First off, apologies if the individual concerned is on here and I have completely misread the situation described below!
I went up to Cromer on the North Norfolk coast yesterday morning to catch the lifeboat launch (cheeky plug for that video here).
After parking up, I made my way down the steps towards the beach and noticed a chap in the classic “drone pilot pose” looking down at a controller. I was aware that the lifeboat would be launching shortly, and thought the sensible thing to do would be to make the guy aware that I would be flying to film the launch.
The chap seemed completely bewildered by me approaching him. He established that I would be flying off the end of the pier, mumbled “That’s fine” and went back to his screen.
I should say that his drone was nowhere in sight, so I had no way to tell what or where he was flying.
I’m fully aware of how annoying it can be when you get members of the public approaching with the classic “how high/fast does it go?” questions, but feel like if another pilot made me aware they were flying I’d just be grateful for the information.
Just curious what others think - should I have just cracked on regardless?
That’s a good point, what’s the usual protocol?
As a total beginner I would definitely prefer another pilot flying nearby to approach me or I would approach him/her if they were there first.
It’s probably not very likely that 2 drones would have a mid-air crash but who knows??
It’s nice to be nice.
Haha, I wasn’t worried that he was flying BVLOS as much as I just didn’t know where the bloody thing was Knowing my luck I probably would crash into the only other drone within a 2 mile radius…
I’ve always approached another drone flyer when I see them, try to strike up a conversation, then hand them a GADC business card
I’ll then let them know where I’m flying, wish them a successful flight and say my goodbyes. If they then want to engage further they know where I am, to date I have not had a single one come back to me, or indeed join the club. I’ve had more positive interactions with joe public than with drone pilots.
I’ve done that in a couple of places where someone else has been flying when I arrived - ‘where are you flying?’, ‘will I be ok over there?’, that sort of thing. No problems. At Neist Point on Skye there were a few photographers set up so I said I’d like to fly the drone and if it got in anyone’s way then say so and I’d move it. ‘It’s alright I’ve got sensor spots bigger than that’ said one of them!
Bother me? Not really… some people, for various reasons jusy want to fly peacefully in their own little mental world. Can’t fault them for that.
I’m pretty sure i heard something about making your presence know to other pilots in the area during a training course. I can’t remember if it was a good pratice thing or a requirement thing but either way it seems sensible.
Even if its just waving your remote at them from a distance, so long as they know your around then your part is done. If they decide to further the contact by coming to you at some point, great. If you decide to wander over to them and they act as you mentioned then thats ok too imo.
As to the BVLOS bit. Just because you can’t see the drone doesnt mean the pilot can’t. They should have a better idea of where it is whilst you have to scan the entire sky etc. A lot of pilots tend to push the concept of VLOS to it’s limit.
Personally, If i’m flying somewhere safe ie over the sea at 50m altitude with no one in sight for example then the spirit of VLOS is satisfied imo. The only danger is to my wallet if something happens. More congested areas where there is a potential for issues i tend to stay very well within VLOS.
I would consider reporting pilots but only in the most extreme of cases where there is actual proper danger involved and even then, not before i’ld had a quiet one in their shell like.
Thanks all. Good to get some different opinions! For what it’s worth, I’d much rather someone approached me and gave me a gentle heads up that they were flying than me unexpectedly encountering another drone in the air. So it would be a welcome interaction for me at least.
I think there might have been some confusion with my previous posts which led to the BVLOS discussion. To be clear, I’ve got no idea if the pilot was BVLOS or not and wouldn’t have commented on it if he was. I just wanted to let him know where I was flying to try and deconflict a bit
in the spirit of selfishness … you’d think that the other pilot would want to know if something was going to collide with his drone… I know I would. I don’t want the inconvenience/arguments and then trying carry on as if nothing happened… even with refresh.
I’m with Joe on this one, I’d rather they let me know they were there. I was flying down by the Clyde at the end of last year, at the new bridge, looking for some sunrise pics when a drone flew closely past mine. I watched it fly in a dead straight line up river till it was out of sight with no sign of the pilot to be seen anywhere.
Had a similar experience a few years ago with the Mini 2. Was out flying and looked down at the controller to adjust something or other. Then looked back up at the patch of sky where my drone was, only to see a Mini 2 flying backwards at speed.
After the initial panic and confusion, laid eyes on my (stationary) Mini 2 once more and normal service was resumed.
I never saw who was flying the other one. To this day I’m convinced they were hiding in some bushes just to give me a fright…
Flying at my local park, a drone appeared overhead. I knew it wasn’t mine. Set my drone to hover where it was and looked around to see a 14/ 15yr old nearby with a controller in his hand. I turned back to my drone so flew it so it was about 20ft above him, circled him slowly and waved. He came down to where I was and asked about my drone ( exactly the same as his ) Had a quick chat, then he left to join his mates.
I guess you have as much right to fly in the same vacinity as someone else, whether they were there before you, or not. If I thought it was a risk, I’d wait until the other person’s battery depletes and put mine up after it returns.
A courtesy nod as you take off would be a good thing, but not mandatory.
Absolutely! I certainly wouldn’t comply with a request to fly somewhere else. Even if it were a drone filming business on a UAS Op who had posted up the intended flight.
I have as much right to the airspace as they would have.
Id rather be aproached than what keeps happening. I post pictures and someone posts pictures similar a few days later meaning their drone was right near mine and I didnt see it, they wont have seen me either. Easy to tell it was the same time because a ship may be a monthly or a once ever thing in that spot, not like a castle or other monument etc… that is in the same spot 24/7.
If Ive climbed out on a sea wall and Im past the tide where I can get the range with a bright orange drone against a dull sky the only other place people can be flying from is the beach 200m+ back so figure that one out.
My eyesight is 20/20 but it isnt go go gadget good like theirs must be!
Knowing my luck I probably would crash into the only other drone within a 2 mile radius…
