An increasing number of grey nomads are travelling with ‘drones’ in order to give themselves a bird’s eye view of Australia’s amazing landscape. However, if the overseas experience is anything to go by, users of these there remote-controlled airplanes and helicopters could soon have their proverbial wings clipped.
America’s National Park Service has just banned drones from all 401 of its national parks and memorials. It says that while the rules are in effect, drones cannot be launched from, landed in or flown over the land or water overseen by the agency, which manages 84 million acres of land and 4.5 million acres of oceans, lakes and reservoirs.
USA Today reports that the remote-controlled aircraft usually carry cameras, allowing pilots to snap photos or record videos from vantage points normally inaccessible from the ground. Some of the craft, which are about the size of a pizza box, buzz loudly as their multiple propellers keep them airborne.
In Australia, some grey nomads have reported seeing drones flying over camping areas and are concerned about possible invasions of privacy and a lack of regulations.
However, grey nomad drone users say it is just a hobby that enables them to view and photograph places that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access, and they insist they are acutely aware of respecting other people’s privacy.
In announcing the US ban, the American national parks service quoted three recent examples of pilots disturbing park users and animals.
– Last September, an unmanned aircraft flew above evening visitors seated in the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Amphitheatre. Park rangers then confiscated it.
– In April, visitors at Grand Canyon National Park watching the sunset were interrupted by a unmanned aircraft which eventually crashed in the canyon.
– Later that month, volunteers at Zion National Park saw an unmanned aircraft disturb a herd of bighorn sheep, reportedly separating adults from young animals.
national parks should remain a place where we can still enjoy nature so no drones. However drones sound like fun, will put one on my wish list.
I agree entirely with Jack. If you want to play with these same as mobile phones stay home. The whole idea is to get away from all this stufffffff and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Those that crashed will be lost, those sheep that separated will get back together… Its not the end of the world and as for privacy issues… What the hell would you be doing in a camp site that can’t be seen by your neighbours… Silly people just rush to denigrate anything they don’t understand or can use…
I want one, I want to use it to take spectacular photos and movies. I want to experiment with the technology, as I have done with mobile internet, SPOT Satellite Messenger, Satellite TV etc etc… Bring it on and lets play with the toys….
I usually like to see things myself, that is why we travel. If I was happy with pics I never actually saw, I could stay home and watch docos.
That’s my next toy they are real FUN
Agree get over it people…space is full of satellites with cameras hanging off em, big brother watches us on just about every street, in shops etc etc, why can’t we have a bit of fun and put another previously unreachable dimension to our travel videos etc…good enough for the govt and business, why can’t we?.