Flying in US National Forests.

[ArmyVet]

In planning a little trip and hoping to do some flying, I came across this info.

Flying in National Forests is permitted as long as you follow all the obvious rules and regulations.
But, "wilderness areas" are restricted, no vehicular, motorized contraptions of any kind. To include Quadcopters. And airport NFZ are to be avoided.

Here is one interesting problem I was not expecting.

"We can't thank you enough for helping to keep South Carolina's national forests clean by packing out litter when you find it! But if you come across items like these, PLEASE, for your safety, leave them untouched and report the location as accurately as you can to the district ranger station or to local law enforcement. These are typical items associated with mobile meth lab dumps, (as well as tubing, duct tape, gas additives, common diet or cold pill packages, batteries and solvents). Meth lab waste can be very toxic through absorption and inhalation, and can also be an explosive hazard. Please be safe! Stay clear and report the dump location."

You have been warned. Apparently this applies to all National Forests. Might be more worried about the Meth Lab occupants. Ughhhhh

Sign of the times.

Have fun
Bill

 

[esoterik1967]

I saw a video a while ago where this toothless obese woman living in a trailer somewhere in West Virginia was making Meth by shaking different chemicals in a Gatorade bottle. So meth making is everywhere. UAV's are the future of law enforcement. Insect sized UAVs with high res. IR cameras. Watching Big Bertha mix up a batch of meth on her porch, transmit the audio/video back to law enforcement.

 

[Chuck]

Typically, law enforcement adopts what non-law enforcement civilians are using, and adapt it for law enforcement purposes. Law enforcement began enforcement of cyber-crime statutes, through officers that were tech savy working on their own PC's, Macs, and other personal computing devices, before departments realized that it wasn't just a bunch of nerds and geeks in Mom's basement involved. You can bet that the first cops in most departments involved with UAV's on the job, are most likely also have been flying them as a hobby. Just as those flying department copters or planes, also previously had a private pilot's license and/or were/are military pilots .

 

[QuadKid]

Here in Florida my county, the sheriffs dept just purchased 2 $18,000 Quads, fully loaded with every bell & whistle (FLIR, Night Vision, directional listening, radar beacon & transponder, with satellite d/link telemetry), 4 battery setup provides 1 hour 30 minute fly time with unlimited control range ( due to satellite link) and a network of stations for landing for remote battery swaps!

Big brother is getting bigger all the time, the FAA says that over the next 2 years 170,000 new State & Local piloting jobs will be produced due to the increase in Quad technology.

 

[Chuck]

Here in Florida my county, the sheriffs dept just purchased 2 $18,000 Quads, fully loaded with every bell & whistle (FLIR, Night Vision, directional listening, radar beacon & transponder, with satellite d/link telemetry), 4 battery setup provides 1 hour 30 minute fly time with unlimited control range ( due to satellite link) and a network of stations for landing for remote battery swaps!

Big brother is getting bigger all the time, the FAA says that over the next 2 years 170,000 new State & Local piloting jobs will be produced due to the increase in Quad technology.

That's piloting jobs, as in professional pilots. That doesn't include non-professional piloting, which will include some of those professional pilots. This is no different than a hundred years ago, when cities and states first began licensing drivers of autos and trucks. There are professional drivers, and non-professional drivers. Which include the professionals on their personal time. And as with drone piloting, there are places that professional drivers can go as a function of the jobs, that non-professionals are prohibited from entering that same space. And even the professionals can't driver their personal vehicles in there.

 

[esoterik1967]

Tax payer dollars at work!

 

[Chuck]

Tax payer dollars at work!

How many times have you had a close call with some jerk that cut you off at the last possible moment, and think that their license to drive should be revoked, or wonder if they're driving without one because it already has been?

 

[esoterik1967]

never

 

[ArmyVet]

never

I smell burning pants............hahah