Conundrum #21. The shotgun solution.
Bear with me. Not far away or very long ago, I had occasion to walk cross a well used public park, a pleasant 30 minute stroll. I could hear a strange noise, thought it was some kind of new fangled ‘whipper-snipper’ until ‘it’ passed me from directly ahead, at a high rate of rate knots, I reckon it missed me by about two feet vertical and perhaps 8 -10 lateral. It’s ‘mate’ a split second behind. Cursing that the Purdey over and under was safely locked away on the houseboat, looked about to see who was the fool and where the ‘things’ were headed next. Within this parkland, there is a modest ‘lake’ (for want of better) where a breeding pair of black swans have taken up residence; they hatched one signet, alas, that was ‘killed’ after a football match. The park put in a nesting platform, safe from the banks and after a while, a clutch of three brand spanking new swans hatched. Ayup, you guessed it, the ‘family’ of five were the next ‘target’. FFS. It’s tough enough for wild things to survive in any case, without that sort of vicious act for a vicarious thrill. By now, these fools were too far away for me to get to. I stumped off in their direction, but the ‘things’ were brought over in my direction as this pair of fools departed the fix. Not even a cricket bat to use, just some of the vilest words I have ever uttered, in any language.
The point – (at last) how can CASA or any agency control or police that sort of behaviour? The short answer is they cannot. Must the folk who use the ‘drone’ technology properly an responsibly suffer because of the ‘hooligan’ mentality; how are we to ensure an even handed approach? Had I whipped out the mobile phone, taken a picture and called the police; or, even the CASA hotline: who has the resources, time and ability to hunt them down and punish them; even if they could be brought to law?
It’s a puzzle for all aviation regulators; there’s BHP happily, responsibly and legally using a fine tool to tally their stockpiles; at ‘tuther end we have my fine pair of fools. This will end up something like an ‘after the fact’ prosecution; only once the damage is done, can the law act. A kiddie gets run over on a zebra crossing, nothing can undo that. No amount of law or policing can prevent it. The penalties may, retrospectively, be ferocious; but will they cure stupidity or reckless behaviour? Clearly they cannot.
So, poor old CASA must decide what to do with what, IMO, is a social problem, rather than a legal one. What to do to prevent my two idiots from deciding a chopper or aircraft on final is great target for testing their latest laser equipped drone. Sure, it’s a one in a million chance. However.
Enough waffle; the model aircraft fraternity have a spotless track record; perhaps that’s the solution; make drone owners belong to an association which sets the standards; that would sort the 93 percentile who have good intentions; the hooligans and the mindless, regrettably, will always be with us. I can feel a soupçon of pity for CASA in this matter, it’s a deep problem – and a bitch.
Ramble over; whistles up dogs, settles the Purdey and ambles off. “Saddle up GD - a ‘untin we will go”.
Bear with me. Not far away or very long ago, I had occasion to walk cross a well used public park, a pleasant 30 minute stroll. I could hear a strange noise, thought it was some kind of new fangled ‘whipper-snipper’ until ‘it’ passed me from directly ahead, at a high rate of rate knots, I reckon it missed me by about two feet vertical and perhaps 8 -10 lateral. It’s ‘mate’ a split second behind. Cursing that the Purdey over and under was safely locked away on the houseboat, looked about to see who was the fool and where the ‘things’ were headed next. Within this parkland, there is a modest ‘lake’ (for want of better) where a breeding pair of black swans have taken up residence; they hatched one signet, alas, that was ‘killed’ after a football match. The park put in a nesting platform, safe from the banks and after a while, a clutch of three brand spanking new swans hatched. Ayup, you guessed it, the ‘family’ of five were the next ‘target’. FFS. It’s tough enough for wild things to survive in any case, without that sort of vicious act for a vicarious thrill. By now, these fools were too far away for me to get to. I stumped off in their direction, but the ‘things’ were brought over in my direction as this pair of fools departed the fix. Not even a cricket bat to use, just some of the vilest words I have ever uttered, in any language.
The point – (at last) how can CASA or any agency control or police that sort of behaviour? The short answer is they cannot. Must the folk who use the ‘drone’ technology properly an responsibly suffer because of the ‘hooligan’ mentality; how are we to ensure an even handed approach? Had I whipped out the mobile phone, taken a picture and called the police; or, even the CASA hotline: who has the resources, time and ability to hunt them down and punish them; even if they could be brought to law?
It’s a puzzle for all aviation regulators; there’s BHP happily, responsibly and legally using a fine tool to tally their stockpiles; at ‘tuther end we have my fine pair of fools. This will end up something like an ‘after the fact’ prosecution; only once the damage is done, can the law act. A kiddie gets run over on a zebra crossing, nothing can undo that. No amount of law or policing can prevent it. The penalties may, retrospectively, be ferocious; but will they cure stupidity or reckless behaviour? Clearly they cannot.
So, poor old CASA must decide what to do with what, IMO, is a social problem, rather than a legal one. What to do to prevent my two idiots from deciding a chopper or aircraft on final is great target for testing their latest laser equipped drone. Sure, it’s a one in a million chance. However.
Enough waffle; the model aircraft fraternity have a spotless track record; perhaps that’s the solution; make drone owners belong to an association which sets the standards; that would sort the 93 percentile who have good intentions; the hooligans and the mindless, regrettably, will always be with us. I can feel a soupçon of pity for CASA in this matter, it’s a deep problem – and a bitch.
Ramble over; whistles up dogs, settles the Purdey and ambles off. “Saddle up GD - a ‘untin we will go”.