[NSRCA-discussion] The Moment A World Cup Skier Was Nearly Hit By A Drone Falling Out Of The Sky

[S. McNickle]

I was at the Memorial Day NASCAR race in Charlotte a few years ago when the cable for the overhead traveling camera broke and fell down across parts of the grandstand and the track. NASCAR discontinued use of that kind of camera. 
The AMA rules about flying over crowds aren't just because of the possibility of pilot error, the even the best pilots are unable to recover from certain mechanical and electrical failures. I think the commercial media drone people need to learn this lesson. 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Paul Lukas via NSRCA-discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> 
To: "General pattern discussion" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> 
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2015 10:03:44 AM 
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] The Moment A World Cup Skier Was Nearly Hit By A Drone Falling Out Of The Sky 



A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend the Govt Video Expo and “National Drone Show”. While walking around the drone booths, I got into a conversation with a gentleman who was advertising his services and explaining how a video drone can be used by a tower crane operator to do inspections. The guy from the construction company was enthralled. I jumped into the conversation and mentioned that the construction site under the crane would have to be cleared of workers to allow safe operation of the drone. The pitchman was insistent that it was not necessary. I got into a long conversation with him about safe operation and use. He ended the conversation by saying how he has 3,000 hours experience flying the drones, he is an experienced drone pilot, and he can fly a drone just 5 feet over the heads of kids at a skateboard park. I called him irresponsible and walked away shaking my head. 



It’s not just the rogue operators, but professionals that think they are too good for anything to go wrong. Watching that video clip of the skier, it seems to me that the drone came straight down. It should never have been flying directly over the race course, but off to the side away from spectators and athletes as well. 



Does anyone remember the cable camera that came down on the field in the middle of a NFL game? Almost hit a player if I remember. Anything hanging or hovering can come down unexpectedly at any moment. 



Paul 




From: NSRCA-discussion [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of John Gayer via NSRCA-discussion 
Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2015 12:22 AM 
To: General pattern discussion <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org> 
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] The Moment A World Cup Skier Was Nearly Hit By A Drone Falling Out Of The Sky 




This was a commercial operation by the video provider of the race in Italy using a 22 pound drone. It was fully authorized by the FIS which puts on world cup races. 



That takes this incident completely out of the realm of the rogue hobbyist. Of course the FAA might use the incident to further delay their commercial drone regulations. 






On 12/23/2015 7:55 PM, Keith Hoard via NSRCA-discussion wrote: 




I do believe this was a “bite the pillow and enjoy the sting” moment. 



<sigh> 



(slinking off to get my registration number) 



http://techcrunch.com/2015/12/22/the-moment-a-world-cup-skier-was-nearly-hit-by-a-drone-falling-out-of-the-sky/ 

--Keith Hoard 
--klhoard at outlook.com 








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