The event Thursday was called American Leadership in Emerging Technology, and drone companies lobbied for fewer regulations and rules.
A local entrepreneur, Lance Knowles, has his hands in different drone companies and hopes educating the public will help drones and their new, improving industry move smoothly into the future.
Knowles is a licensed Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) pilot, creative director for a company called Drone Nerds and the co-owner of Sky High Media, a company he started with his friend George Mosko in 2011.
"I know some people have issues with drones and think they are an invasion of privacy, but honestly, people should not be worried about drones here in Aiken or anywhere for that matter," he said. "More than likely, if you see a drone in the sky, it's just someone having some fun or doing a job."
Chris Johnson is the president of the UAS Advocacy Network, a public-private organization of UAS experts and professionals serving as a unified voice for advocacy, education and outreach in support of unmanned aircraft systems. The network's mission is to promote the benefits of safe and ethical operation of drones.
"I want people to know groups like mine are out there advocating for their rights," Johnson said. "This industry is so new that rules and regulations are constantly changing, which is why I think people find it difficult to know what's really going on."
Johnson said drones have "a lot of economic benefit" for things, such as quicker search and rescue missions.
"I give lectures all the time, and people have this image of drones as military tools, but the industry has really made a huge leap," Johnson said. "Now, you have drones delivering packages to your front door. It's amazing."
Johnson and Knowles want the public to not fear drones, but welcome them as they are the future.
"As long as those flying drones know and follow the rules and regulations – there should be no problem," Knowles said. "Flying within the rules is safe for everybody."
Rules and regulations
The Federal Aviation Administration has some rules and regulations limiting where drones can fly, including one that states drones must not fly over people, at night or beyond the operator’s line of sight, according to the FAA's website.The rules also state that unmanned aircraft can only legally fly up 400 feet into the air and in Class G airspace only.
Class G airspace is uncontrolled airspace, or the portion of the airspace that has not been designated as Class A, B, C, D or E by the FAA.
There are restricted zones, like the Aiken Municipal Airport, which are considered "no-fly zones," Knowles said.
"You cannot fly in these restricted zones without special permission," he said.
Many of the drones on the market today have GPS in the flight software and will recognize when they get into these restricted areas. If this happens, the drones and will stop, warning you that you have flown into restricted air space, or not even allow you to take off, Knowles said.
The airspace above most homes in Aiken is part of the Class G uncontrolled airspace, Knowles said.
"If someone calls me and says, 'Hey, I got this house here in downtown Aiken and I'd love for you come take some photos of it.' If it's in Class G airspace then sure, I'll be happy to come and do it," Knowles said. "I can fly over your neighbor's property. I can fly over the bank. I can fly over the police station. Anything in Class G airspace is fine."
Knowles said it's all about courtesy and educating the public about what's going on.
"I suggest anyone flying a drone over someone else's property should just give them the common courtesy and explain to them the situation and what's going on," Knowles said. "You tell them that the focus is not their yard or to invade their privacy. Most people do not have any problem with that."
He said drones can be a lot of fun for hobbyist or those wanting to use them for commercial use. His passion for flying drones started in 2010, when he and his friend and business partner, Mosko, tried something brand new in the Bahamas.
"One day we found a toy from China – a multi-rotor flight controller. We taped a camera to the aircraft and flew it right into a building," he laughed. "We were hooked, immediately."
Through the years, Knowles has gained experience flying drones all around the world. Using drones, he has filmed World Cup soccer matches, Fijian documentaries, music videos and episodes of the show "River Monsters" with Jeremy Wade that airs on Animal Planet.
Knowles said it's important for drone users to know the law and know when things change.
As recently as May 19, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the FAA's registration rule was unlawful as it applies to model aircraft.
In this case, John A. Taylor, a model aircraft enthusiast and insurance lawyer, took on the FAA, challenging its registration rule and won. Now, a person flying an unmanned aircraft for recreational purposes does not have to register. Only those using drones for commercial use must register.
For more information about Sky High Media, visit www.skyhighmedia.net.
For more information about the UAS Advocacy Group, visit www.uasab.org.
©2017 the Aiken Standard (Aiken, S.C.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
