Welcome to Overshoot Photo's December 2013 Newsletter



In this issue:-

• Draganfly X4 added to 'for sale' list
• Amazon tests out Drone Delivery
• BBC report on the above plus Civilian use
• BBC Drone - Thailand Rally

Draganfly X4 added to 'For Sale'

Overshoot is now selling a Draganfly X4 plus all the usual accessories (stills camera, video camera, Basestation etc.). The X4 is the next model down from the X6. It is lacking the GPS functionality, so the user is unable to use this to record position, nor lock the drone into position - so the pilot has to free-fly it. Apart from that, it is very similar and represents a lower price point into this Business. At this price, it should pay for itself with a few shoots in no time

Click here to see full specs and prices: 

http://www.overshoot-photos.co.uk/aerial-photography/second-hand-draganflyer-for-sale.php

Amazon tests out Drone Delivery

Amazon has released a video demonstrating 'PrimeAir', it's new delivery concept using Drones

Amazon PrimeAir

It's an interesting concept, but that's all it is, a concept. I personally can never see this becoming reality as a commercial option for Amazon. Safety implications both from mechanical failure and collision with other drones, cables, buildings etc. etc. Theft of the Drone, battery life limitations and so on really make it a non-flier (ho ho - it is Christmas). Still, you never know where these ideas take you - perhaps they could be used in Amazon's warehouses in a controlled environment. The picking staff are already called 'drones'...

BBC report on the above plus Civilian use

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25185369

Not much to add, really. Interesting report.

BBC Drone - Thailand Rally Report

BBC reporting Live from the Thailand Rally with Drone footage. Comments?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25303252

My main question is one of safety. That drone is directly over the crowd and descends to just in front of the crowd as the Reporter finishes his piece to camera. In Europe under CAA or EuroUSC rules, this would be a clear violation of clearance rules. I don't care what reassurances would be given by the BBC team, accidents still happen. Here's National Geographic getting into trouble:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJrT7cnTCSM

I guess the rules in Thailand are slacker. Doesn't mitigate the risk of injuring (or worse) to the public.

Finally, a hark back to the Amazon story. Merry Christmas

cartoon (C) Scott Johnson, c/o 

http://www.myextralife.com/comic/competition/

That's it for this Newsletter. If you want to know more about the Second Hand Draganflys for sale, check out the website and get in touch for further information. If you are new to the concept, don't forget to download the Whitepaper linked to on the Home Page

Happy Flying

Andy

Changes afoot in Droneworld

An article on Newsnight last night is saying that the US FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) is being ordered by Congress to open up its airspace to Drones by September 2015.

The UK's airspace regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), told BBC Newsnight that large unmanned drones could be flying in British skies by 2020.

As with most new ideas, feelings are already running high with campaigns to make US Towns and Cities 'drone free' and people voicing their fears over safety - both in respect of loads carried and also drones colliding with aircraft and/or falling out of the sky.


At the moment, the FAA does not allow drones to be used commercially such as for taking aerial photographs at all so this is coming as a bit of a shock to it. Here in the UK we are in a better position. The CAA has recognised that the UAV / Drone field is growing and branching out from the amateur Radio Controlled hobbyist.

Since 2010, anyone wishing to operate a flying object that 'acquires data' (read: takes photographs) needs to obtain a Permission from the CAA, renewable annually. This goes for Drones, kites, blimps, modified RC Helicopters and so on. In praise of the CAA, although it seems to have been initially caught on the hop by the proliferation of this market, it has come up with a set of regulations that are sensible and proportionate to the size of craft and also reasonable in the conditions of use. I have been operating within them for three years and have found the CAA very helpful where interaction is needed and sensibly hands-off where not, leaving me to Risk Assess a shoot on the day. In Canada, for instance each shoot requires submission of a bundle of paperwork for approval days / weeks beforehand which, to me sounds pretty impractical.

To that end I have no doubt that the CAA will come up with a working regulatory environment. It has already stated that anything over 20Kg must be fitted with a 'sense and avoid' mechanism and that it would have to be approved for use in UK airspace in the same way as commercial aircraft.

Privacy

Does anyone realistically think that spying is  not going on already with affordable high zoom cameras and miniature cameras that can be concealed in a space the size of a cigarette packet. A drone is not opening up a new can of worms it is just another platform that could be used for an existing problem.

Safety

Yes, Drones are going to fall out of the sky (they do already), yes they are going to get used inappropriately by someone that has bought one off eBay. Yes, there will be spying on neighbours. We will never get rid of the unlicenced and black market users, in the same way that there are car drivers driving around with no licence and insurance, but by putting a licencing framework in place beforehand and managing it properly the UK can build up a great Drone industry and perhaps lead the world in this burgeoning technology whilst the FAA is still trying to fight it's walled garden.


Do you think this is a step too far? Do you have privacy concerns?
Do you shrug your shoulders and bundle it within the CCTVs and Google Streetview, thinking that we cannot stop it and/or anything that makes the country safer has to be a good thing?

Let me know.


Drone in Newsnight Studio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19436049
BBC Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19397816
FAA Forecast: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/apl/aviation_forecasts/aerospace_forecasts/2012-2032/media/Unmanned%20Aircraft%20Systems.pdf