Fire Chiefs warn against personnel drone use California Fires.
It seems not a week goes by without somebody doing something foolish with a Phantom. This time its flying whilst fire buckets are being filled up within a TFR. This should be a simple matter of find and fine for the FAA. Or better still the fire service.
Speaking to the LA Times, Assemblyman Rocky Chavez (R-Oceanside) said, “there have been reports of people using aerial drones to take pictures of the fires.” Chavez said using drones could interfere with “our heroes doing their work,” especially personnel in water-dropping helicopters.
Coast News states that according to Rocky Chavez, state assembly member of District 76, there was one report from a helicopter pilot making a water scoop over Lake Hodges about an unmanned aerial vehicle (a radio controlled quad copter) in the area trying to take pictures, causing a potential safety risk.
Ignorance of airlaw is no excuse. AMA aeromodellers are made aware of TFR’s and any experienced RPAS or RC Pilot would ground their craft the moment they saw or heard any sort of manned operations out of respect for those aviators. Not as this user did get airborne to film it.
May 15, 2014 at 2225 UTC
Location : SAN MARCOS, California near OCEANSIDE VORTAC (OCN)
Beginning Date and Time : May 15, 2014 at 2159 UTC
Ending Date and Time : May 22, 2014 at 2359 UTC
Reason for NOTAM : TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS
Type : Hazards
Replaced NOTAM(s) : N/A
Pilots May Contact : LOS ANGELES (ZLA) ARTCC, 661-265-8205
Airspace Definition:
Center: On the OCEANSIDE VORTAC (OCN) 101 degree radial at 14 nautical miles. (Latitude: 33º08’17″N, Longitude: 117º10’03″W)
Radius: 7 nautical miles
Altitude: From the surface up to and including 7000 feet MSL
Effective Date(s):
From May 15, 2014 at 2159 UTC
To May 22, 2014 at 2359 UTC
No pilots may operate an aircraft in the areas covered by this NOTAM (except as described).
ONLY RELIEF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UNDER DIRECTION OF MONTA VISTA CAL FIRE ARE AUTHORIZED IN THE AIRSPACE