Drone Tech, Policy Evolving Quickly

by Ryan Kawailani Ozawa · Published January 8, 2015 · Updated January 8, 2015

Education, certification, legislation. They are the three probable paths ahead as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly but controversially called drones, continue to grow in popularity.

Quadcopters were a very popular Christmas giftÂ this year… for better or worse. Since itÂ had been almost exactly a year since drones were the topic of the day (on both our Hawaii Public Radio showÂ and our morning news segment), Burt Lum and I hosted a conversation on HPR with drone enthusiasts, drone fans, and drone skeptics.

WellÂ renown UAV expert Ted Ralston and avid quadcopter pilot John JohnsonÂ started things off byÂ discussingÂ the FAA’s Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) over Oahu during President Obama’s vacation… a no-fly decree that not everyone knew about. Ralston talked about a successful program at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, where UAVs are being used to survey the Puna lava flow. And Johnson mentioned the “wearable selfie drone” unveiled this week at CES.

We also discussed the latestÂ recipient of a coveted FAA exemption from the ban on commercial use: aÂ real estate agent in Arizona can nowÂ use a drone to take aerial imagery for his business… provided he gets a pilot’s certificate, a medical certificate, and has a dedicated spotter with him while his craft is in the air.

Callers had a lot to say, too. A Big Island resident talked about his UAV, which doesn’t have propellers but rather wings that flap like a bird’s wings. A Makiki resident, a Hawaii Kai resident, and @jlieuÂ on TwitterÂ all raised concerns over privacy. Yet another caller said we should worry more about governments using UAVs than fellow citizens.

The UAV community,Â which includes hobbyists, professionals, and researchers, are all still waiting for the FAA to establish guidelines for drone use. But Ralston emphasized that the federal agency is genuinely trying to collaborate with stakeholders to build a framework that ensures safety as well as commercial success.

Johnson noted that most hobbyists actually want some form of regulation, from requiringÂ training or requiringÂ aÂ UAV or otherÂ pilot’s license. And both Johnson and Ralston agreed that education is key for both pilots as well as the public.

Drone owners need to be aware of restrictions like the holiday TFR and common-sense practices like not flying over crowds. And the public needs to not overreact and try to ban a specific tool and focus instead on preventing theirÂ unethical or illegal use.Â After all, a selfie stick, lipstickÂ camera, and telephoto lens can also help people takeÂ pictures that people don’t want taken.

Drone owners, or would-be drone owners, can check out some of the following resources: