UK Revises Safe Flying Drone Code

The UK's drone code has been revised and updated to help pilots of the unmanned craft ensure they fly the gadgets safely. From a BBC report: The revised code turns the five main safety tips into a mnemonic, spelling drone, to make it easier to remember. (1) Don't fly near airports or airfields. (2) Remember to stay below 120m (400ft) and at least 50m (150ft) away from people. (3) Observe your drone at all times. (4). Never fly near aircraft. (5) Enjoy responsibly. "Drones are an incredible, inspiring technology but it's vital that people are using them safely," said Andrew Sage from air traffic control body NATS in a statement. "With the number of reported drone incidents on the rise, it's important that people understand their legal obligations and fly safe," he said.

50 meter = 0 meter sigh

[emj]

So as long as I fly 50 meters up I can fly anywhere? Because if everyone has a 50 meter diameter cylinder around them it's going to be really difficult.

Re:

[Tx]

Nope. If you look at the website [dronesafe.uk], it shows 150m lateral stand-off from "Crowds and built up areas", with no vertical limit, i.e. do not overfly crowds and built up areas at any height. The 50m exclusion is for small numbers of people/properties away from built up areas. So if you're flying out in the country, you can fly over some people or a property so long as you're above 50m.

Now what exactly is the definition of "built up area" I'm not sure, because those definitions could be taken to mean "don't fly in

Missing tip

[TheDarkMaster]

Do not shoot missiles at people, homes or other drones. Except if the other shoot first

OK, makes a lot of sense...

[marcle]

Don't Remember Observe Never Enjoy. That will definitely help me remember those rules.

Re: OK, makes a lot of sense...

[LordNightwalker]

I think that was the first thing anyone with common sense thought when reading it. I half wonder about the people who came up with this though, must be so demotivating for the couple of "bright" folks in the room when it was announced that the votes had been cast and this was the winning entry...

Re:

[ColdWetDog]

The best thing about mnemonics is that there are so many to chose from [wikipedia.org].

Mean Very Evil Men Just Shortened Up Nature[1]
Mary's "Virgin" Explanation Made Joseph Suspect Upstairs Neighbour
Many Very Educated Men Justify Stealing Unique Ninth
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos
What The Fuck Does This Stand For

Memory aids, indeed.

Re:

[ColdWetDog]

And where the hell did 'mn' come out of? Who did English steal that particular spelling atrocity from?

Re:

[ledow]

What bullshit about not flying drones near people or airports?

The rules have been there for years for a reason.

A drone on the head will complete make a mess of your face, blades spinning or not. And that can happen whether its in your control, just failed or is going loopy because of a faulty component or low battery. These things can get up to 30mph or more horizontally, what do you think they can do in a crap operator's hands in a park full of kids?

A drone hitting a light aircraft coming into land can e

Fixed that for you...

[technophebe]

How about a mnemonic that helps you to remember the *relevant* words:

stay away from People
stay away from Aircraft/ports
be Responsible
Observe your drone at all times
stay Lower than 120m
Enjoy yourself

PAROLE

Re:

[ColdWetDog]

I like this better:

ICANTHEARYOU

(No, I don't know what it's supposed to stand for. That is left as an exercise to the reader.)

Re:

[BlueStrat]

DRONE

Don't obey any rules or laws.

Recklessly endanger the public.

Obnoxiously 'buzz' police and emergency responders.

Never fly a drone where you can observe it or people may observe you..

Explosives are also fun, attach bombs to your drones.

(Naturally, the above is purely in jest.)

Strat

Re:

[BlueStrat]

Be easy on him.

He's still triggered and in his safe space with his comfort-dog. Facts are micro-aggressions, you CIS-male predator! :P

Strat

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Grammar ,,,

[CaptainDork]

... and fly safe ...

safely

Few safes weigh 20kg (44 lbs) or less.

Re:

[thegarbz]

... and fly safe ...

safely

Merriam-Webster Unabridged:

Main Entry: safe
Function: adverb
Inflected Form(s): -er/-est

: SAFELY, SECURELY -- often used in combination

Admittedly more common in American English it is none the less acceptable English.

Re:

[CaptainDork]

... it is none the less acceptable English.

Not on my lawn.

Re:

[thegarbz]

To be frank, no one gives a shit about your lawn.

Re:

[CaptainDork]

You can be Frank and I will be CaptainDork.

A menace until they have transponders

[cjonslashdot]

Until they have transponders, they are a menace to sport aircraft, which often fly at low altitude when landing or taking off from a field, for amphibian aircraft, a lake. Given that striking a drone will usually destroy an airplane and kill the passengers, it seems reckless that they can be allowed over public land above 100 ft. They have been declared to be aircraft: they should have transponders.