Drones!

[Jfrano]

Have read pieces here and there and have thought about getting one?

What drones are people using? Are they readily controllable, while out on the water? How difficult Is it to have the drone come back to RT? Which models people using?

I guess off the top of my head the big selling points would be:
- Ease of use
- run time
- image quality and camera features
- compactness for storage on boat

Drone-less in NY,
Joe

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

This is a no-brainer!

I bought a DJI Mavic 2 Pro as my first drone. It has a 4k Hassleblad camera with an obstacle-avoidance system. It's a little bulky and a little expensive.

Then DJI comes out with the DJI Mini 2. 4k camera, optical zoom and very small, yet stable in the air. It's under 250g which means it's not required to be registered in the US, BUT ALSO not required to be registered in Canada. For me, 60 miles away from my northern Canadian playground, no registration requirements is huge! Also, it's relatively inexpensive!

I wish the DJI Mini 2 had been available for my first and only drone!

Good luck!

Bob
The Doghouse 2

 

[S@LTD]

DJI Mini is what we bought and love it. Super small and for all the above reasons it works for us. Fun to fly with great pics. Definitely get the combo pack for the best value. I have so much fun flying it around I sometimes forget to take video :? I do need to take some time and edit some of our footage. Right now I have some great stuff and it’s all on the SD cards.

This is my first and only drone so I do not have anything to compare too. I wanted the smallest I could find with good resolution and good flying time. One thing you have to remember is staying within line of sight (even if you cannot actually see it). I sometimes forget and try to fly over a hill and get the weak signal warning with is a bi unnerving. So far it has always returned home.

 

[Jfrano]

Sounds good, researched it and is well regarded. The Mini 3 is due in the next month or so, I may hold out for
It.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I’ve been flying drones for almost 5 years. Lots of water time, as well. A few things:

1) flying over water from a boat is quite different than flying over land. Return to home on a boat is drone suicide. Home almost assuredly isn’t where your boat is.

2) Learn to hand catch your drone. I launch (DJI Mavic Pro) from the Bimini, and land the drone in my hand in the back of the cockpit. This requires you to turn off some of the collision sensors. For me, just the downward sensors, and I back it in so the forward sensors don’t interfere with the catch.

3) get your Part 107 license. Drone rules are tightening (a new bulletin was just issued by the FAA in the last few weeks) if you plan to put your video on a YouTube channel or other social media. It’s not that expensive, and you will learn a TON about aviation along the way.

Video of a hand catch on my old boat (not backing it in): https://youtu.be/0fcr2HqQMdo


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[scross]

As mentioned above as of April 2021, the rules for recreational pilots operating drones in the USA have changed.
The new rules include:
- Mandatory Drone registration with the FAA.
- Flight limited to line of sight in daytime, not over people and at or below 400 feet in Class G (uncontrolled) airspace only unless you have FAA issued waiver.
- Can’t interfere with the operation of any other aircraft.
- Take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) and carry proof of test passage.
- Have a current registration, mark (PDF) your drones on the outside with the registration number, and carry proof of registration with you.

Here’s more info on the new rules:
https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/

Fines and penalties for violation of these rules, especially interfering with other aircraft, can be very substantial. This would impact drone flying at/around Friday Harbor, Roche Harbor and other places with nearby airports or seaplane operations. Drone pilots interfering with wildfire operations are subject to criminal charges.

 

[Kimberly Dawn]

Waiting for DJI Mini 3 is a smart idea. One of the plus features of the Mini 2 was Ocusync 2.0, which greatly improves the image transmission.

Regarding registration requirements, I would do your own research. I stand by my understanding drones under 250g are exempt, unless you use it for commercial purposes (which can be as simple as maintaining a YouTube channel). If you use it commercially, then you will require a Part 107 FAA certification plus registration, neither of which will be recognized outside the US of A.

Good luck!

Bob
The Doghouse 2

 

[Submariner]

We'll be adding drone footage to our YouTube channel "Let's go channel surfing" here shortly once I pass the part 107 and register my drone. It'll be a fall/winter project.

 

[Jfrano]

Thanks for the info.
- If I loose sight of the drone, how do I retrieve it?
- Drone returns home, when power gets low? As mentioned on a boat, where I’ve moved, how does that work?
- Any restrictions operating near an airport. My slip is literally a few hundred yards from LaGuardia runway.

Thanks,
Joe

 

[scross]

I believe Bob is correct in that drones under 250 grams used for non-commercial purposes by recreational pilots are exempt from the drone registration requirements. It is also my understanding that all other rules of safe flight still apply to all drones under 250 grams.
https://fpvfc.org/sub-250g-regulations
Also be aware that the rules for drone operations change substantially in October 2023 with the Remote ID requirements for all drones that are required to be registered with the FAA. These new requirements will definitely apply to drones over 250 grams and could potentially apply to the sub-250 gram drones as well.
As a long time commercial pilot license holder under FAA Part 61 rules, I’ve been interested in drones for quite a while. I’m holding off on getting my sUAS drone rating added to my existing license or purchase a drone until the regulatory situation stabilizes.

 

[HookedUp]

We purchased a Swellpro Spry+ drone and got the license for it. Haven't had it on the boat yet, but had it out twice on land to practice and it should do good on the boat. It's waterproof and they recommend doing water landings when in waves and since we're always in waves on the ocean that is the plan. It has the return on low battery feature as well as a follow me feature and circle feature. Hoping for some good video out on the water.

We use the B4UFLY app to find out if it's safe to fly. Due to military and civilian airports near us there is a lot of controlled air space extending into the Chesapeake Bay and Ocean. It also lets us know if a temporary drone ban is in place (usually due to VIP travel), or if an area has a height restriction.

Glad I read here about the Remote ID. You'd think since I have a license they'd email me when new regulations apply, but I've never received anything based on having a license.

 

[SJI Sailor]

As for flying near LGA or any other towered airport (will leave aside non-towered for this) -- that is controlled airspace all the way down to the ground, which means flying there needs clearance, which mostly won't happen (if I correctly understand the situation -- like many things in aviation, there are a bunch of details, backed up by stiff civil and criminal penalties). See FAA: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreationa...y/airspace_restrictions/flying_near_airports/

The FAA wants to keep airplanes far away from anything that is a threat or even a distraction (for good reason!)

 

[FlyMeAway]

I believe Bob is correct in that drones under 250 grams used for non-commercial purposes by recreational pilots are exempt from the drone registration requirements. It is also my understanding that all other rules of safe flight still apply to all drones under 250 grams.
https://fpvfc.org/sub-250g-regulations

Just remember that posting drone videos to YouTube (even if they are private) is a very grey area on "commercial purposes." It's clearly commercial purposes if you are earning ad rev share, but since Google monetizes even private videos on YouTube there is a really gray area on "commercial."

 

[S@LTD]

I too would wait for the new release as they continue to get better. Since the DJI mini’s are less than the 250g threshold you do not need a license. Also, the DJI Fly app that you use continually updates your area and restricted space. Even if you are successful in taking off you will get an immediate warning to land and if you don’t it will force land (we thought we would try it for a family selfie only bringing it up about 6 ft and that’s what happened.

When we were inside my cousins house in Gig harbor (located near the approach to a nearby airport) it would not even allow for take off. Not saying you should rely on this since it is your responsibility to check but should you forget it probably will not let you fly.

If you lose sight of your drone you can see it’s relative position to you on your fly app and reverse course. I am a rookie and they are super easy and fun to fly.