I, too, have operated R/C airplanes, cars, boats, helicopters, etc since 1976. The "so called" new rules regarding drone use (i.e. no flying over people, fly under 400 feet, not within 5 miles of airport without permission, etc) are nothing new, and were in place in 1976, by the hobby organization Acedemy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). It is pretty obvious the FEDS took the AMA's safety rules and used them as a starting point to begin regulations.
For work, I operate literaly many BILLIONS of dollars of water pipelines, pump stations, resevoirs, generating plants, high voltage equipment, etc. Some of it 100 years old, some of it 5 years old or less computer/electrical "wonders" I trust the 100 year old mechanical euipment a lot more. The point here is some posters above comments about the "new, latest and greatest drone equipment" being fool-proof, are meaningless. ALL equipment CAN fail. Particularily Computers/electronics/radio control. The computer techno people are always telling us about the "new, updated" version of anything that has all of the bugs worked out. Baloney.
That being said, I think that reasonable accomidations could be made that can be a benefit for all of us. I, for one, would love some videos of me running my car, would pay for it, but Bonneville being so big, the cars are too far away to stand on the sidelines to video.
How about allowing an easily controlled, fixed number (like perhaps 10 or so) of PROFESSIONAL drone photographers, with proof of liability insurance, registration, etc, with obviously professional level equipment, permitted to film? They could be considered the "official drone video" photographers of the event. I would suggest a license fee of perhaps $200-$500 for the privelage, and to cover costs for perhaps another worker to watch/monitor them. Have a prepared set of rules, guidelines, and specific assigned areas they can operate, or give them the boot. I'm thinking to NOT give them free range to roam all over Bonneville. A tether of some sort may be a solution. Have EACH drone an assigned area ONLY, such as drone 1 at starting line course 1, drone 2 at starting line course 2, etc, drone 5 at return road between courses # 1 and #2, etc. If the pilots won't agree to those terms, we can have some compronise at OUR agreement, or we don't sell the license to be there i.e. no drone at that location. Problem solved.
I think a drone may be possible to be safely operated on areas such as the return roads? Clearly never around or over the area we race on between the course cones, but what about the return road areas between the tracks?
For those who don't want any drones near them in the air when they make their run, they could just tell the starter to request the nearby drones to land while that person makes their run?
Clearly, under NO circumstances should we allow the average person, with their hobby drone, to fly around. Including US drivers. All of the concerns of problems of cheap drones apply. Take a trip to any public flying field and you will see why you don't want to trust the "general" public
The comments above regarding the drone flying above the drivers meeting are spot-on. If flying above people, the drone pilot violated a known safety rule. Simple solution - give them the boot. At this time, just call the FEDS for enforcement.
I don't have all the answers or know all the problems, but I think a workable solution to allow drones, closely monitored and very limited, is possible. More cool photos and videos online of what we do can only stimulate interest and public support for what we do.
I was really really annoyed at 2013 Speedweek by that photo company "Event Photo". I wanted to buy a photo from them, and was relying on getting that photo and did not take any of my own, but missed their office time at Bonneville, and to my surprise, they would not sell me the photo after the event was over!
Jeff #2470, #247
