By technical editor Matt Allard:
Drones are a great way to get a unique aerial perspective, but when using them for breaking news they can become a hindrance to others. Last week a massive wildfire swept across southern California and firefighters were obstructed from doing their job because five drones were flying over the scene. According to a report by NBC LA, two of the drones interfered directly with firefighting aircraft, forcing planes to jettison their fire retardant early and return to the airport. It’s unclear whether the drones were being operated by members of the public or media outlets.
According to reports, this is the third time in a month that drones have interfered with firefighters in southern California and directly put peoples lives and property in danger. Now Republican State Senator Ted Gaines, and Democratic Assemblyman Mike Gatto, have introduced a new bill in the California Senate that would protect emergency responders from charges if they disable drones that are interfering with their work. According to NBC News: ‘The bill’s authors say using “jamming” technology could keep drones away from emergency response areas and flight paths, adding that the “least-damaging methods” to avoid and disable drones will be used.’
It’s still unclear whether this proposed bill might hinder press freedoms. A bill that puts severe restrictions on members of the media from doing their jobs would have to be closely examined for any potential loopholes that would give the state permission to rule on when a drone is considered to be hindering or interfering with authorities. If this bill is passed it could give authorities and law enforcement the ability to ban drones wherever they see fit.
Whether you’re an amateur flyer or operating a drone for a news organisation, please use common sense and never fly it in a situation that interferes with people who are trying to do their job. You are potentially putting peoples’ lives at risk and it will only lead to more and more restrictions being placed on drone use.
DJI recently announced that drone policy expert Brendan Schulman will join the company as its Vice President of Policy & Legal Affairs. Mr. Schulman, often known as “The Drone Lawyer,” is one of the country’s most prominent advocates for clear and reasonable civilian drone regulations. His leadership in the industry includes representing individuals and organizations in landmark civilian drone cases and establishing the country’s first unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) legal practice group. In a key initiative last year, he proposed to the Federal Aviation Administration the creation of a risk-based micro UAS category to cover the operation of lightweight drones for commercial and other applications.
In a press release, DJI’s CEO and founder Frank Wang said that “The next few years will be critical in setting the direction for unmanned aerial regulations, so we need a policy executive who shares our vision for UAS operation that is both accessible and safe.“ Schulman meanwhile said that he hopes to “…work together with lawmakers, industry groups, and customers to find solutions to emerging policy questions and to open up the benefits of drone technology across industries.”
It’s to be hoped that industry initiatives like this can succeed in keeping the possibility of using drones open for as many people as possible. Drones are receiving a lot of negative attention, but they can also be deployed to assist emergency services: recently they were used in rescue operations in Texas and Maine to help save the lives of stranded flood victims. Unfortunately there’s a small minority of drone operators out there who continually use them in inappropriate ways that will only result in more stringent regulations being introduced.
