Just had a really close call with another drone while flying! Sharing here to see if others have had similar experiences.
Top 3 fears while flying:
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Birds
-
Collisions with other drones
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Power lines
Scout said:
Top 3 fears while flying:
-
Birds
-
Collisions with other drones
-
Power lines
And don’t forget trees… total menaces!
Scout said:
Top 3 fears while flying:
-
Birds
-
Collisions with other drones
-
Power lines
You’ll really have a surprise the day you can’t tell if it’s a bird or a plane…
Scout said:
Top 3 fears while flying:
-
Birds
-
Collisions with other drones
-
Power lines
You’ll really have a surprise the day you can’t tell if it’s a bird or a plane…
If you’re unsure if it’s a bird or a plane, maybe you shouldn’t be flying in the first place.
Scout said:
Top 3 fears while flying:
-
Birds
-
Collisions with other drones
-
Power lines
Add #4: Someone sneaking up to you and syncing their DJI goggles to your feed.
That was a close one! But gotta admit, it looked pretty cool when you passed by each other.
When I’m out over the surf, we usually spot each other, talk, and adjust our heights to avoid any issues. This person showed up, didn’t talk to anyone, and kept adjusting their height to match mine as I moved. It felt like they were trying to get as close as possible on purpose. After that last shot, I decided to call it for the day – just didn’t feel safe with someone who wasn’t watching their line of sight.
@Nuri
Total lack of common sense on their part… could’ve cost you both big time.
Dezi said:
@Nuri
Total lack of common sense on their part… could’ve cost you both big time.
It looked like a Mavic 3 too, so that person was risking thousands of dollars!
@Nuri
But if they were staying still and you were the one who got close, then it sounds like you might’ve been the one who didn’t see them in time. I agree that communication could’ve helped avoid the whole situation though.
@Parker
They were moving too, going out to catch another wave. I saw them on my screen, looked up, and realized they kept matching my height. Definitely didn’t feel like they were paying attention.
@Nuri
But you didn’t actually talk to them either, right? If something happened, it would’ve been partly on you too for not coordinating.
Leighton said:
@Nuri
But you didn’t actually talk to them either, right? If something happened, it would’ve been partly on you too for not coordinating.
I stood up, looked around, and didn’t see anyone nearby, so I tried to be careful by adjusting my height. Every time I did, they adjusted to match, though. I was doing my best to avoid them, but it felt like they were intentionally getting in my space.
@Nuri
It sounds like both of you should’ve stopped and talked. Flying over people without clear coordination is a safety risk. If anything happened, it’d be on both of you.
Leighton said:
@Nuri
It sounds like both of you should’ve stopped and talked. Flying over people without clear coordination is a safety risk. If anything happened, it’d be on both of you.
In Hawaii, there’s sort of an unspoken code among drone pilots, especially over surf spots. Everyone knows to give space and watch each other. I fly one of the busiest breaks all the time, and usually, everyone appreciates us filming. I get the rules, but the local culture here has its own understanding.
@Nuri
But FAA rules don’t really care about the local vibe.
Zen said:
@Nuri
But FAA rules don’t really care about the local vibe.
But what about the vibes though?
Zen said:
@Nuri
But FAA rules don’t really care about the local vibe.
If it’s under 250g, you’re allowed to fly over people here as long as it’s not a crowd.