OK
Firstly, Ive nothing against droner's, some of the footage I've seen is inspiring and amazing, but there is an exception to those droner's with absolutely no brain between their ears !!
Don't come beating your chest, arrogantly accusing me of targeting your drone or come crying to me about your lost and drowned drone.
Whilst at Mullalloo today a couple of twats did just that, after their drone hit my kite lines, no more than 15m above my bar, not only is this absolutely stupid but was downright dangerous to the 8 or so kiters in the confined kite zone. This could of ended in a disaster like cutting a kite line causing a kite-mare or hitting someone in the head to lose an eye.
So, let this be a lesson to droners after these idiots lost their precious little toy after not following basic guidelines of flying rules, see link.https://www.casa.gov.au/files/flyingwithcontrolmodelpdf
Hi.
Im the "twat" & "idiot" who lost his drone... & yes I kite - almost 10 years now, and before this turns into a **fight I want to say of course it was stupid flying where we did - that is completely obvious now.
The drone was an AirDog 'follow me' drone that tracks a rider via a bluetooth connection on the receiver mounted on the riders wrist. It was my 5th flight and wanted to practise filming my buddy kiting. I sponsor a young guy in kite racing and the goal was to eventually make some original material to show off him & the kites.
I had set the drone to maintain a safe distance from the rider (height and distance) but didn't expect the rider/pilot to end up so far downwind in what was a crowded area, and Im sure the other kiters didn't expect to have a drone fly into their space ( and nor should they).
Its a bit unfair to say there was chest beating and so on - no need to make things seem more dramatic then they were. At the time of the crash I was hundreds of meters away upwind watching the whole thing happen and couldn't tell how close or far apart anyone was from each other. He said he thought you saw it, you obviously didn't and I guess by the time I caught up with everyone I just wanted to hear an apology from someone, and perhaps hear an offer for a bit of help looking for it :)
I'm thankful no kites / lines / people were harmed in the process. And if anyone finds a quadcopter with GoPro 4 north of Korella St I'd love to hear from you.
James
James why you didn't oversteer the follow me mode? Are you not able to control a drone you shouldn't fly. 
Do you got MAAA Insurance are some sort insurance to fly your drone?
Incompetent people like you cause massive issue to people who fly RC Planes and Helicopters like me.
Germany are in process banning RC Flying above 100m ..... guess why is that? Drones flying around not in control and respect the rules.
Marco
Select to expand quotemarco said..
James why you didn't oversteer the follow me mode? Are you not able to control a drone you shouldn't fly.
Do you got MAAA Insurance are some sort insurance to fly your drone?
Incompetent people like you cause massive issue to people who fly RC Planes and Helicopters like me.
Germany are in process banning RC Flying above 100m ..... guess why is that? Drones flying around not in control and respect the rules.
Marco
How are you even going to see an RC plane 100m AGL?!
Actually,
I was going to clarify with you, what it was that actually hit my lines? !
until I was accused of having seen it and trying to fly into the object, so then I thought F... you ! you can find it yourselves and have a nice swim in your jocks !!
mf
No problem, planes are up 2.5m and gliders 4m. Basically not flying above 100m means the end for the RC also include Drones (copter).
Select to expand quotemarco said..
James why you didn't oversteer the follow me mode? Are you not able to control a drone you shouldn't fly.
Do you got MAAA Insurance are some sort insurance to fly your drone?
Incompetent people like you cause massive issue to people who fly RC Planes and Helicopters like me.
Germany are in process banning RC Flying above 100m ..... guess why is that? Drones flying around not in control and respect the rules.
Marco
I was not the kiter / pilot. I was on the beach supervising the takeoff and landing to make sure nothing was in the way. The controller was on the arm of the rider.
I am also insured for $20m public liability.
Lesson learnt, trust me.
Hahahaha been waiting for this bull**** to happen.
Ive flown a few drones now. They work perfrctly fine 50m above sea level where its impossible for them to hit a kiter.
If your going to use one without expressed permission of every kiter present I suggest you keep it above that height.
Sorry to hear you never recovered the drone. But I would be SUPER ANGRY if some ****er hit my kite or lines with there drone.
Theres a funny video where a medieval fella takes out a drone with his spear which cracks me up.
Triple j drum guy that linked to casa whats the tldr of the file? Guessing drones fall under the casa banner now and require liscences or something?
In basically every EU country you now need a proper licence to fly a drone in public airspace. I haven't checked the rules in AUS but I'm sure they will be headed the same direction (if they haven't already).
Select to expand quote
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<div class="ds-1col node node-page view-mode-full clearfix">
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden">Part 101 Amendments - Cutting red tape for remotely piloted aircraft
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item even">CASA is pleased to announce amendments to Part 101 have been registered on the Federal Register of Legislation and will come into effect 29 September 2016.These amendments reduce the cost and legal requirements for lower-risk remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operations. More complex operational matters will be dealt with in a new manual of standards to be developed with industry, providing greater flexibility and responsiveness in this rapidly evolving area.This regulation updates terminology to align with the International Civil Aviation Organization. In particular, the term unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) now becomes RPA. Over time, CASA forms and processes will reflect these changes.The amendments to Part 101 create new weight classifications for RPA:very small (<2 kg)small (2-25kg)medium (25-150kg)large (>150kg)Excluded RPAThe regulation also introduces the concept of excluded RPA, representing RPA operations considered to be lower risk. These operations will have reduced regulatory requirements, such as not needing a UAV operator’s certificate (UOC) now called a remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate or ReOC or a remote pilot licence (RePL).From 29 September 2016, commercial operators flying very small RPAs, weighing fewer than two kilograms, will not require an ReOC or an RePL. Operators will only have to provide one notification to CASA at least five days before their first commercial flight and operate by the standard operating conditions.The excluded RPA concept also allows private landowners to carry out some commercial-like operations on their own land with a small RPA without needing an ReOC or an RePL, provided they follow the standard operating conditions and none of the parties involved receive remuneration.An operator flying a medium RPA in the excluded category must hold an RePL.Table 1 - Excluded OperationsExcluded OperationRePLReOCVery small commercialNoNoSmall private landownerNoNoMedium private landownerYesNo*Please note that excluded RPA operators cannot apply for further exemptions.The new regulations also establish a set of standard operating conditions specific to these excluded RPAs.The standard RPA operating conditions will be:You must only fly during the day and keep your RPA within visual line-of sight.You must not fly your RPA higher than 120 metres (400ft) AGL.You must keep your RPA at least 30 metres away from other peopleYou must keep your RPA at least 5.5km away from controlled aerodromesYou must not fly your RPA over any populous areas. These can include: beaches, parks and sporting ovals.You must not fly your RPA over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway (without prior approval).This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire and associated firefighting efforts and search and rescue.You can only fly one RPA at a time.
Id go and have a really good read of CASR part 101 and its Amendments before you find yourself in some real deep ****! cos then you wont be sponsoring anyone! your an idiot for even operating it where you did? its all there for you www.casa.gov.au under the aircraft tab.
These can include: beaches, parks and sporting ovals.You must not fly your RPA over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway (without prior approval).This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire and associated firefighting efforts and search and rescue.You can only fly one RPA at a time.
FYI this is the bit that includes you?
I've read those guidelines - correct me if I'm wrong but they are reducing, not increasing the regulation for commercial operators ?
As it stands RPA's like DJI Phantom and AirDog are classified as very small (under 2kg) and we are not commercial operators.
As such no license / accreditation apply apart for abiding by the aforementioned guidelines (people, distances line of sight etc) ? Needless to say, these are very important safety measures which were understood at the time.
Minimum safe distances from the rider/pilot were set, we launched well upwind and away from everyone.
My rider and I perhaps misunderstood each other in terms of where to ride but Id like to say that i had every intention of operating the drone in a respectful, careful fashion, abiding my the guidelines.
Not sure there's much more to say than we f*cked up, no one was hurt, and thankfully the only casualty is my bank balance.
nice attitude dude! you have fun with that! OH PS thanks for setting back responsible owners and operators a little bit more? we all thank you for it! honestly.
Good outcome for all really. I read an article about a youngster who had slivers of an eye left clinging to his dad's tee shirt during a visit to a neighbor who was flying one of those in his back yard .
I really wouldn't want one of those things anywhere near me at anytime . The kiter with the wrist tracking device could have come back onto the beach before he got far enough downwind to be a risk to other kiters. Maybe just plan it a bit better next time , easy with hind sight though. J
Select to expand quoteraggy said..
nice attitude dude! you have fun with that! OH PS thanks for setting back responsible owners and operators a little bit more? we all thank you for it! honestly.
Everyones a responsible owner until they screw up.
Monkeyfish, you boys sound like you could use one of these mofo's to clear the air over there mate!
www.theage.com.au/world/where-eagles-dare-feathered-fighters-trained-to-take-down-drones-20160529-gp6fej.html
I like the way it appears the eagle doesn't want to give it back!!
Seriously though - I was all keen to buy a DJI about 12 months ago, gave the idea away because I figured that some idiots will ruin it for everyone pretty soon and I wouldn't be able to use it anywhere. Hasn't happened yet, but there's plenty of stories coming out.
Just got one these are the guidelines, looks like you need a commercial license:
Hobbyist/Non-commercial Flight
If you are not making any commercial gain from your flying, then you may fly your UAV without requiring certification (please note however that “commercial gain” can include flights for advertising purposes or even uploading videos to YouTube – there does not have to be a direct payment involved).
The following restrictions apply for uncertified flying:
Below 400 ft (120 m)
In uncontrolled (Class G) airspace
More than 3 nm (5.5 km) from an aerodrome or helipad listed on the VTC
More than 30 m away from other people
Not in a Populous Area
Within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) – this means no FPV unless you have a spotter who can take control at any time
Had one of those things hovering above our heads whilst having a surf yesterday....
Sounded like a swarm of mosquitos buzzing around. What happened to the zen nature of having a surf. These things are the jet skis of the the sky.
I am hoping that like go-pro footage, everyone will get sick of the same style of "creative/artistic" photographic shots pretty quickly and we can turn back to the old days of just talking up how good our sessions were on the water. Over a beer of course.
jamesperth said:-
I want to say of course it was stupid flying where we did - that is completely obvious now.
Rule number one never fly over or near people it can't be any simpler than that.
It was my 5th flight and wanted to practise filming my buddy kiting.
You just let a drone go on full autonomous mode on it's 5th flight over water , in wind filming a kiter , you deserved to loose it.
Tracks a rider via a bluetooth connection
The most unreliable connection you can get , what was your plan when it losses connection 300 to 400 away and you can't see , hit return to home through all the kiters ?
I'm thankful no kites / lines / people were harmed in the process.
Lucky boy , considering you couldn’t see it or control it when it crashed.
Select to expand quotePiros said..
jamesperth said:-
I want to say of course it was stupid flying where we did - that is completely obvious now.
Rule number one never fly over or near people it can't be any simpler than that.
It was my 5th flight and wanted to practise filming my buddy kiting.
You just let a drone go on full autonomous mode on it's 5th flight over water , in wind filming a kiter , you deserved to loose it.
Tracks a rider via a bluetooth connection
The most unreliable connection you can get , what was your plan when it losses connection 300 to 400 away and you can't see , hit return to home through all the kiters ?
I'm thankful no kites / lines / people were harmed in the process.
Lucky boy , considering you couldn’t see it or control it when it crashed.
Pedants like this is why you lose access and get restrictive rules.
Seriously , you've had a whinge, the blokes admitted and apologised, what more can he do,
I posted a topic labelled drama queens a bit back, a contender here
Select to expand quotecauncy said..
Seriously , you've had a whinge, the blokes admitted and apologised, what more can he do,
I posted a topic labelled drama queens a bit back, a contender here
seriously you've missed the point here cauncy! just adding some humour, I'll give you a sad face then :(((
Select to expand quoteMonkeyfish said..
Seems everyone has learnt a lesson here, happy days ;)
Piss poor technique, he throws like a chess club member.
Select to expand quotePiros said..
jamesperth said:-
I want to say of course it was stupid flying where we did - that is completely obvious now.
Rule number one never fly over or near people it can't be any simpler than that.
It was my 5th flight and wanted to practise filming my buddy kiting.
You just let a drone go on full autonomous mode on it's 5th flight over water , in wind filming a kiter , you deserved to loose it.
Tracks a rider via a bluetooth connection
The most unreliable connection you can get , what was your plan when it losses connection 300 to 400 away and you can't see , hit return to home through all the kiters ?
I'm thankful no kites / lines / people were harmed in the process.
Lucky boy , considering you couldn’t see it or control it when it crashed.
It's a drone designed to fly and follow the rider. I'm sure a 100 people who were first time drone flyers and kiters would have done exactly the same thing. And yes, it does have a return to home when it loses connection. I know this because I saw the ads for it when it first came out and I thought "hey, that looks cool"
I love how every jumps on the hate bandwagon.
The short version.
Person had very little experience with drone and flew into kiter while drone was in "follow me" mode. Person didn't realise at the time that this was going to be an expensive mistake.
Person lost a $1500 drone and has therefore already been punished for their mistake.
Person has admitted it was a mistake and is not an arrogant tosser.
Seriously people. Get over it.
