I saw the tragic news clip, then I’ve started reading this thread from the top as I had no idea what RID was, and why the air crash was relevant to the topic. Now I understand the context, and it links to something I was mulling over last night about UAV legislation.
Deaths and damage caused by drones per year in the UK, and cost to the tax payer? Answers on a post card please.
Deaths and damage caused by motor vehicles per year in the UK? 1607 fatalities in 2024, possibly upwards of 28,000 seriously injured. Cost to society - estimated at £43.5 billion.
Why legislate against UAV operators in this way, and not motorists? Why are black boxes on motor vehicles not yet compulsory? Why can you still buy a car or bike that can do double the speed limit? Etc etc etc.
Is it because we are a minority? Answers on another post card please.
Zero deaths, zero cost to the tax payer.
Unknown value, I suspect less than £1m per year. Cost to the tax payer, also unknown.
Good question 
The ATC were aware that the chopper was there. The pilot was seemingly asked on more than one occasion if he had visual of the plane, and told not to approach until it was clear.
Easy money, albeit a miniscule amount.
I don’t think you can deny that drones being flown illegally have cost the taxpayer money; the military efforts and investigations into the East Anglian incidents must have cost a bit, not to mention police involvment in NOTAM breaches in Liverpool & Portsmouth. Drones have caused no damage or injury/death that the taxpayer has had to foot the bill for though.
Thinking of the 2018 Gatwick kerfuffle, I think it is probable that imaginary drones have cost the taxpayer a lot more than real ones!
Comparing motorists, motorists have a fairly strict set of laws that they should abide by on public roads; they certainly can’t do as they like! The problem here is that the laws are indifferently imposed, so that speeding is so endemic that motorists actually complain if they are picked up by a GATSO, as if that was in some way unfair and exploitative. Parking regulations are routinely ignored as well, blocking pavements for pedestrians, because the perps know that the police or wardens are unlikely to get around to dealing with them. The perps are ordinary car-owners who do not think of themselves as crims, but they are crims nonetheless!
Motorists are legislated ‘against’, but the legislation is usually not enforced because there aren’t enough traffic cops. Don’t get me started on cyclists (I am one, btw, and before you ask I obey traffic lights and agree we should be licenced & have 3rd party cover).
Very well written - cyclist, motorcyclist, and ex police officer here. I’d perhaps simply add that my examples of what could be done to make the roads safer may not happen because of the attitudes from motorists you have mentioned. Anyway - I think I have had my rant, you keep safe on your push iron mate!
The ones round here wear all black, black hats, black bikes & no lights at night and behave like utter tossers, I’ve nearly hit a few as they’ve shot across the road just feet in front of me, if you hit the horn they look aggrieved & give me the finger. Well I ask who is going to come off worst if I don’t hit the breaks in time me in a 2 1/2 ton car or them on their night camouflaged bike and their pockets full of drugs.
Can we keep things on topic, please. 
Sorry “Victor Meldrew syndrome “, got the better of me. I’ll shut up now.
Apparently the TCAS (traffic collision avoidance system) on aircraft, only advises pilots of a possible collision. It doesn’t tell them whether to go up, go down, turn left or right. As the aircraft was on final approach, undoubtedly the pilots workload is already quite high. I can’t see for the life of me why, the FAA / ATC allow helicopters to either cross or fly along the inbound route at any time, specially at night too. 
Breaking News…
You heard it here first
Its coming Jan 2026
RID will be a requirement on all drones
Anyone got a link to this, can’t find nothing on the internet that it’s definitely coming, not that I’m doubting just can’t find anything about it .
Time to order some more ESP32s. Not that Id condone spoofing 
That’s why it’s breaking you won’t find it yet but you will soon
It’s coming
Thanks, you know how I read this first ( your reply ) that is,
No, it’s not breaking me, is it bothering me ‘ yes ‘
it’s 3:35am I can’t sleep. Thank you @RemoteIDsaveslives for saving me from my insomnia this evening 
Sorry mate 
My main point was this 
not to watch it 