The Dos And Don’ts Of Drone Use
Legislature is a bit behind the times when concerning drone restrictions, but this doesn’t mean that there isn’t an etiquette for drone operations.
As drone technology has advanced, it has become more and more common to see them as part of everyday life. Where once an onlooker might have been terrified to see an unmanned object flying in the sky, today they’re far more likely to look for the drone’s operator than to assume that it’s a UFO.
However, with the growing acceptance of drones in normal life comes a few challenges, both in terms of safety and etiquette. Legislation and local laws have not caught up with the pace that drones have advanced and gained popularity among casual and recreational users. In the absence of official rules and policy, major safety and privacy issues have the potential to cause issues for both drone operators and the people in their vicinity.
It’s important to note that drones are not akin to any casual device or electronic gadget. They are both robots and aircrafts and thus they have to be treated with both caution and respect. People are entirely reasonable in saying they don’t want a drone at an event, whether that’s for reasons of safety or privacy. Whether they agree with that or not, drone operators should not take a “fly first, ask questions later” approach. The footage and beautiful aerial views that one can capture with drones gets better with each advance of technology. Here are some tips not to stymie those exciting advances in tech by failing to adhere to any etiquette:
Respect private property:
In most cases, someone’s private property does not extend to the airspace over their home. But that doesn’t mean that it’s in good taste to fly your drone over your neighbor’s backyard without asking them first. It’s entirely reasonable that someone might not want footage of their backyard or outdoor living space in your YouTube video. If you think this could be an issue, always endeavor to ask property owners if they mind their property being in your shot.
Be wary of crowds:
Drones don’t always do what you tell them to. There’s a huge safety hazard of using drones in crowded areas if you do not know how to operate them properly. Injuries can and do occur when people are careless or when drones malfunction and come crashing down on unsuspecting crowd members. If you are not totally trained and experienced in operating a drone, don’t use it recklessly in environments where you could potentially harm lots of people.
Make sure you have insurance:
As mentioned before, things can go very wrong very quickly when it comes to drones. Make sure you have insurance in place for when they do. This is less about damage to your device and more about what damage your drone could potentially do to someone else in the event of an accident.
Think before you upload:
If you think you’ve captured amazing footage that is sure to go viral as soon as it’s uploaded, ask yourself first: does this footage capture images of people who might not want to be featured? Particularly if your video shows people’s faces or identifying characteristics, you need to think twice before you put it online as it might infringe upon their privacy.
Don’t treat it as a toy:
Drones are powerful objects and do pose a risk. Do your due diligence and make sure you read the instruction manual to adequately understand those risks. Equally, always respect the airspace of more legitimate aircrafts such as emergency flights or planes. Be wary of flying your drone near airports at all times and never attempt to capture footage of a tragedy or natural disaster without getting expressed permission from officials beforehand.