Droning drones

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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
Feels invasive doesn't it. Spoils the magic of being on the water, when you think its the only place to get some peace
I think it is invasive, I used to get it sometimes when working in a big tree. It put me off what I was doing.

The law on drone filming is it’s legal to film and show the pictures to family and friends, but not legal to post them on social media. I’m fairly sure this is largely ignored by many.

You‘ll see some people in the windmill picture. Before I put the drone up I wandered over and said I’d be taking some footage around the mill and firstly did they mind, secondly they may end up in shot. No objections and I even offered to send the footage to them if they wanted a nice video record of their afternoon. Legally I wouldn’t have been able to post the pic here without their permission.
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
7,981
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Mid Wales
www.mont-hmg.co.uk
Legally I wouldn’t have been able to post the pic here without their permission.

Is that true? Is it different for a photo taken with a drone? As long as you have taken the photograph in a public place and the people are not engaged in an activity where they would 'reasonably expect privacy' I thought you are free to use photos without permission except for 'commercial advertising'.

I have photographed people and crowd scenes in public places for years and, unless the law has changed recently or it is explicitly different for photos taken with a drone, I have been sure of my rights to use the pictures - even sell them. However, if my photo was taken in a street but was of a person in their house, that would be a 'private' place. Most of the photographic magazine websites publish teh rules about taking photographs in public places and using them.

There is a difference between photos and video though, as far as I can tell, in as much as you must tell people they are in sight of a video camera if it covers an area that is public - but that can just be a notice saying that 'CCTV' is operating.
 
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Nice65

Brilliant!
Apr 16, 2009
6,438
2,859
W.Sussex
Is that true? Is it different for a photo taken with a drone? As long as you have taken the photograph in a public place and the people are not engaged in an activity where they would 'reasonably expect privacy' I thought you are free to use photos without permission except for 'commercial advertising'.

I have photographed people and crowd scenes in public places for years and, unless the law has changed recently or it is explicitly different for photos taken with a drone, I have been sure of my rights to use the pictures - even sell them. However, if my photo was taken in a street but was of a person in their house, that would be a 'private' place. Most of the photographic magazine websites publish teh rules about taking photographs in public places and using them.

There is a difference between photos and video though, as far as I can tell, in as much as you must tell people they are in sight of a video camera if it covers an area that is public - but that can just be a notice saying that 'CCTV' is operating.
Annoyingly I’m trying to learn as fast as I can but this is the second bit of conflicting information I’ve come across. In the FlyerID test I was led to believe photos and footage of people couldn’t be published on social media but could be shared amongst family and friends. But in the CAA document here it merely advises giving it some thought.

3DC94A43-3933-4189-B565-C7C1A63E0277.jpeg

The other thing that comes up and is actually a mistake by the CAA is I had to get a flyer ID as my drone is under 250g, not a toy, and fitted with a camera.

But here in the CAA document it is labelled an Operator ID. The ID number I was sent by email after the test calls it a Flyer ID, and that’s what it is. Generally I’m just erring on the side of caution with it all, but in answer to your question I‘m not too sure now.

FB1CA046-26B6-4CEA-9D40-101A9E42D81E.jpegFB1CA046-26B6-4CEA-9D40-101A9E42D81E.jpeg
 

slowworm

Full Member
May 8, 2008
1,982
934
Devon
All I can offer you is the operators have to be registered if they have a drone with a camera, so technically that localises who is flying in your area if a problem occurs. Why do you think your land is being filmed, are the drone operators looking for something?
I can't see an operators licence localises flying if someone can travel somewhere and fly a drone. Unless the ID is broadcast I can't really see how the licence helps.

As for being filmed, the drone was no where near any operative as it flew over a large field towards me, then hovered directly over me in my woodland before flying off in the opposite direction. There's not much of interest in the area, just scrubby fields and woodland. I doubt they could see the drone from where they were flying it so would assume it was being flown using a camera and screen.

I've looked through a fair bit of info but I'm struggling a little to see what is actually illegal or just best practice. Also with different categories such as sub-250g drones being able to fly closer it makes it virtually impossible to know if a drone is legal.

I do note the CAA say:

22. Make sure you can be clearly seen when you’re out flying​


This means people will know who’s responsible for your drone or model aircraft.

Which in the cases I've mentioned certainly hasn't happened. The latest one they would have been a long way away, obstructed by a couple of tall hedges and a load of trees.
 

birchwood

Nomad
Sep 6, 2011
440
99
Kent
There have been several instances of using a drone over people’s stables. Scoping the place out then subsequent thefts of saddles etc.
Despite the large sign saying “No flying drones from this site “ we have had some flying from the picnic site opposite our boatyard over our secure compound.
One was hovering deliberately very low, so I made out I was picking up a stone and as soon as I went to
“ throw” it , it went up high and away from the yard.
 

Stew

Bushcrafter through and through
Nov 29, 2003
6,446
1,284
Aylesbury
stewartjlight-knives.com
There have been several instances of using a drone over people’s stables. Scoping the place out then subsequent thefts of saddles etc.
Despite the large sign saying “No flying drones from this site “ we have had some flying from the picnic site opposite our boatyard over our secure compound.
One was hovering deliberately very low, so I made out I was picking up a stone and as soon as I went to
“ throw” it , it went up high and away from the yard.
That reminds me of the drone taken out by a spear!
 
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Paul_B

Bushcrafter through and through
Jul 14, 2008
6,154
1,546
Cumbria
It's a regulated but uncontrolled area just like a lot of other areas where there's regulations and laws to be enforced but there is no enforcement which means through ignorance or deliberate choice those rules are not followed.

I think we can all concede that drones are capable of being used for good reasons and bad reasons. Listing one or other of those won't change that they are being used in an intrusive way or people do have problems with them that are difficult to resolve without the means to stop such problem use. Without stopping the problem use the good operators/flyers will get tarred with the same brush. People will continue to not want them to be used near them.

The problem isn't nice65 but the likes of the drone that flew over our new house recently. Or the toy drone that annoyed the hell out of most people on the campsite we once had a week's holiday at. It was a constant droning noise that could be heard over the site on and off all day and all week. Or the one I saw in our village flying all over the top filming without any permission for the filming from those in the shot.
 

slowworm

Full Member
May 8, 2008
1,982
934
Devon
Drone Nimby's.
I was going to make a comment that I've never met someone who's not a NIMBY.

But thinking about it, if the person who was flying the drone that made me start this thread had introduced themself and asked permission to fly over my woodland I would have probably said yes (with a few conditions).
 

TeeDee

Full Member
Nov 6, 2008
10,451
3,654
50
Exeter
I was going to make a comment that I've never met someone who's not a NIMBY.

But thinking about it, if the person who was flying the drone that made me start this thread had introduced themself and asked permission to fly over my woodland I would have probably said yes (with a few conditions).

No I get it. Honest.

I'm sure many of us have viewed some random Drone footage uploaded on line and its entertained or interested us for what it is.

But obviously someone at some point had to fly that drone and potentially subjectively upset a few people.

Its a tricky one I appreciate and can understand why its a bone of contention.
 
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Forest fella

Full Member
Jul 2, 2008
2,890
211
Gloucestershire
I've got a new Neighbour up the road from me and he's flying his poxy starwars thingy over all of the roads Gardens, I've just stated doing the 2 Finger Salute with a smile. That and I think another neighbours said my home is a no fly zone.
 

cipherdias

Settler
Jan 1, 2014
558
243
Wales
Just to put one thing across, if you shoot or otherwise purposely damage a drone flying over your property you will be in a lot more trouble than the person operating the drone


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

slowworm

Full Member
May 8, 2008
1,982
934
Devon
Just to put one thing across, if you shoot or otherwise purposely damage a drone flying over your property you will be in a lot more trouble than the person operating the drone


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I don't think anyone on this thread is seriously suggesting shooting a drone. I'm not sure how much trouble you would be in around here as poaching seems to be largely ignored and that would seem more serious?

But your comment has got me thinking, would someone have a duty of care to look out for drones over private land if they were out shooting? With ear protection on you're not going to here one flying over.
 

Scottieoutdoors

Settler
Oct 22, 2020
852
608
Devon
...I realise basically everything outdoorsy I write on here is more or less "wife and I" hahah, we do everything together... But yeh, we decided to buy a drone late last year mavic mini 2, we both did and passed all the necessary tests and have loved using it.

One thing I love about it is it's actually quite a quiet little thing. It doesn't seem to have that incessant buzz that the (I guess) bigger models have...

We try to be very respectful with our flying and not bother people with it. I would say we follow all the rules, 99.9% of the time, I've been told that it's illegal to fly on Dartmoor...so naturally..ahem...we have never flown it there..and if we did we'd never fly it near animals or anywhere that would bother others... But it's a pretty new toy with not many hours under the belt, so we're pretty gentle in its use.

Would never fly it over someone's garden or anything, or even typically others enjoying the outdoors... To me it's rude/invasive and a sure fire way to getting the whole thing banned for everyone.
 
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punkrockcaveman

Full Member
Jan 28, 2017
1,457
1,512
yorks
Had one flying over the garden yesterday, and over several neighbours gardens, probably 10 yards above the roof tops....
 

Limey Pete

Tenderfoot
Jun 20, 2021
57
45
57
pnom, penh
I did buy one and flew it about indoors for fun.
It crashed, and a bit fell off it which I never found. I still have it somewhere, and intend to repair it one day.
My feeling is: if a drone's legality is in question, it might be legal to shoot it down if it is annoying, with an air rifle.
If people attach cameras to them and fly it next to my house windows, legal or not I will try and destroy the drone.
Providing drones are used without offending people, why not?
I see great potential for drones use by the military.
 

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