By Lorrie Ross
Staff Writer
Drones. Maybe you are a hobbyist who operates your own or have no idea what one looks like except from pictures. According to many national reports, along with some local social media claims, drones are being sighted more and more often at night.
Several folks on the Hayesville Community Facebook page said they have seen them over their property, while others have seen them in Murphy or Andrews. Much well-meaning advice has been shared to shoot them down, but Clay County Sheriff Mark Buchanan said that is a bad idea.
“People should never shoot at any aircraft for many reasons,” Buchanan said. “Shooting or even pointing a laser at an aircraft that is in lawful flight may well be a violation of state and federal law.”
It can be dangerous. “Discharging any firearm into the air is extremely unsafe,” he continued. “Any bullet traveling up into the air has to come down. Any aircraft actually hit will more than likely come down. With both of these scenarios people on the ground could be hit by falling debris.”
So how does one decide if a drone is flying lawfully? More and more businesses are using drones for various reasons. After Hurricane Helene, drones were used in some unreachable areas to drop food and medical supplies. Even power companies and firefighters, as well as other first responders are getting into the act since a drone can climb to heights where it is more difficult for humans to go. Real estate companies are sometimes having aerial photos taken by the small aircraft and pizza and Amazon deliveries by drone are being experimented with in some more populated areas. Some drones may be flown for more nefarious intentions.
“For those who are merely seeing drones in the sky as with any aircraft, this would not necessarily be of interest to the Clay County Sheriff's Office,” Buchanan explained. “The sheriff's office should be contacted at 911 if an aircraft is flying very low, recklessly or in a manner that would pose a risk of injury to the public. The sheriff's office should also be contacted if an aircraft is flying or hovering in a manner that would be an invasion of privacy for persons who are on private property. An example of this has actually been reported in the past when a drone had been hovering at a window of a house.”
What exactly is a drone? Also known as quadcopters or quads, drones can be very small, about the size of an oddly shaped shoe box remote control car. Those are generally hobbyist-type starter drones, not usually able to fly more than about 30 minutes on a battery. If you see one of those in your space it is likely to be someone fairly close.
Drones used by the military can have wingspans of about 130 feet or be as small as a bird with wingspans of a few inches. Many of the unexplained drones being seen across the nation are being called large, though there are very few photos since those who say they have seen them also say the drones are often elusive.
Meanwhile as the federal government wrestles with explanations about some of the drones on U.S. turf, many publications are talking about drones. One such article was published on Oct. 31, in popular mechanics. “The 7 Best Drones for Any Level of Enthusiast,” shared general information about drones for those thinking of buying one. “Drones can be a fun thing to fly around casually, a piece of equipment in an extensive videography setup and everything in-between, decide what you want out of flying and go from there,” the article said. It explained how drones can cost a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars and more. The less pricey drones still have cameras but the resolution improves with the cost.
“Seasoned pilots may look for exhilarating flight from an FPV drone or first-person view drone with a camera that transmits its feed to a set of goggles to put you in the virtual pilot’s seat,” the article explains. It goes on to say more expensive drones not only provide better cameras but increased flight capabilities including obstacle avoidance, subject tracking and they are able to handle intense winds. These are often larger than typical hobby drones and should be flown by someone with a drone pilot license. The article goes on to say the larger drones and their pilots should be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration prior to flying. “Even the most affordable drone is considered a vehicle, not a toy, so follow all the local regulations when flying one,” the article explains. “There are hefty fines for violating the rules so you should familiarize yourself with them, especially before you fly in a new location.”
Sheriff Buchanan agrees. “Anyone wanting to fly a drone should be familiar with the legal requirements and restrictions that may apply for the size, type and whether the drone will be used for commercial purposes,” he said.
Drone laws are constantly evolving but the Federal Aviation Administration is the drone regulator in the United States. If you need details or specific case assistance, you may contact the FAA directly at: (844) 359-6982 or email www.UAShelp@faa.gov.