FlyinFlynn Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 This week an Extinction Rebellion splinter group, Heathrow Pause, announced it plans to ground planes at Heathrow next month with a drone protest. Holidaymakers and travellers face days of chaos as groups says it has over 50 activists ready to fly toy drones in the restricted zone from September 13. Heathrow Pause say the protest is designed so that no planes will be endangered but police have warned activists could face life jail sentences if found guilty of terror offences. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pop-band-recorded-song-greta-221505442.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 There are several ways to protest at the new Drone Law, and this isn't it! Bet none of them will register and probably make the bill more "urgent" and to get these pesky "drone operators" back inside in front of the X-box and open to influence from media sources and not take up a productive hobby such as ours... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cotsford Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Feeling strongly about that Paul? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Could you repeat that please Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 I can't help wondering how many of the protestors take a plane to go on holiday! But then I am a nasty, cynical, suspicious old man. Edited By Peter Miller on 01/09/2019 12:27:53 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Marsh Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 The page locked up and didn't know what it did. Done that before, I got a page off-live as after submtting. Think it was this site, as I was looking at Youtube "porn" videos - new eflite toys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete B Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Sorted now - I've developed RSI deleting all those duplicate posts... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Vincent 8 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Pesky " Drone pilot " Been called a lot worse over the years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Geezer Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Steve - depends whether the £2k fine is the maximum that can be imposed or (unlikely) THE punishment, no ifs no buts. If the max' and the idiots are prosecuted in the magistrates court then you can expect a "naughty naughty" speech from the bench and a fine of twenty quid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil James Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 They are threatening to fly “toy drones” i.e. under 250g at head height. In that case no laws will be broken and more importantly no flights need to be restricted. Can’t see what these terrorists hope to achieve by that, if it ain’t illegal there’ll be no arrests. The risk is that the fanatics will realise they are wasting their time and escalate the situation with larger drones. I hope the police rare on top of this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFlynn Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share Posted September 2, 2019 Posted by Paul Marsh on 01/09/2019 11:29:34: There are several ways to protest at the new Drone Law, and this isn't it! I'm pretty sure the Extinction Rebellion mob aren't protesting the new drone laws Paul..... Neil....I wonder where you got the 'above head height' limitation on the restrictions of flying a uav in a no-fly zone? as far as I am aware (in my albeit limited knowledge on the subject) a flight is a flight with no altitude limits. Edited By FlyinFlynn on 02/09/2019 12:32:21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil James Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Posted by Steve J on 02/09/2019 12:28:51: Posted by Neil James on 02/09/2019 12:25:48: They are threatening to fly “toy drones” i.e. under 250g at head height. There is no weight limit in article 94A Oops! Different regs in the IOM, lower limit within FRZ is 250g. In that case they have no excuse whatsoever, send in the SPG and arrest them immediately. I have no sympathy whatsoever for their arrogant and obstructive behaviour. I just hope that the ones that get to court receive a suitably strong punishment. Edited By Neil James on 02/09/2019 12:56:09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin_K Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 It looks like the protesters are using the airport's own previous behaviour as a weapon, i.e. see drone, close airport. The protester line seems to be, we are going to show you drones (in the plural, inside the FRZ but not directly over the airfield), go on then, deploy your forces and shut the airport. I can't predict what this means for those of us permitted to fly (fixed wing) inside the FRZ, but it certainly doesn't help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Skilbeck Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Well if Gatwick is anything to go by, why bother actually flying a drone, just get several of your members to phone up and say they have spotted a drone within the FRZ, job done. If you want to get a couple of pilots in the act too, a couple of helium balloons should do the job. I wonder if there are going to be laws against drone reporting hoaxs brought in anytime soon..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Malicious Communications Act, 1988 will do the business. Communications Act 2003 does for phones. Edited By Don Fry on 02/09/2019 14:58:09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin_K Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Posted by Steve J on 02/09/2019 14:18:00: .... As I understand it, both Gatwick and Heathrow currently have counter-UAS systems in place and have had all year to sort out their procedures..... I have witnessed one occassion and had a report from a club member of a second time when the police attended the park where our flying site lies, within the Heathrow FRZ. I inferred from what was said that the authorities have some sort of 2.4GHz network sniffer. Whether they can only decode traffic from specific brands I don't know. I imagine other tools are at their disposal too. They certainly have moved beyond visual sighting to 'detecting' the presence of a 'drone'. This should give position and even make/model data where drones are being flown manually using RC. Catching people is another matter. Expanding the FRZ means there is now a very large area to be policed. Then there are drones flying autonomously. No RC signal to detect. Radar? I would love to try out the detection toolkit! To be convinced about any future drone incidents at Heathrow/Gatwick I am expecting details, not just vague reports. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFlynn Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 It's started!...look at all those 'drones' on the grass!...where are the coppers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis Watkins Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 In space, without atmospheric interferance, instruments can detect space debris from about 1mm wide Where at ground level, this detection size becomes 10cm and upwards, which encompasses model sizes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyinFlynn Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 What? From space Denis? I would respectfully submit that there are better ways of detecting 10cm diameter flying objects in controlled airspace than using a satellite...or perhaps that is not what you meant? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Jenkins Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 There is a radar system, called Tarsier, that will detect debris such as nuts and bolts on runways, that is in service at Heathrow and many other airports. Helps to avoid closing the runway for a ground vehicle to do an inspection. The radar will not only identify an object that has just fallen off an arriving or departing aircraft but will also pinpoint its location. Not sure whether this system can find drones but I'm sure the boffins could get it to do that as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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