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How close can you get to it and still be safe?
I think we're allowed to fly over stationary vehicles with people in them, so I'm presuming flying over cars stopped a light or over a traffic jam would be ok.
But regarding flying near a busy freeway--how close is too close? Presume the drone is at 400 feet. Would it be acceptable to position it directly above the shoulder of the road?
I think we may be splitting hairs...
Technically, vehicles (as described below) not moving are ok...but, taking what BigA107 said, might not be a good idea because you don't know if/when they may move.
Here's what 107 says:
Section 107.39 Operation over human beings.
No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft over a human being unless that human being is:
(a) Directly participating in the operation of the small unmanned aircraft; or
(b) Located under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle that can provide reasonable protection from a falling small unmanned aircraft.
Depends on what country you are talking about - different countries, different aviation laws/rules.How close can you get to it and still be safe?
This is why I've asked people to post what city, town or country on their profile.Depends on what country you are talking about - different countries, different aviation laws/rules.
Since this is an international forum unless people specify what country they are talking about generic questions like this are impossible to answer!
Depends on what country you are talking about - different countries, different aviation laws/rules.
Since this is an international forum unless people specify what country they are talking about generic questions like this are impossible to answer!
It's about Risk Management.In the US but this is not a question about rules or laws but of common sense.
It would be unsafe anywhere to hover over a busy freeway since an engine failure or battery failure, etc. would lead to the drone dropping out of the sky and possibly resulting in causing an accident.
The question is whether it's safe to hover just outside the roadway, or how much margin of error would be needed. In other words if hovering at 400 feet directly above the shoulder is reasonably safe, or if there is a possibility if the drone fails it wouldn't drop straight down but could drift into the highway area. For example on a P4P a failure of one motor will cause a crash but could the other three working motors drag it some distance during the fall?
I suspect that the Part 107 regulation against flying over moving cars has to do with the fact that such cars are considered to be "in traffic." A car on the roadway in a traffic lane, stopped for whatever reason, is still "in traffic" so I don't think it would be wise to test the "IT'S STATIONARY" theory when flying over a roadway. That's probably asking for trouble - especially since you never know who is going to be interpreting that regulation - if something unforeseen happens.I think we're allowed to fly over stationary vehicles with people in them, so I'm presuming flying over cars stopped a light or over a traffic jam would be ok.
But regarding flying near a busy freeway--how close is too close? Presume the drone is at 400 feet. Would it be acceptable to position it directly above the shoulder of the road?
I should have read this post before I put my response up. You said it all.NEGATIVE! Stationary at a traffic light is a NO GO! I'll have to look up the data behind that one (it's been a while) but I specifically remember them saying that's a NO GO! Just like Drunk Driving. If you're drunk behind the wheel sitting still at a red light/stop sign... you're still DUI/DWI or however your state puts it.
Who is to say that the car at the red light isn't about to take off unexpectedly right as you decide to fly over it, you experience a catastrophic failure, strike the windshield and create a chain reaction disaster... Odds are a LOT against it but it COULD happen.
Also just like any other aspect of AVIATION you have to take into account the What IF... if you are planning to cross a very large (wide) busy highway then you'd better make sure the What IF I lost a motor now will not put the aircraft down in the highway.
I suspect that the Part 107 regulation against flying over moving cars has to do with the fact that such cars are considered to be "in traffic." A car on the roadway in a traffic lane, stopped for whatever reason, is still "in traffic" so I don't think it would be wise to test the "IT'S STATIONARY" theory when flying over a roadway. That's probably asking for trouble - especially since you never know who is going to be interpreting that regulation - if something unforeseen happens.
I know the rule doesn't say "in traffic." You missed the point. Never mind.
I don't think I missed the point at all. But there are times when traffic is most definitely stopped, such as in traffic jams or in rush hours, etc., when it would be safe to cross over those stationary vehicles.