NY men arrested after toy drones fly within 800 feet of police chopper

[Hum]

Two drones nearly took out an NYPD chopper over the George Washington Bridge on Monday, and cops arrested the wayward devices? operators, law-enforcement sources told The Post.

The Aviation Unit helicopter was on patrol around 12:15?a.m. when it had to swerve to avoid the small, unmanned aircraft, the sources said.

The NYPD pilots ?observed flying object at 2,000 feet in vicinity of the George Washington Bridge, then circling heading toward the helicopter,?? a police report said.

?The officers were forced to change their course to avoid a collision.?

One source called it a ?very dangerous? scenario.

?Although [drones] may only weigh a few pounds, that?s all birds weigh, and look what they did to the Sully Airbus,? the source said, referring to 2009?s ?Miracle on the Hudson,? in which a bird strike forced US?Airways pilot Chesley ?Sully? Sullenberger to crash-land a jetliner in the Hudson River.

The chopper tailed the drones north as they landed at the corner of Audubon and Fort George avenues, near Fort Tryon Park, at 12:35 a.m., sources said.

The chopper cops called NYPD Patrol, and officers were dispatched to nab the suspects.

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[DocM]

Here's the FAQ on unmanned & model aircraft. The altitude limit is 400 feet.

http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/uas_faq/

[Hum]

I guess we'll see ever increasing problems with drones.

 

May be that the general public will be banned from flying drones.

[Praetor]

it is bound to happen, soon or late, some unfortunate incidend involving drones, because of human stupidity.

[DocM]

The FAA is supposed to issue new rules for drones soon, loosening things up and setting standards for commercial and other operators.

Amazon is a big pusher for this as they want to use drone deliveries from local distribution hubs to the home for items under 5 lbs. Tests underway, prepping to expand. Also various agricultural monitoring services for farmers, police departments to augment their choppers and for SWAT intel gathering etc.

[theyarecomingforyou]

Here's the FAQ on unmanned & model aircraft. The altitude limit is 400 feet.

http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/uas_faq/

To be fair, I wouldn't have a clue how to determine the height of these things. Do these drones have sensors to tell the user their altitude? Regardless, in this instance they were clearly trying to interfere with the operation of a helicopter which is extremely dangerous.

[Hum]

Amazon is a big pusher for this as they want to use drone deliveries from local distribution hubs to the home for items under 5 lbs.

I can't see that ending well.

 

A lone thief or gangs could easily take the package or damage the drone.

[Lamp0]

Take my drones away? HA! From my cold, dead hands!

[Brian M. Veteran]

The FAA is supposed to issue new rules for drones soon, loosening things up and setting standards for commercial and other operators.

Amazon is a big pusher for this as they want to use drone deliveries from local distribution hubs to the home for items under 5 lbs. Tests underway, prepping to expand. Also various agricultural monitoring services for farmers, police departments to augment their choppers and for SWAT intel gathering etc.

I really hope this never takes off (pun intended!). Amazon's tried their own delivery service here in the UK and it's useless. The last thing I want is to have to collect my Amazon delivery from the roof!

[HawkMan]

Heh," nearly took out" and " had to swerve to avoid". That is fun. Even the biggest consumer drones you can buy or build today would be blown away by the down wash, and the rotors would rip them the pieces with no damage if they managed to get there.

 

Also I wonder if the helicopter wasn't the one who obliviously flew into the area they where flying their multicopters(they're not fricken drones)

[Crisp]

You have the right to bear drones.

 

[(Account no longer active)]

'The officers were forced to change their course to avoid a collision. One source called it a ?very dangerous? scenario.'

 

Seriously, how could a tiny drone be a 'threat' to a helicopter? If a drone were to come near to one, it (the drone) would be the first (and only) to get the damage. The movement of air from the helicopter would surely disrupt drones also (even tried one on a windy day?).

[webeagle12]

Take my drones away? HA! From my cold, dead hands!

 

OK tough guy sitting and talking .... behind computer.

[Dutchie64]

'The officers were forced to change their course to avoid a collision. One source called it a ?very dangerous? scenario.'

 

Seriously, how could a tiny drone be a 'threat' to a helicopter? If a drone were to come near to one, it (the drone) would be the first (and only) to get the damage. The movement of air from the helicopter would surely disrupt drones also (even tried one on a windy day?).

 

Try Googling for "bird strike helicopter crash", and you'll see that even a medium sized bird can do a lot of damage.

Even though you can safely land a helicopter without a working engine, I would think most pilots will avoid that at all cost. And that would be landing with the rotorblades fully intact....

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I own a DJI Phantom 2 quadcopter.  It is capable of up to 2000ft, but out of the box is limited to 400.  There is a growing community of pilots for these drones, and by and large we are respectful and sensible.

 

The level of derision and annoyance shown when someone (often unwittingly) breaks a law with it, or just flies in a careless manner (over crowds, near buildings, etc) is quite noticeable.

 

It is a real shame that some idiots choose to act like jackasses with these things to the detriment of the whole community.  The FAA are already up in arms over them, and getting a bit annoyed at the situation.

 

A few points for clarification:

 

1) These "pilots" will have modded the defaults to allow such flight

2) They could easily take down a helicopter

3) The "from my cold dead hands" type comments come from people who are very quickly shunned from the community, as they tend to fly like idiots, flouting the rules and getting us all a bad name.  Yeeehaw!

4) The drones stay stationary in even the strongest of winds (not gales obv)

5) They are drones, as they can fly autonomously

6) This is NOTHING NEW.  Remote controlled aircraft have been available and affordable for decades.  This are just a new type.  All the drug/weapon/crash issues have been around since the 1970s on RC helicopters.

7) Most sensible pilots fully support the idea of a license.  Not as full as a pilots license, but more a way of saying "I have been formally shown the rules, invested some time and now take responsibility".

[neufuse Veteran]

I don't get why "drones" are a sudden problem..... we've had radio controlled planes and helicopters for ever... and they were not big issues until the past couple years with the multi prop ones came out...

[Brian M. Veteran]

...

7) Most sensible pilots fully support the idea of a license.  Not as full as a pilots license, but more a way of saying "I have been formally shown the rules, invested some time and now take responsibility".

I really agree with point 7. For any aircraft capable of reaching, say, over 100ft, it'd be good to have some sort of "certification" - i.e. an hour, spent with an instructor, showing you can adequately control it, and understand the law.

The other reason I support it is that, if you lose control (or aren't able to control it properly) you could easily do some quite serious damage to property or cause a serious injury.

I don't get why "drones" are a sudden problem..... we've had radio controlled planes and helicopters for ever... and they were not big issues until the past couple years with the multi prop ones came out...

I think the big issue here is that the planes/helicopters which were "generally available" to buy (specialists excluded) were always gimmicks - bits of polystyrene which couldn't fly for more than a few minutes, and would have a range of no more than 50 or so feet. Nowadays, there are much more technologically advanced devices available for sale in shops, that anyone (children included) can just walk in and buy.

[Dutchie64]

@ neufuse:

 

Probably because these drones are way more 'sexy' than a remotely controlled plane or helicopter. And cheaper, as you can control it with your phone.

Add some 15-25 yr. old behavior to the mix, and voila!  Annoying drones ;-P

[Osiris]

I am just not surprised by this, its going to become more common as drones are cheaper, more readily available and easier to use than the radio / remote controlled aircraft that have been around for years.  As the above poster mentions they can even be controlled / used via your phone.

 

I think it will be a bit like laser pointers though, will take a couple of clowns, the law will come down on them like a hammer maybe tighten up purchasing rules and things will go back to normal, what will become more frequent though is their use for mischief, as you can have mischief with them without colliding directly with law enforcement.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I think the big issue here is that the planes/helicopters which were "generally available" to buy (specialists excluded) were always gimmicks - bits of polystyrene which couldn't fly for more than a few minutes, and would have a range of no more than 50 or so feet.

 

Not really true, they were hard-wearing items.  I have had friends who were enthusiasts and I feel these quadcopters are in the same league.  One mate lost control of his RC aircraft and it crashed through a roof into a bedroom via the loft.  Ouch.

 

Nowadays, there are much more technologically advanced devices available for sale in shops, that anyone (children included) can just walk in and buy

 

My entry level model was ?1000 ($1300?)

 

or cause a serious injury.

 

The first thing I did with my quadcopter was to slice my finger about 200 times in a second (accidentally of course).  You could very feasibly kill with one of these - and that is not taking the idea of a weighty object falling from a height into account.

 

The issue here is one of marketing.  They are marketed as toys.  They are NOT toys.  The ?50 ($90) ones from toy shops are toys.  A whole world of difference... Except they look very similar!

[dfuk]

@ neufuse:

 

Probably because these drones are way more 'sexy' than a remotely controlled plane or helicopter. And cheaper, as you can control it with your phone.

Add some 15-25 yr. old behavior to the mix, and voila!  Annoying drones ;-P

 

They are Not the toys that you control from your phone, they are over 4lbs in weight, over 24" across with a gimble mounted HD camera. They have a range of over 5 miles and travel at over 40 miles/hour with gps assistance.

 

Dartmoor Rescue are currently experimenting with them to use in saerch & rescue, as beacons and for expanding their radio coverage.

 

As usual a small number of idiots are going to get the majority a bad name.

 

Sorry for the rant :blush:

[jakem1]

I really hope this never takes off (pun intended!). Amazon's tried their own delivery service here in the UK and it's useless. The last thing I want is to have to collect my Amazon delivery from the roof!

 

It's more likely to be the neighbours roof...three days late.

[neufuse Veteran]

I think the big issue here is that the planes/helicopters which were "generally available" to buy (specialists excluded) were always gimmicks - bits of polystyrene which couldn't fly for more than a few minutes, and would have a range of no more than 50 or so feet. Nowadays, there are much more technologically advanced devices available for sale in shops, that anyone (children included) can just walk in and buy.

 

I don't know where you shop, but places I've shopped that sell these newer "drones" are also the same ones that sell the relatively long range helicopter / fixed wing pro and jet model air craft... and their prices are relatively similar

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

They are Not the toys that you control from your phone, they are over 4lbs in weight, over 24" across with a gimble mounted HD camera. They have a range of over 5 miles and travel at over 40 miles/hour with gps assistance.

 

Dartmoor Rescue are currently experimenting with them to use in saerch & rescue, as beacons and for expanding their radio coverage.

 

As usual a small number of idiots are going to get the majority a bad name.

 

Sorry for the rant :blush:

 

Spot on.  Except the Phantom can be controlled via iOS device.  But it's very much not the norm.

[Lamp0]

OK tough guy sitting and talking .... behind computer.

 

what?