Next Step for Drones: Defending Against Them
As Amazon Inc. and Google Inc. consider drones for tasks ranging from package delivery to providing high-speed Internet, regulators and military planners worry that low-cost drones, which are widely available for purchase, could pose a threat to commercial aviation, vital infrastructure and even troops.
Commercial drone use in Hawaii starting to take off
Recreational operators don’t need an exemption, but one is required if money is exchanged or the drone use is done on behalf of a business.
“Someone did get dinged with a $10,000 fine for commercially operating an unmanned aerial system,” said Andrew Richard Hara, CEO of Ena Media Hawaii. “The FAA has been retroactively searching even YouTube for videos that are being propagated.”
Hawaii From Above by Dane Christensen of danesdrones
Drone operator chased, tased by ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
A drone operator was chased and tased by a ranger at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The confrontation happened after park rangers say the man refused to cooperate when he was caught using a drone to video the Kilauea volcano in an area where massive crowds have been gathering at night to witness the rising lava lake.
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Drone Aircraft Help Save Taxpayer Dollars in Hawaii
In Hawaii, agencies and researchers are integrating drones into their work to not only save taxpayers money but also limit accidents on the job. Drones are giving federal government researchers the ability to model beach erosion along an entire stretch of shoreline in minutes.
For the average consumer, drones are just expensive toys for snowboarders and techies. But for businesses, researchers and government agencies, especially in Hawaii, they’re the latest tool to help them work in faster, safer and cheaper ways. Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), or quad copters, or remote-controlled planes or whatever you want to call them, are being used in Hawaii for some very interesting and cutting-edge tasks, from letting University of Hawaii researchers cheaply calculate rainfall runoff rates to helping the Honolulu Fire Department quickly identify smoldering hot spots during brush fires.
Drone groups and pilots are being encouraged to participate in upcoming second annual Honolulu Mini-Maker Faire! It’s taking place on May 9 at Iolani School. Organizers were able to secure the gym and are would like to make that area aeronautics/drone-themed. Some ideas thrown around include drone races, presentations on some of the positive applications of drones (i.e. searching for lost hikers), etc.
Want to participate? Here’s the link for signing up:
http://j.mp/hnlmk2015_call_for_makers
The official site is:
Ryan Salcedo has announced the formation of the Hawaii Drone Club, chartered under the Academy of Model Aeronotics (AMA Charter #5239), with the mission: “Promote responsible, productive and fun use of unmanned systems across the Hawaiian Islands.” Primary activities will be education, advocacy, assistance and fellowship.
For more information, visit HawaiiDroneClub.org, or visit the club’s page on Facebook.
UAVs in the Aloha State!
Senate Bill 2608, introduced by Sen. Clayton Hee,...
