CT Legislature to hold hearing on Drone usage Monday

[SamaraMedia]

I'm located in CT and have tried to keep a low profile on what I'm trying to do in this industry but recent events here have provoked a little interest and or controversy of "Drones". I work for a newspaper as a photojournalist and have had a few occasions to film certain situations but have turned them down due to the FAA "fear factor". Here are a couple of references to what is going on here. It started a couple weeks back when a volunteer fire police office used his P2 to film a fire at a quarry where the FD was concerned that explosives were in close proximity to the flames. I was on vacation in the Caribbean (oh how sweet it was) and the paper used a reader submitted (fire police officer) photo and video on our website. About a week later a part-time Vj for a local news station was on the scene of an fatal auto accident when he decided to launch his P2 for some footage. The local police told him to bring it down and told him he was in violation of FAA rules so they detained him and gave him some s***. He has since hired a lawyer and is suing the PD for violating his civil rights to operate the uav as a hobbyist. He was not working for the TV station at the time but the police still harassed him.

On Monday or state judicial committee is having a hearing on the AN ACT CONCERNING USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT. (JUD)
photo. I plan on attending and maybe bringing my quads as an educational tool. I've been very low key to this point but feel that it's time that we let our legislators know they need not fear all "drones".

Here are a few links to stories I referred to:

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-first-drone-bill-20140222,0,5364876.story
http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-hartford-drone-lawsuit-0219-20140218,0,6452282.story
http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-hartford-wfsb-drone-0208-20140207,0,6115392.story
http://www.courant.com/community/branford/hc-branford-quarry-fire-0131-20140130,0,2402826.story

I encourage any and all multirotor, uav, fpv operators in the state to attend or at least keep an eye on what transpires here.

Thanks,

John

 

[Carapau]

Way to go, way to go! Best of luck to you and what a sound approach you are applying. To add to your educational piece you can site European countries, such as the UK, as a places where drone use is not only legal but legislation has been minimized with huge success and that none of the fears that scaremongers about privacy /safety have been shouting on about have come to light.

 

[sk8brd]

keep us posted jwoike. i love how on tv news or media channels when they do a segment about small uav technology like a phantom they show a military drone thumbnail to preview what's next in the broadcast...REALLY- a military drone thumbnail to describe a phantom..total hypocrisy!!!! my friends all know to call rc heli's either rc heli's or uav's i tell then the word drone scares people and is prejudice..lol

 

[Droider]

Yeh good luck John. Here in the UK we don't have it exactly easy BUT at least we have a government and CAA (our FAA) that has listened to legitimate and purposeful cases that don't allow big brother to quash little guys for being innovative and a threat to the ones at the top of the tree.

Uncle Sam is a whole new ball game over the Eatonites!

Dave

 

[Emowillcox]

Good luck John

 

[SamaraMedia]

Thanks guys, I'll keep you posted

 

[Motopreserve]

I've been following various stories, including the thread started here by the guy who piloted at the Quary fire. Good on you for going to this committee meeting and taking part.

The info that is online regarding the FAA "threat" cease and desist letters (obtained via FOIA) and the "Trappy" case is fascinating. Please keep us posted on your experiences.