Japan Prepares To Ban Flying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Under the Influence of Alcohol (scmp.com) 48
Drinking and droning? It could soon cost you up to a year in jail in Japan, where an amendment to the country's civil aeronautics law being debated in the Diet would make it illegal to operate unmanned aerial vehicles while under the influence of alcohol. From a report: According to the transport ministry, there were 79 incidents involving drones in the last financial year. None of them involved a drunk operator but tighter restrictions were nonetheless regarded as a necessary pre-emptive move. "There are lots of different types of accidents that are reported each year but the majority are relatively minor and involve, for example, a drone operating on a predetermined route making an accidental landing," a ministry official said, adding that there were 63 reports of accidents in 2017 and 55 the previous year.
"We have no records of someone causing an accident with a drone while drinking, but we do know that in the US about three years ago, a drunk person landed a drone in the grounds of the White House," the official said. "We obviously want to avoid that sort of situation, so these new laws are designed to stop something before it happens." Under the new rules, a drone operator will be legally required to carry out preflight checks of the vehicle and authorities will carry out on-the-spot inspections when an accident occurs.
"We have no records of someone causing an accident with a drone while drinking, but we do know that in the US about three years ago, a drunk person landed a drone in the grounds of the White House," the official said. "We obviously want to avoid that sort of situation, so these new laws are designed to stop something before it happens." Under the new rules, a drone operator will be legally required to carry out preflight checks of the vehicle and authorities will carry out on-the-spot inspections when an accident occurs.
what are they going to do (Score:2)
pull the drone over and ask it to blow in the breathalizer?
And it tried to take a swig. (Score:2)
n/t
Good call (Score:3)
The last thing anyone needs is to get dived on by a drone because its operator is bombed. They take drunk driving over there pretty seriously.
In Japan you can actually get charged for just being in a car with a drunk driver. You don't even have to be driving yourself.
Cuz when I'm drunk (Score:2)
The first thing that I think when I'm drunk and have a new toy is: I wonder if there is a law against this?
So what? (Score:4, Funny)
a drunk person landed a drone in the grounds of the White House
Far stranger things have made it into the White House.
Re: (Score:2)
A drunk German landed a Cessna in Red Square.
Re: (Score:1)
Pretty close, a person who acts drunk and drones on.
Question (Score:1)
I have AI chips in my drone so it does what it wants. If I happen to be drunk when the AI drone decides to start flying, would I be running afoul of the law?
Re: (Score:2)
That's nothing, the AI in my drone is so sophisticated it can get drunk. It expressed disappointment with weed though, saying it only got a headache and a case of the munchies which shortens battery life.
Turning Japanese? (Score:2)
Did anyone read that headline wrong.... (Score:2)
Yo Grark
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Slowsticks and beer just go together.
Re: (Score:2)
Nitromethane or go home.
There should be an OVA about this. (Score:2)
Because Japan... and because it would be Awesome.
Re: (Score:2)
It hasn't been done yet due to contact negotiations with the drone manufacturer over product placement and revenue sharing.
Is it just me or is all new anime just toy infomercials?
Already illegal in the US (Score:2)
Catching up with the United States?
Non-commercial (Part 101) UAV operators must comply with "community safety standards" which uniformly prohibit flying under the influence though no specific levels are mentioned: https://www.modelaircraft.org/... [modelaircraft.org]
Commercial operators fall under Part 107 which incorporates Part 91 by reference. As such, both the pilot and the observer (considered a crew member) must wait at least 8 hours after consuming alcohol (bottle-to-throttle rule), cannot have a blood-alcohol level abo
Who drone's drunk? (Score:2)
Crazy (Score:2)
I always make sure my drones are sober (Score:2)
The pilots may be three sheets to the wind, but so long as the drone is sober, it's the one flying, right?
Damn... just as... (Score:2)
Damn, just as "drunken drone racing" was taking off as a sport in Japan.... this happens! :-)
So Japan is just catching up with Canada.... (Score:2)
Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems)
901.19 (2) No person shall act as a crew member of a remotely piloted aircraft system
(a) within 12 hours after consuming an alcoholic beverage;
(b) while under the influence of alcohol; or
(c) while using any drug that impairs the person’s faculties to the extent that aviation safety or the safety of any person is endangered or