of situation.
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Which oneās this Dave? Eccleston Park?
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Indeedy
Probably not the place, but as a responsible drone flyer it upsets me that others are not as thoughtful.
You could say it is my Negative Attitude to other drone users.
But I had a phone call at work this morning and a visit from the site manager asking if I was flying my drone over the school, I said no as I was at my desk.
We went outside and there it was, a mavic air (the same drone as I have) hovering over the school, directly over the school. It then moved over other buildings on the campus.
I was angry, as the comments from staff who had joined us to watch the drone, where negative towards drones, āthat is why they should be bannedā, āprivacy issueā, etc. I agreed with them, not the banning, explained the law on drone flying to them.
Also the school sits in the middle of a NFZ that covers most of the City.
I can now see why people get so worked up over drones due to the irresponsibility of a few.
Moan over.
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you will always get idiots, I have been fortunate not to meet anyone anti drone yet. im sure I will. all us responsible owners can do is stick to the rules and respect other people using the area we fly in.
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Well done for writing an excellent article. You said it allā¦
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Hi Hastings,
I have just read your article and I think you have put your views in a very contructive way.
Iām new to drones and you are quite right the only reason myself and others have gotten into this hobby, is to get enjoyment from scenary taken from an other perspective.
Not interested in what other people are doing.
So well done for standing up for the drone community.
Kind regards
Pete.
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