Flying drones into fireworks displays puts crowds at risk

Flying drones into fireworks displays puts crowds at risk

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SALT LAKE CITY — With several fireworks shows planned for Independence Day, many drone enthusiasts may be tempted to try for that perfect shot. Getting a video from inside a display would be awesome. But doing so really puts a lot of people in danger.

Flying drones always carries a risk of crashing, as this wedding videographer found out after he crashed his into a tree. And trees aren’t the only things bringing drones down, as shown in this drone crash compilation.

A firework could act like an anti-aircraft gun and cause a drone to crash. With all of the crowds of people below watching, the real concern is seriously injuring someone.

In fact, it is such a concern for some law enforcement that Massachusetts State Police issued the following ban on drones and fireworks:

“It will be illegal to operate any unmanned aircraft (Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in and around the Boston Esplanade during July 3 and 4. Anyone operating one would be doing so illegally and could face Federal or State charges.”

The statement does not mention how far “around” a fireworks display will be enforced.

The FAA released a statement saying it is looking into several incidents involving drones flying into fireworks displays to see if there was any violation of federal regulations or airspace restrictions.

That covers flying into a fireworks display, but doesn’t seem to focus too much on drones flying around a display. Flying into a display definitely seems like a risky idea, but flying a safe distance away from the fireworks and crowds is a better idea. You can still get a great video without putting people in danger.

Know before you fly

Not only are there several risk factors for combining fireworks and drones, but it could also ruin the show for many spectators with the distracting lights and buzzing as drones can be pretty noisy.

Another concern is that the company in charge of the fireworks display might have to stop the show because of the risks a drone would bring.

According to Forbes, “... regulations and insurance policies require pyrotechnic operators to halt the show if there are unexpected intrusions into the fireworks safety area. Fireworks operators have a legal obligation to avoid hazards that might jeopardize persons or property, that includes maintaining the integrity of the safety zone. If the fireworks operator saw a drone, failed to stop the display, and someone were subsequently injured, the fireworks operator as well as the drone pilot might be subject to a lawsuit. Safety would require the fireworks operator to halt the show until the drone cleared the airspace.”

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Devon Dewey

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