Fire Managers Urge Public Not To Fly Drones Over or Near Wildland Fire Operations

WILLIAMS – Kaibab National Forest officials along with all federal, state, and local wildland fire agencies are reminding members of the public not to fly “Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)” or drones over or near wildfire or prescribed fire operations at any time.

With fire season rapidly approaching, land managers are taking a proactive approach to alert recreationalists and forest users of the inherent dangers of flying drones near fire management activities. Unauthorized UAS flights can potentially cause serious accidents, disrupt aerial firefighting operations, and pose significant safety hazards to both the public and personnel working in the air and on the ground.

Air tankers and helicopters are valuable resources used to rapidly curtail the spread of unwanted wildfires that can often be very difficult to suppress. They are sometimes the deciding factor in successfully stopping a fast moving wildfire. These aircraft typically fly at very low altitudes and UAS interference can instantly stop operations requiring air resources to be grounded due to the potential for a midair collision. Unforeseen intrusions of this nature impede suppression efforts and compromise the safety of firefighting personnel. The impending consequences have the potential to threaten communities and endanger lives.

With interest and popularity rising steadily in this recreational activity, documented incidents of drone incursions on wildland fire incidents have doubled over the last two years and trends are indicating more of the same as the numbers of UAS sales continue to climb.

A number of websites are available to the public to obtain more information about UAS safe practices and Federal Aviation Administration requirements. For guidance see http://www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft/

Also, available is a UAS awareness campaign called “If You Fly, We Can’t” designed to keep UAS pilots away from airspace used by firefighters. See: https://www.fs.fed.us/fire/aviation/uas.html.

To learn more or to report a safety-related UAS event, got to the FAA’s Aviation Safety Hotline website at https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/aae/programs_services/faa_hotlines/

Drone Munition developer on air with Gianluca Zanna

IMG_3317-300x169KINGMAN — American patriot radio host Gianluca Zanna discussed Drone Munition with Casey Betzold, president of Snake River Shooting Products in Emmett, Idaho. Drone Munition has made the round of the news, lately, but Casey and Gianluca stressed complying with federal and State laws and regulations.

Both assured listeners that they are not anti-drone. Casey said they use drones to get video on the range that would otherwise be hazardous. Luca said that he uses his drone to take video of his own property and animals.

The shotgun round was developed for a sporting application initially. It was designed to use on a range where aerial drone targets are specifically used as targets to be shot down. Casey said that they concentrated on making a law enforcement quality shell that has a very tight pattern and spent a lot of money on the steel shot that goes into the shell.

Casey noted that because of his Air Force background, he was concerned with the security, but currently there are no regulations preventing invasion of privacy by drones. In addition all States have regulations against discharging firearms within a neighborhood.

“We think the regulations are coming for drones, with regards to privacy concerns. The same as if a peeping Tom walked up into your yard and looked into your window at night; that’s against the law. But right now, if a drone does the same thing, it’s not against the law,” Casey said.

He indicated that he is glad that the news and controversy over the shotgun ammunition is generating a conversation about the issue. While it is illegal, currently, to shoot down a drone even in wilderness areas, he said that self-defense may be applicable.

“Now if the drone is causing a self-defense concern, then there is a legal application to this; to defend yourself the same as if a person is threatening you.”


The full show at Love, Guns and Freedom also has a discussion with Blaine Cooper from Prescott who has been investigating abuse of homeless veterans in Phoenix. He discusses the possibility of an economic crash with reporter Lisa Haven and a discussion of ozone therapy with Dr. Robert Rowen.

The ray of sunshine in Osprey Bay

AUSTRALIA – A man in Western Australia seemed to be having a bad day with his radio controlled plane. Around December of 2014, he was flying his R/C plane equipped with a GoPro 3+.

He was flying over Osprey Bay in the Cape Range National Park and getting some amazing aerial footage. A few minutes into the flight, however, he lost control of the makeshift drone which crashed into the saltwater of the bay.

He was, apparently, able to recover the wreckage. Probably thinking it was the end to a bad day, he was surprised to learn that his camera kept recording and recorded images he never expected. The edited video is picking up a lot of views around the world.


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Montana Congressional candidate shoots down a drone.

matt-rosendale4MONTANA – Congressional candidate Matt Rosendale shoots down a drone in his campaign ad. Just to prove a point.

Whether or not it garners him any votes, it certainly might resonate in the western States on the heels of the Bundy Ranch incident in Nevada. The incident brought out militia members from around the country alongside citizens and legislators from various States. The rock band Madison Rising appeared to perform at the site.

The action caused a Legislative Summit on the Transfer of Public Lands in Salt Lake City which included at least nine western States.

Drones have been a sore point since they have been appearing as part of the surveillance network and was used to kill an American citizen overseas.

Google Buys Drone Company Titan Aerospace

s50_highalt2_4k (1)Jay Yarow – Business Insider

Google has acquired drone maker Titan Aerospace, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Titan is a New Mexico-based company that makes high-flying solar powered drones.

There’s no word on the price Google paid, but Facebook had been in talks to acquire the company earlier this year for a reported $60 million. Presumably, Google paid more than that to keep it away from Facebook.

Read more at Business Insider

Indiana considers regulating the use of drones.

INDIANA—The Indiana State General Assembly is considering a bill to ban the use of drones without the consent of those being monitored.

The synopsis of Senate Bill No. 20 concerning the use of unmanned aerial vehicles reads:

Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally uses an unmanned aerial vehicle to monitor a person, property, or thing without the written consent of the subject of the monitoring commits a Class D felony. Provides that images or communications obtained through the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle are not admissible as evidence. Provides that a person who possesses an image or communications obtained through the use of an unmanned aerial vehicle commits a Class A misdemeanor. Prohibits the use of public money to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle.

The bill would take effect July 1, 2013

Indiana lawmaker—Senator Jim Tomes (R-Wadesville)—submitted the bill placing limits on drones. In an interview with onpolitix, he said, “That you [sic] couldn’t be videotaping you, your property, or your things without your written permission.”

He, also, cited the possibility of a crash by a drone.

Rep. Clyde Kersey (D-Terre Haute.) disagrees with the Senator. He believes the legislation is misguided because drones are safe. “They’re like an airplane and they’re crash record is pretty good compared to aircraft, so I don’t see a problem with that at all,” he said