Community Chat

[handygal2]

It was announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration will require that all recreational drones between one half pound and fifty-five pounds be registered with that agency. I imagine that this will lower the sales of these devices, and that many people who bought them to give as Christmas gifts will want to return them before the holiday. Also, l don't see how this massive registration process can even be enforced. Check out this link from the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/15/technology/drone-registration-rules-are-announced-by-faa.html?smid...

[millieshops]

@handygal2I also have no idea how they can monitor these things, but it's also sad that those who have enough money to buy such an expensive toy can't buy enough common sense and concern for the rest of us to stay away from airports and other major facilities without having government involved.

People who want small government need to learn to govern themselves.  I think even a $1000 fine for playing with one of these near an airport isn't enough. 

I wish I thought all the violaters were young kids whose brains aren't fully developed, but I suspect plenty of them were purchased by people who should have fully developed brains, but who just don't think they need to care about the rest of us -  and I bet these are not refugees for the most part, but they are dangerous just the same.  What happens when  plane with hundreds of passengers goes down because of these idiots?

[Pqfan]

I am so old fashioned I hate drones and those boards (sorry I don't know the name) that are catching on fire.

[missy1]

They will find a way to make them under the weight limit. $$ are being lost with all these rules. I bet you will have to pay a yearly registration and insurance fee just like cars.

[millieshops]

@PqfanI don't think you're old-fashioned at all.  Too many drone owners are irreponsible -  0ver 1000 pilots per month have reported them in airport space.

The problem with drones is the thoughtless users, not the machines themselves.

The mobile devices are another story -  they're dangerous to the users and to those around the users if they're being used where the possible fires can spread beyond the space around them.  Sounds as if there's no reason for them to be marketed at all.

[handygal2]

How ironic that the two most popular Christmas gifts this year-- drones and hoverboards-- are also the most dangerous and controversial ones.

[SharkE]

Can U imagine if somebody using one of them bought down a plane and it turned out to have their own relatives in it ? Murder........

[faeriemoon]

I think this whole drone craze is pretty stupid.  I don't understand the desire to have one, and I don't understand why all of a sudden people who were never interested in flying those remote controlled airplanes and helicopters are so obsessed with getting a drone.

And why do they call those segue-without-a-handle things "hover boards?''  They don't hover, they roll.  Another dumb gift.

[Allegheny]

I am not sure how I feel yet on drones with cameras for recreational use.  I may be OK if they could only attain a limited altitude and nix the camera.  People have flown model airplanes for years.

The registration is only $5.  But as anything else, a lot of folks aren't going to register them and the only way someone will get caught is if they violate the FAA rules, and in turn get caught, which probably won't occur.   So it is an effort in futality.  The way to handle it is registration prior to purchase.

[ROMARY]

Forgive me for saying this, but they should have thought about this and passed this ruling a couple of months ago or so.  Well, better a bit late than never. Thank you, FAA. So far, all planes have been safe.  I can't imagine walking around, and having thousands of drones flying around all over the place.  Whether delivering packages or just for 'fooling around' for fun.  Just seems rather chaotic and nerve-wracking (to me, anyway).