Beaufort-area drone users continue flying while laws remain up in air
By Erin Moody, The Island Packet (Hilton Head Island, S.C.) | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"I ignore it," he said.
He was only half-joking, as he and others in the Lowcountry using drones with cameras for both professional and personal uses are keeping an eye on policies and lawsuits being decided on a national level.
Current
The
WAITING FOR GUIDANCE
Meanwhile, drone operators are waiting -- some more patiently than others.
"The
Wollwerth had thought he was in the clear because he was following the policy put out in 1981 -- the most recent he could find. It didn't address commercial usage, he said.
Since then, he's had to turn down a number of jobs -- some quite lucrative -- but still plays with his drones to take footage mainly for personal use. Sometimes that will end up in videos for clients, he said, but he does not charge for it.
When he began, he was one of only a few videographers experimenting with drone cameras, and it took him two months to build his own. As a licensed pilot and father of young children, he said he's very aware of the safety concerns drones raise. That's one reason Wollwerth carries
However, Wollwerth said he is more concerned about damage that might be caused by the hobbyist who buys a drone off the Internet and knows little about
"The
He hopes the
Although Wollwerth's major concerns are with the national policy,
"Of course, a drone is a motorized vehicle, so drones would be prohibited on the beach," Hulbertsaid.
The ordinance allows people to request a permit, but no one has. Violations for breaking the beach ordinance range from a
Greco said he tries to be safe and respectful when flying, including observing the 400-foot
"There's been multiple incidents when I've been asked to do it and I just couldn't, for the fact that we're too close to an airport or there's a lot of people out."
The city of
Beaufort County Airports Director
"It's something we're keeping an eye on, but at this point, it's not a problem that's been identified," he said, adding that he's also keeping an eye on
If operating near an airport, the drone user should contact the facility, he said.
POTENTIAL USES
The commercial uses for drones vary widely. Suber uses his to market property and said he recently sold a second home virtually sight-unseen by using drone footage. The videos give prospective buyers a feeling of being there by offering unique perspectives, he said.
Wollwerth sees other potential commercial applications for drones, ranging from checking pipes and tall structures for damage to attaching an infrared camera to film fields and identify areas that need more water.
He's also been asked by firefighters about search-and-recovery operations, when a drone with a camera could be used to find someone lost in the marsh or on the water.
"Is the issue flying it, or is the issue commercial?" he asked. "Because (the
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