Drone cuts short Silver Falcons display at Rand Show

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Johannesburg - An unauthorised drone cut short a Silver Falcon aerobatic display at the Rand Show in Johannesburg on Friday, Netwerk24 reported.

A man launched his drone to take aerial photos while the South African Air Force’s Silver Falcon team was busy with its routine above the Nasrec showgrounds.

Air show commentator Brian Emmenis said he immediately requested the person flying the drone to land it.

Emmenis said the Silver Falcons ended the display shortly afterwards, while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had been informed about the incident.

It is illegal to fly such a device without authorisation. The drone was reportedly flying higher than 200 feet (60 metres).

Danger

A member of the Silver Falcon team told Netwerk24 such a device could endanger lives if it collided with a plane.

“The Silver Falcons fly at approximately 500km/h. Besides causing damage to the plane it, the debris could hit people. The plane could even crash,” the source said.

Show director Pula Dippenaar said organisers were aware of the incident.

“The Silver Falcons were already busy with their display when the drone was spotted above the trees,” Dippenaar said.

“The air show programme was delayed until the drone operator was found. The incident was in the hands of the relevant authorities for investigation,” she said.

“We are aware that drones are used for photography and we will keep this in mind for future accreditation,” Dippenaar said.

Netwerk24

Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Drone-cuts-short-Silver-Falcons-display-at-Rand-Show-20150406
 
Stupid is as stupid does. This is exactly the reason why the CAA has an issue with drones just flying about everywhere.
 
What the hell is wrong with people? They should throw the book at him!
 
I still don't see a need for licenses or whatnot to operate these things. Just have an area at the show away from the planes in which the drones are allowed to operate and keep the planes away from that area. Then people can have their arial photography, the show can continue and nobody needs to have a license to operate what is in many cases a child's toy.
 
porchrat said:
I still don't see a need for licenses or whatnot to operate these things. Just have an area at the show away from the planes in which the drones are allowed to operate and keep the planes away from that area. Then people can have their arial photography, the show can continue and nobody needs to have a license to operate what is in many cases a child's toy.
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Yes... Right until some fool, flies his toy, right up amongst them, because he really, really, really sees nothing wrong with such action.

It's because of fsknuts like this, that we don't have space ships. In fact, I am convinced aliens have actually tried to make contact with us, and then thought better of it, because of the morons in our species.
Imagine we have FTL spacecraft? Exactly 5 minutes after getting our hand on this tech, we will have a bunch of human hooligans getting pissed and going to their planet and causing trouble.

GAWD, we are such a kuk stupid species :(
 
porchrat said:
I still don't see a need for licenses or whatnot to operate these things. Just have an area at the show away from the planes in which the drones are allowed to operate and keep the planes away from that area. Then people can have their arial photography, the show can continue and nobody needs to have a license to operate what is in many cases a child's toy.
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Which authority will regulate this area which is in actual airspace, airspace is either controlled or uncontrolled?

The Rand Show is already zoned (designated to predetermined activities) to the purpose, suggesting that the planes stay away are rather idiotic as the airspace already has its boundaries set in accordance with the CAA regulations (this includes protecting the people attending the show within the boundaries against possible aerial-related incidents) and other authorities.

Designating an uncontrolled area to drone/quadcopter activity won’t stop actions like these, neither can this area be within the zone, once this area is controlled then licensing will be applicable. Another solution must be applied which concurs with the CAA regulations.

In my own opinion, any person bringing a drone to an air show within a zone needs to apply (take responsibility), have his/her drone monitored and adhere to the air controllers. This would mean training, licensing and compliancy with the CAA regulations.
 
porchrat said:
I still don't see a need for licenses or whatnot to operate these things. Just have an area at the show away from the planes in which the drones are allowed to operate and keep the planes away from that area. Then people can have their arial photography, the show can continue and nobody needs to have a license to operate what is in many cases a child's toy.
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Because people are - on average - such idiots.

The odds of a drone enabling it's owner to take "different" pictures of a high-speed display of flying (such as is put on by the Silver Falcons) ranges from zero to minus zero.

What is more likely is that the drone's owner was showing off his toy: "Guess what guys, I own a DRONE !!!"

It's like the selfie-taking idiots that endanger (for example) the participants in the Tour de France.

Personally I wouldn't be unhappy if he ended up in jail.
 
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rrh said:
Because people are - on average - such idiots.

The odds of a drone enabling it's owner to take "different" pictures of a high-speed display of flying (such as is put on by the Silver Falcons) ranges from zero to minus zero.
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They could be wanting to take pictures of the crowd from an aerial view. Doesn't necessarily have to be about taking photos of the planes themselves. It isn't like every time people utilise aerial photography it is to take pictures of planes. It is about taking pictures from a different perspective. In fact a lot of these drones have cameras mounted on the bottom, looking down.


What is more likely is that the drone's owner was showing off his toy: "Guess what guys, I own a DRONE !!!"

It's like the selfie-taking idiots that endanger (for example) the participants in the Tour de France.
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I don't own a drone but I find them very compelling as pieces of technology. I can completely understand being passionate about drones and photography and merging the two. That you can't understand that and need to assume they're simply looking for external validation is pretty weird.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Which authority will regulate this area which is in actual airspace, airspace is either controlled or uncontrolled?
Click to expand...
Same authority that handles the rest of the airspace.


The Rand Show is already zoned (designated to predetermined activities) to the purpose, suggesting that the planes stay away are rather idiotic as the airspace already has its boundaries set in accordance with the CAA regulations (this includes protecting the people attending the show within the boundaries against possible aerial-related incidents) and other authorities.
Click to expand...
The planes fly predetermined routes within the confines of the airspace they're using all the time. Suggesting that planes can't simply avoid drones flying a mere 60m above a crowd in a predetermined location is idiotic. If jets are performing formation flying 60m above the crowd then drones are likely the least of that shows problems.


Designating an uncontrolled area to drone/quadcopter activity won’t stop actions like these, neither can this area be within the zone, once this area is controlled then licensing will be applicable. Another solution must be applied which concurs with the CAA regulations.
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Who said anything about uncontrolled? :confused:


In my own opinion, any person bringing a drone to an air show within a zone needs to apply (take responsibility), have his/her drone monitored and adhere to the air controllers. This would mean training, licensing and compliancy with the CAA regulations.
Click to expand...
Just have the space regulated. Tell those operating drones to keep them below a particular altitude and take action against those that don't listen. There is no need for licensing. These things are fighter-bombers.
 
Petec said:
Yes... Right until some fool, flies his toy, right up amongst them, because he really, really, really sees nothing wrong with such action.
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The idiot that doesn't listen to the rules about keeping his drone in the designated area isn't going to listen to the rules about not bringing his drone in the first place.

By that same logic just because some people don't obey the speed limits on roads doesn't mean we should stop cars driving on them altogether.
 
porchrat said:
Same authority that handles the rest of the airspace.
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Then they must comply to the same rules and regulations.

porchrat said:
The planes fly predetermined routes within the confines of the airspace they're using all the time. Suggesting that planes can't simply avoid drones flying a mere 60m above a crowd in a predetermined location is idiotic. If jets are performing formation flying 60m above the crowd then drones are likely the least of that shows problems.
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Aerobatic planes have to traverse a predetermined route… so the drone operators are aware where the planes will be at any time? The regulations make room to accommodate these aerial units under conditions, what when a drone is the way when the pilot has to make an emergency landing (or standard landing) or even exercising a manoeuvre? Many stunts are beneath the 60m mark. Btw, the Silver Falcons pilot PC-7s.

porchrat said:
Who said anything about uncontrolled? :confused:
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Uhm, you are required prior permission to enter controlled airspace, pending on the class it will come down to licenses, hours (experience), training or a combination. Each region (and country) has its own compliances, then also international laws. I’m quite sure that in SA it will come down to a license in relation with an UAV. You are in the opinion that no license is ever to be required.

porchrat said:
Just have the space regulated. Tell those operating drones to keep them below a particular altitude and take action against those that don't listen. There is no need for licensing. These things are fighter-bombers.
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Stick to an altitude then... yeah sure, uncontrolled in the zone (as zones are determined by the vertical and horizontal boundary). Let's see, we have planes and helicopters at these shows… don’t have to say anything more, other that you are in the opinion that the drone operator did nothing wrong and that the pilots must rather avoid the drones.
 
Fulcrum29 said:
Then they must comply to the same rules and regulations.
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Agreed and those rules could easily involve a designated area for these machines.


Aerobatic planes have to traverse a predetermined route… so the drone operators are aware where the planes will be at any time?
Click to expand...
No the people taht regulate the airspace are. Which is why they determine where the designated drone area will be and not the drone owners. Duh.


The regulations make room to accommodate these aerial units under conditions, what when a drone is the way when the pilot has to make an emergency landing (or standard landing) or even exercising a manoeuvre? Many stunts are beneath the 60m mark. Btw, the Silver Falcons pilot PC-7s.
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You mean when the plane needs to make an emergency landing into a crowd (where it is most likely the drones would be)? Yea... the drones are clearly the problem there :erm:


Uhm, you are required prior permission to enter controlled airspace, pending on the class it will come down to licenses, hours (experience), training or a combination. Each region (and country) has its own compliances, then also international laws. I’m quite sure that in SA it will come down to a license in relation with an UAV. You are in the opinion that no license is ever to be required.
Click to expand...
You don't need to have people licensed to have a simple set of rules governing where the drones are allowed to be and not be.


Stick to an altitude then... yeah sure, uncontrolled in the zone (as zones are determined by the vertical and horizontal boundary). Let's see, we have planes and helicopters at these shows… don’t have to say anything more, other that you are in the opinion that the drone operator did nothing wrong and that the pilots must rather avoid the drones.
Click to expand...
You keep using this word despite what I've been saying. I don't think it means what you think it means.
 
There is a lot of international movement towards opening up the commercial operation of drones. The requirement that the drone pilot also possesses a normal pilots license is being taken seriously as part of this process. The reason is that pilots understand airspace management while some other people do not. This guy was a prime example of this lack of understanding. Apart from being a hazard to the aircraft it looks like he may have been maneuvering over the crowd, which is a bad thing at an airshow.
 
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