Raybro
lvl.4
Flight distance : 11099 ft
United States
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http://www.kvue.com/story/news/l ... operation/28439445/
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas -- As floods ravaged downtown Austin on Memorial Day, emergency crews faced an unexpected problem when a STAR Flight helicopter was forced to cancel at least one search operation after a ground spotter saw drones in the area.
STAR Flight was dispatched at least 16 times Memorial Day weekend and crews made two hoist rescues. They battle the weather and rough terrain in their job, but now crews say they also have to worry about drones as the technology becomes more popular.
On Memorial Day, a STAR Flight crew went out to do a search over the Shoal Creek Greenbelt, looking for people who might need help, when an Austin Fire Department safety officer spotted multiple drones overhead across from House Park.
"We had no idea who was operating the drones, where the drones were being operated, what their intent was," said STAR Flight Director Casey Ping.
The crew had to cancel the operation and turn around.
"What we can't really have is a drone that could weigh up to 10 pounds impacting a helicopter," Ping said. "It can be a hindrance for public safety to figure out where they are and who's operating them."
Ping said it could damage the helicopter and put the crew at risk.
Many drone pilots took the opportunity to get an aerial view during recent flooding.
"For the same reason you'd pull your cell phone out and take pictures, you'd want to, if you owned a drone, you'd want to pull it out and take some pictures," said Robert Youens, owner of Camera Wings Aerial Photography.
Youens has been flying drones for five years.
"I have a number of drones for different purposes," Youens said. "I do this because I'm trying to help people map islands or do structural engineering work better."
He also shot video over Town Lake on Memorial Day Weekend but said he stayed clear of any emergency operations on Shoal Creek.
"I specifically avoided that area, because I knew that there might be helicopters in the area," Youens said. "Everyone needs to respect those officials and step back with their cell phone cameras and step back with their drones. Just as you should stop for a school bus, you should land your aircraft if there are EMS helicopters in the area. Just makes good sense."
A STAR Flight helicopter was forced to cancel at least one search operation on Memorial Day after a ground spotter saw drones in the area.
The FAA has safety guidelines for drones weighing less than 4.4 pounds. Users should not fly them higher than 400 feet and shouldn't interfere with manned aircraft operations. The agency also recommends not flying over people or cars and staying at least 25 feet away from people and keeping your drone within sight at all times.
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