Drones in the Wilderness

[AZLumberjack]

I recently found a high quality drone video on youtube flying around the Dacite Cliffs by the Don's Camp. This is a 15 minute video so grab a cold one, sit back and enjoy the ride.

I'm not sure what the regulations are for flying drones in the Superstition Wilderness, but I heard that they don't look favorably on them and a permit would almost be assured. I would check with the Mesa Ranger District for a clarification if anyone is thinking about using one in the Superstitions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcscAOOJxHg

[chumley]

I'm not sure what the restrictions for minimum altitude flight are over a wilderness ... certainly planes fly over all the time. But landing an aircraft is not permitted.

Except as provided in the Wilderness Act, subsequent legislation establishing a particular Wilderness unit, or §§ 294.2(b), 294.2(c), and 294.2(e), paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section, and §§ 293.7, 293.8, and 293.12 through 293.16, inclusive, and subject to existing rights, there shall be in National Forest Wilderness no commercial enterprises; no temporary or permanent roads; no aircraft landing strips; no heliports or helispots, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment, motorboats, or other forms of mechanical transport; no landing of aircraft; no dropping of materials, supplies, or persons from aircraft; no structures or installations; and no cutting of trees for nonwilderness purposes.

Despite there not being a specific rule for the "new" technology that is a drone, it is blatantly obvious that flying one in a wilderness is not permitted.

BTW- Drones are prohibited in all National Parks. (dead link removed)

[chumley]

Don't Tase Me Bro!

A park ranger used a Taser on a man flying a drone over a lake of lava at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, then arrested the man in front of several hundred people after telling him that flying an unmanned aircraft at a national park is prohibited.

(dead link removed)

[outdoor_lover]

Unless that Park Ranger can prove that the Man was a Danger to himself or others, he is probably going to lose his Job and the NPS is going to be Sued...Idiot 1 NPS 0......

[FOTG]

Unless that Park Ranger can prove that the Man was a Danger to himself or others, he is probably going to lose his Job and the NPS is going to be Sued...Idiot 1 NPS 0......

Looks like the Ranger has his bases covered on this one...

The ranger asked Sanders three times to bring the drone down.

"The ranger identified himself and approached the individual, who refused to identify himself," Ferracane said.

Because Sanders fled and was near the edge of the caldera rim — where there's a 500-foot drop — the ranger deployed a Taser

There is a lesson to be learned here, a ranger need only to ask you once to do something, don't refuse to identify yourself to a ranger/law enforcement and don't try fleeing near a 500 foot cliff ;)

I say the guy got off lucky, they could have taken him for a ride in the back of a Baltimore police van with no seat belt :stretch:

[CannondaleKid]

What next? When will they be using drones to fly contraband into penitentiaries? Oh wait, that's already happening...

At a prison? I'd love to be the guard in the tower shooting the drones down.

[big_load]

don't try fleeing near a 500 foot cliff

Crucial advice!

[Jim]

http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/tonto/ale ... ?aid=28047

Is this an issue, or are they just trying to get the jump on a potential issue? If it already is an issue, seems that a well trained sharp shooter could easily take out the drone.

[joebartels]

Fire managers may suspend aerial firefighting until unauthorized UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) leave the area, allowing wildfire to grow larger.

Sally drives to the grocery store at 28 mph against a 3 mph wind on a 7% grade. 7% is useless in factoring extra fuel consumption right? Jim buys 3 drones to perimeter a 100 acre fire. How many bullets must Letty buy, 3 or 1?

[chumley]

@joe bartels
(dead link removed)

[Jim]

3 drones!? I don't have that kind of money! More over, I despise drones. Letty needs zero bullets. Brian, he might want a helmet made of bullets, though.

[FOTG]

I despise drones

So do we.
-Senior level members in ISIS

[whereveriroam]

Make sure you've got a good back stop and that no people are around. MOVING TARGETS

[kingsnake]

Make sure you've got a good back stop and that no people are around. MOVING TARGETS

Take an appropriate lead, or better yet, put up a decent spread. 00 ought to work. Just make sure you secure the kill zone, and secure any intel assets (like the chip from the GoPro). :whistle:

[AZLumberjack]

Take an appropriate lead, or better yet, put up a decent spread. 00 ought to work. Just make sure you secure the kill zone, and secure any intel assets (like the chip from the GoPro).

Oh, Oh, Better not grab that shot gun and go out gunning for Drones.... http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247849

[hikeaz]

Oh, Oh, Better not grab that shot gun and go out gunning for Drones.... http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/247849

I think that Mr. McBay's action was warranted. (he's a decent shot, too). If grown men want to play with kid's toys, go to the park or other public space.
I have shot many a 'mental missle' at the incessant helo traffic in the Hermit/Boucher corridor.

[The_N]

Good for Mr. McBay. These 'kids toys' are nothing more than a way of desensitizing us to what drones really are. Ppl instantly think of a toy as opposed to a weapon used by your govt to kill innocent ppl while a coward sits behind a screen and pushes buttons

[AZLumberjack]

@The N
The drones of which you speak are not the type of drones I'm referring to.... Yes those drones have been known to kill innocent(?) people but they also eliminate a terorist faction that would be proud to do you, and all of us, harm. My money's on the, so called, coward that sits and pushes the buttons.

[The_N]

Thousands of civilians killed by American drones. There's no questioning that. Even some Americans have been killed abroad by American drones. You want that blood on your hands? Keep condoning it. Terrorist faction? Scared of a perpetual boogie man while you're 10times more likely to be killed by a police officer.

[joebartels]

@All

1) Support your opinion with facts.
2) Responding to members you disagree with is permitted if courteous.