The quad 50 in my backyard ensures my privacy.
Model 870 Pump patrols my airspace.
If I can hit it, it is too low and deserves what it gets. ;-)
Best thing to do is look at a VFR sectional (map of the flight space in the US). There are websites that show them free. Without knowing if you live within the airspace of a nearby airport I would say that most likely up to 700 feet above your house is uncontrolled airspace.
Best thing to do is look at a VFR sectional (map of the flight space in the US). There are websites that show them free. Without knowing if you live within the airspace of a nearby airport I would say that most likely up to 700 feet above your house is uncontrolled airspace.
I’ve often wondered how broadcasters, narrow casters and satellite providers can legally prevent me from freely accessing the signal the spread over and through my airspace.
FAA Regs:
Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.
(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
(d) Helicopters. Helicopters may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section if the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface. In addition, each person operating a helicopter shall comply with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the Administrator.
IIRC it’s your private airspace up to 1,000 ft AGL or so. Have to check with FAA regs on this one.
Watch for Dingy Harry Reid to introduce the “Federal Drone Protection Act”.
You only have to hit one of those four little rotors.
;^)
If a drone flies in my yard, it goes down. Then it becomes mine.
I realize Wikipedia is unreliable, but it’s got some interesting points on air rights.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_rights
If you don't live within ten miles of a big city airport, you're ok.
Short answer is it is unsure right now. You have some claim to low level airspace, but that is not defined (same with going the other direction on mineral rights).
So if the drone is under 20 feet or so, you may have a case.
Wonder the same thing. I think it might be a lot of fun! Maybe we could buy drone “skeets” and make a thrilling sport of it!
I took my Phantom up last week to have a look around and discovered a flooded rice field across the river from me. Now I know where all of the mosquitos are coming from!
We haven’t even got property ownership in the strict sense, let alone the air space above it. Best be quiet or they’ll start taxing that, too.
Here in Maine, circa 1990, I was visiting a blueberry field with my father.
It was August, and the wild Maine blueberries were being harvested by the blueberry “rakers.”
There was a National Guard helicopter flying very low and slow over the edges of the fields, where the blueberry fields and the woods meet. I asked someone what the helicopter was doing there, and he said, “They’re looking for marijuana plants.”
The chopper was only about 20 - 30 feet off the ground.
Even then, I thought it was an invasion of privacy and a warrantless search. I was ticked off, even though I didn’t even know the owner of the field. My father and I were visiting the guy in charge of the blueberry rakers.
No “pot” plants were found.
My backyard airspace is a strictly enforced NO-FLY ZONE established in 1950`s under the Ground Observer Corps Act as an observation tower area for spotting low-flying Russian planes. That ACT is still a law...no aircraft allowed overhead for up to 60,000 feet altitude.
Are you asking if it is LEGAL to shoot them down, or if it is POSSIBLE to shoot them down?
I have not read beyond the OP, but I will say this:
Yes, it is.
They will be ruled, sooner or later, to be an unwarranted and unwanted intrusion onto private property and as such, can be removed by whatever means necessary.
As far as possible...I suggest a 12 gauge, 3 inch magnum (although, if you're good enough a regular 2 and three quarter will do it) or 3 and 1/2 inch magnum, #4 turkey load.
I can and I will shoot down any and all drones that I see over my property.
Obviously, if I cannot see them, I can't engage them, but sooner or later, the technology that allows them to intrude from unseen heights, will also allow for a device to uncloak them and be seen by those on the ground with the appropriate weaponry and equipment.
So, for any lurking 3-letter alphabet agency puke that may be monitoring, listen up and listen well:
If it flies, and I see it, IT DIES. And , Mr. alphabet guy, if you have a problem with that, come see me.
Now, as for MANNED aircraft (a drone is unmanned, by definition), there are laws already in place that restrict the operation of them, although we all know how the laws are ignored by the local constabularies and the aforementioned alphabet agencies.
In a perfect world, they could not operate below established minimums and would be subject to the FAA (another alphabet agency), blah, blah.
So, it really is a moot point and argument is fruitless.
Suffice to say, if I look up from my property and see a buzzing little helicopeter-looking thingy, looking back at me, it is as good as dead.
And I will use the remnants of said buzzing little helicopeter-looking thingy to play with and to use on my own little buzzing helicopeter-looking thingy, and I dare you, no, I double-dog dare you to come looking for the remnants or seek remuneration.
I don’t know what it is now but when I originally went for my Fla real estate license many years ago the air rights to property went up 1000 ft in the air. I’m not sure what it is in GA.