Drones have been a Godsend for me. I can finally fly a helicopter. I tried conventional helicopters over the years, but just did not have the skill. After the second time of dropping a grand and crashing conventional helis, I kind of gave up.
Enter first generation Phantom. I was elated. The autohome on loss of signal, and self stabilization was just what I needed.I probably,(don't know for sure,) may have taken it up too high a few times, I didn't know any better,but after a few times, the magic was pale. Its not fun flying something you can barely see. The only time I ever looked in someone's back yard was at their request to mess with their kids, unless you count me going straight up to a few hundred feet just to see what the whole neighborhood looked like. I never imagined just how many trees there are here.
And then the a******* started. Why anyone would want to risk there $700 toy over an active airport is beyond me, let alone risk possible fatal damage to an aircraft with people aboard. Pretty much the same thing goes with flying over crowds, in between large buildings in city centers, or very low altitude over other's property. Yes, some people have more money than sense, but still.
Then the FAA registration and possibly new regulations came out. Aside from the actual registration component, I'm not sure if there actually what regulations there were prior, but I know them now. I am sorry if it has messed with the flight hobby in general. It has messed with me as well. I used to like to fly in my driveway, despite the size of my drones, to practice basic maneuvers. I can't do that anymore,(Or maybe I shouldn't have before, again I'm not sure.)According to the FAA's website, I'm within about 3 miles or more from a municipal airport, 2 hospitals, and a charter helicopter service.
Now, I don't want to cause any aircraft to crash, and I would ditch my quads rather than risk a loss life or limb, even if I was out in BFE. I have to take slight umbrage with the 5 mile radius though. The don't fly within five miles of an airport is not absolute, but you are supposed to contact air traffic control. Now, I asked the FAA for clarification and contacted these four flight centers in attempt to streamline notification. The municipal airport told me I needed to contact the main airport in my area,(Eppley). I never got to anyone that would answer my question. One hospital told me to contact security later, and was told its not their problem. The other hospital literally said "What?" And the charter helicopter service's number was disconnected. The FAA also said that, yes, I need to contact Air Traffic Control.
To fly in my driveway. When I did fly in my driveway, and even out in an open field, I rarely go above 50'. The way I see it, if you are flying a full sized aircraft within a few hundred feet AGL above my house, it's either an extremely unusual circumstance,(police helicopter, life flight) or a live pilot would be screwing up, not me.
At the same time, it brought to my attention, and many others, what the rules are. I have obtained a membership/sort of pilots license with a local club, I bought a few years of AMA membership, registered with the FAA, and marked all 5 of my applicable quads.
Bottom line: I follow regulations and the like. I generally fly solo or with a friend or two in safe unrestricted airspace. And the only danger I represent is to my multicopters being crashed into the ground. Yes there are plenty of idiots, but some of you guys should embrace us newer pilots, not revile us. Let us have a crack at your fixed wing, we'll let you fly our multicopters, or at least I would. Educate us if we are doing stupid things. Its all about fun.