I was wondering what kind of drone pilots we have here in our club?
Are you a pilot that likes to stand in the shadows trying to avoid eye contact with any persons in the vicinity?
Or are you bold and confident enough not to be worried of onlookers and confrontations.
As someone who falls largely in the first category I wanted to know how others deal with drone flying anxiety.
I can’t help feeling when flying that anyone that notices the drone must hate it! When in actual fact my personal experiences have been the complete opposite! So why do I feel like this?
Am I alone? How do our more confident members go about their flying.
Any tips and strategies would be very helpful to help me and others get the most out of this fantastic hobby.
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I definitely fall into the first category too. I always try to find a quiet spot to launch from, away from other people. However i have had no negative interaction whatsoever from anybody that has come along. I am relatively new to the hobby though, having only been flying a couple of months. But the only responses I’ve had from passers by have been curiosity, or nothing whatsoever.
Having said that, i do know a large part of the reasons for my personal anxiety. I’m on the the autism spectrum, so all interactions with strangers are to be avoided, wherever possible, as far as im concerned, so that adds extra motivation for me to try to find quiet dark corners to fly from, hehe. So its unlikely that a lot of positive responses would ever make me start flying in a way that deliberately draws attention to myself.
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I’m on the fence on this. Neither hide nor try to stand out. I’d rather not have confrontation, but try to make people aware of the rules/ laws.
Having said that, I did take down a video of my local area, posted on a local Faceache group, due to repeated complaints from some folks ( who’s properties didn’t actually appear on the video) Typical complaints were, “I didn’t give you permission to fly over my house” ( don’t worry love, you live a mile and a half away from me) to, “ You’re encouraging criminals to come and rob my garden during the night.” ( Yeah like crims are interested in a blue wheelie bin and a ten year old, rotten trampoline and a rusty barbecue from BnQ) The worst complaint was that “You may inadvertently video young children playing in peoples gardens.” ( wasn’t exactly warm when I did the video, and this one person kept on mentioning “young children” so much, I told him I was worried by his own interest in “young children”) , so I deleted the video off the group. 
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For arguments sake, I’ll presume I’m flying sub 250.
Where ever looks comfortable for me i will TAOL . I don’t even consider conflict as in nearly 10 years I’ve had 1 ( at the start) negative experience ( and the guy shouted from 200m away). I actual relish showing people what it can and can’t do. So I’m definitely not a hider.
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Depends on my own mood as well as the situation, at times I dont want to stand out, at other times I dont mind doing so… Most of my flying is done away from other folks, the few times they have come to talk to me it has been a positive experience. But I think like many I have a bit of social anxiety, so tend to keep to myself most of the time…
TBH going to Drone meets is helpful as I meet other likeminded folks, and dont feel as anxious meeting others as I do at other times…
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Good question, I personally want to stay out of the way with anxiety issues. I overthink too much like GAD. I have only had one problem where we were flying and through the trees was a dog walker who kept shouting have you got your operator ID and your flyer ID. In the end I shocked myself by shouting “if you know all the laws then you should request me to land before disturbing me and then have a shout”. He trundled off and I did lower myself to his level shouting a couple of words out the car window as I drove past him leaving. Oops. He did have me shaking a little but I just got out of there.
I personally like to find somewhere out of the way and hide but at the same time I love it when someone shows a genuine interest. I have had a few people come over to me and want to know more. A family turned up and actually asked me if I wanted them to move from the area and I replied telling them it was fine, I would move keep out of their way. Then the kids wanted to see themself on camera and waved at the drone looking at the screen. If someone does come near me I like to tell them not to worry and the drone will not come near them, I feel it puts them at ease as they know I am aware of them and I am just enjoying flying. I have had some people just stop and hang around watching. I am aware that Birmingham have issues with people flying in the park but I have not had a problem yet. Although Birmingham probably can not afford Park Rangers any more. Shame though as my mate used to be a park ranger and I ended up with all the keys to the parks in Birmingham at one stage. Now and again I helped him lock up at night. There are some places I would love to fly but I do not feel confident enough to go there. I also consider the problem that if something was to happen I can not just walk away, I have to land. I do a wrekkie of the site and also work out that if we were to be threatend then can I just get in the car and the passenger be able to chase our car and land near us when safe. If someone was to try to take the control from me have I got time to turn it off and despite them running off with it just wait for the drone to RTH (hoping they do not turn it on). My mind just takes over and I just think… naaa somewhere else. Better when there are more of you as you. More comforting. More security in a group but I have spend the last 5 years of my life with neighbours that would happily end your life if you asked them to pick up rubbish so I am over cautious of not knowing what that person’s intentions are that are approaching. Nice when they make conversation and are nice about things. Sometimes even a group of young lads turn out to be interested. One guy I have met on two occasions in a car has pulled out a mini 2 and said he never goes anywhere without it.
So I do fall into the (hide in the corner out of the way) group but am also happy to be seen if there are nice people around.
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I fly now where and when I want since the advent of sub 250 (within the rules pretty much)
Was a bit more cautious in the phantom days.
I do conflict resolution a lot at work so pretty confident, most people are interested more than anything.
I also stay away from Facebook groups, you cant win an argument v Karen.
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If I’m flying in a particularly busy area, I just like to have a spotter with me for 2 reasons really so they can keep their eye on the drone for me while I’m adjusting camera settings and so if anybody does approach me they can be the informative one and interact with them so they don’t distract me. Also safety in numbers I’d never fly FPV without a spotter, not because its the law but for 2 major reasons 1, If I’m alone in a field with goggles on my face anybody could approach me and steal my gear. and 2, If and when I crash then they can point me in the direction where I crashed because its so easy to lose orientation while flying FPV if you crash you won’t have clue where to start looking to retrieve your drone lol
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A very very anxious one here that half don’t do myself no favours,
Spend hours trying to plan before my said location, so I know exactly when & where I’m TOAL’ ing from,
To then sometimes get to where I’ve planned & all is not what I feel comfortable with but to anyone else it’s probably fine, so yes very anxious,
That said if or when I get over that, where ever I am once in the air I tend to be ok, but if I then hear someone around me then panic sets in again, until they’ve passed or moved on etc, I always tend to try & say a quick morning or afternoon,
Worst case, is having drove many miles & same scenario as above, just to come back with nothing due to my anxiety’s, I hate it I’m on meds for it I’ll openly admit, it’s like a disease & many a time it gets the best of me,
So I’m a very anxious / nervous flyer .
That said, after just reading Deano’s post above, if I’m with someone say Chris clink / spotter for instance I’m fine, it’s when I’m on my own.
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I stay away from facebook altogether. I did once go on to catch up with people I once knew and ended up with a stalker… So so so so so strange. Not going to go into what requests I have. Now just keep the account for evidence should I need to call the police lol. Never log on facebook now.
Fully understand more then you think, if we are flying we can look out for each other buddy
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Definitely in the first category but hopefully armed with the correct way to fly in all situations i will get that confidence, one day!
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Having mini meets around the country does help people I feel
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Best wishes, i can certainly feel your anxiety!
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great ideas
I don’t make a point of standing out nor do I hide away. I think my body language gives the impression that I have a right to be there.
It probably also helps that a lot of my flying is in open areas with great sea or landscapes so it is obvious why I am flying in that spot. Although one of my drones is sub 250g I haven’t used the freedoms that gives apart from one occasion when I did my own roof inspection.
If people walk by I smile at them. Most carry on but some stop to see what I am taking pictures of. They are treated to a look at the screen and a view of the drone coming back towards us so they can see themselves. I have never had a face-to-face confrontation when flying and only one Karen shouting at me from behind the sea wall and in the safety of her caravan awning.
I learnt early on in my computer installation career to look as if you were in control. As long as you looked happy with what you were doing people didn’t pester you even though internally you may be bricking it!
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Same as me 
I’m very careful where I fly from specifically to avoid confrontation. Not because of fear or anxiety, but because of varying moods I might just tolerate it and shrug it off, or I might try to defuse it, or I might see red mist. But so far, in nearly a year of flying, no confrontations. Just a handful showing interest.
If I’m in a town/village centre type of location, I’ll launch the Mini 3 Pro from a safe area and get it high as quickly as possible until I cannot hear it. Then others are unlikely to hear it either. Then when I’ve finished I’ll get it directly overhead and descend and land quickly. Hopefully I’ve done it with minimal manoeuvring and it’s landed and shutdown within a few seconds.
The Mavic 3 Pro is a different story. At the moment, because I haven’t had it long and I’m dragging my feet getting the A2 qualification, it’s remote locations only. But I’m still aware of how much noisier it is than the Mini and I’m always looking for people coming out of nowhere. Depending on the wind, I can get it up to around 50m + and it’s barely noticeable. Other days I’ve had it at 120m and can hear it as clearly as the Mini at head height. I think it’s the Mavic that will eventually be the one most likely to get me in to conversations.
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Firstly thank you all for your responses.
What strikes me already is how very similar our anxieties are.
As some have said most of my anxiety occurs when I’m procrastinating about taking off. My Wife is for ever telling me that I know the rules, I’ve taken the relevant qualifications, I’m always respectful of peoples personal space and I know where I can and can’t take off from. "SO JUST FLY THE DAMN THING" 
As ever She is correct.
Going forward I will endeavor to be more confident when out flying.
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This is me too, but I also do most of my flying at sunrise and sunset when the light is best, so not always a lot of people about (unless I’m flying at a wedding then I do have a right to be there 
).
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