“Engage brain before opening gob”
TOM’s mantra, often uttered just before I was allowed to sit in on grown-up conversations. Time has proven it to be sound advice. Reason I mention it is the latest round of discussion on ‘Drones’ is due and it is a very big subject which probably deserves some serious thought before taking up a position.
In pimus; what should we be not be concerned about? Licenced operators with trained ‘pilots’ is a no brainer. Professional and commercial operators, from the Surf Life Savers to a pipeline survey company are; barring ‘accidents’ unlikely to cause anyone heartburn. Farmers out on the land are an equally a ‘low-risk’ crowd. In fact anyone out in a remote area, aware of the rules is unlikely to create havoc. Registered, ‘chipped’ drones, in the hands of responsible adults are probably in the very lowest risk category; and, the easiest fix. – IMO.
In Secundus there is ‘City’ operations – delivery services and the like. Great idea, reduce road traffic, reduce costs, improved customer service etc. However; no matter how well trained, licensed and registered the operations are; there remain a couple of wrinkles to be ironed out. For example – engine failure. Aircraft engines are rigorously maintained to an exceptionally high standard, by highly skilled, qualified folk. Sure, they occasionally have the odd bad day – but on balance the chances of a failure at a critical point are (touch wood) remote. Drone OEI performance over densely populated areas, engine overhaul parameters, reliability checks? Can a one or two kilo drone, with a payload and OEI (even one with four rotors) be managed and completely controlled at maximum payload? Guaranteed to maintain height and controllability? Can you imagine the media drama if a failed 2 Kg drone fell from a couple of hundred feet, collided with a stroller and hurt a child – or broke a windscreen – or; caught fire and smacked into a building causing a fire. There would be all the seven Hells to pay, by Tuesday.
This, before we even think about ‘separation’ and ‘right of way’ or collision avoidance. Imagine the drama – Woolworths milk delivery collides with Fred’s Pizza and the bits rain down on a busy area or a highway? Don’t bear thinking about do it. The narrow band of airspace available around the cities – given airports and hospitals and public land and major transport hubs which all would need a dedicated ‘no-fly zone’ the chances of a collision are greatly increased. This without even considering ‘parts’ of drones landing wherever and the chance of them hitting whoever. Aye; tis a problem which must be solved.
So much for ‘regulated’ licenced traffic over built up areas; but what of the non registered, non licenced hooligans? How is anyone to ‘police’ that crowd. They ain’t going to register; they ain’t going to sit exams; they ain’t going to ‘obey’ the statutory rules. Which, standing alone is bad enough; but who – exactly – is going to police them? How will the ‘law’ even set about catching ‘em? Mission impossible IMO. It must be of great concern to Police, Ambulance, Fire and rescue services, not to mention aircrews on final approach or take off; particular worry for the airborne crews. IF – gods forbid – we ever loose a rescue unit or an airliner to a collision with an illegal, untraceable drone, I can’t even begin to imagine the fall out.
Then, there are ‘other’ serious security issues to address; privacy matters to consider; third part insurance liability; operational safety around airports; noise complaints;etc.
The list is endless, solutions few. But, most concerning of all - can we rely on a CASA who can barely generate a cohesive rule on pilot training; or fuel requirements; or Angel Flights; or, barely tell the truth at Estimates about tall buildings in runway safe zones to provide the answers? For that question I don’t need to think about an answer. NO, absolutely not, is the simple, short version – 30 years and hundreds of millions to produce the worlds' worst set of aviation regulations – and you want the aviation world to provide submissions to them. Oh, do Duck off you pathetic tragedy of a miniscule – you have got to be kidding.
Toot – toot. And Purdy rules.
TOM’s mantra, often uttered just before I was allowed to sit in on grown-up conversations. Time has proven it to be sound advice. Reason I mention it is the latest round of discussion on ‘Drones’ is due and it is a very big subject which probably deserves some serious thought before taking up a position.
In pimus; what should we be not be concerned about? Licenced operators with trained ‘pilots’ is a no brainer. Professional and commercial operators, from the Surf Life Savers to a pipeline survey company are; barring ‘accidents’ unlikely to cause anyone heartburn. Farmers out on the land are an equally a ‘low-risk’ crowd. In fact anyone out in a remote area, aware of the rules is unlikely to create havoc. Registered, ‘chipped’ drones, in the hands of responsible adults are probably in the very lowest risk category; and, the easiest fix. – IMO.
In Secundus there is ‘City’ operations – delivery services and the like. Great idea, reduce road traffic, reduce costs, improved customer service etc. However; no matter how well trained, licensed and registered the operations are; there remain a couple of wrinkles to be ironed out. For example – engine failure. Aircraft engines are rigorously maintained to an exceptionally high standard, by highly skilled, qualified folk. Sure, they occasionally have the odd bad day – but on balance the chances of a failure at a critical point are (touch wood) remote. Drone OEI performance over densely populated areas, engine overhaul parameters, reliability checks? Can a one or two kilo drone, with a payload and OEI (even one with four rotors) be managed and completely controlled at maximum payload? Guaranteed to maintain height and controllability? Can you imagine the media drama if a failed 2 Kg drone fell from a couple of hundred feet, collided with a stroller and hurt a child – or broke a windscreen – or; caught fire and smacked into a building causing a fire. There would be all the seven Hells to pay, by Tuesday.
This, before we even think about ‘separation’ and ‘right of way’ or collision avoidance. Imagine the drama – Woolworths milk delivery collides with Fred’s Pizza and the bits rain down on a busy area or a highway? Don’t bear thinking about do it. The narrow band of airspace available around the cities – given airports and hospitals and public land and major transport hubs which all would need a dedicated ‘no-fly zone’ the chances of a collision are greatly increased. This without even considering ‘parts’ of drones landing wherever and the chance of them hitting whoever. Aye; tis a problem which must be solved.
So much for ‘regulated’ licenced traffic over built up areas; but what of the non registered, non licenced hooligans? How is anyone to ‘police’ that crowd. They ain’t going to register; they ain’t going to sit exams; they ain’t going to ‘obey’ the statutory rules. Which, standing alone is bad enough; but who – exactly – is going to police them? How will the ‘law’ even set about catching ‘em? Mission impossible IMO. It must be of great concern to Police, Ambulance, Fire and rescue services, not to mention aircrews on final approach or take off; particular worry for the airborne crews. IF – gods forbid – we ever loose a rescue unit or an airliner to a collision with an illegal, untraceable drone, I can’t even begin to imagine the fall out.
Then, there are ‘other’ serious security issues to address; privacy matters to consider; third part insurance liability; operational safety around airports; noise complaints;etc.
The list is endless, solutions few. But, most concerning of all - can we rely on a CASA who can barely generate a cohesive rule on pilot training; or fuel requirements; or Angel Flights; or, barely tell the truth at Estimates about tall buildings in runway safe zones to provide the answers? For that question I don’t need to think about an answer. NO, absolutely not, is the simple, short version – 30 years and hundreds of millions to produce the worlds' worst set of aviation regulations – and you want the aviation world to provide submissions to them. Oh, do Duck off you pathetic tragedy of a miniscule – you have got to be kidding.
Toot – toot. And Purdy rules.