Aerial Photography and Drone Laws  The first known designs for quadcopters were drawn out as far back as the 1920’s, but they didn’t make a huge splash in the market until only a few years ago. Typically, quadcopters, more commonly referred to as “drones,” come equipped with cameras, and can fly as high as over 700 meters. Because of their video capability and high altitude capacity, drones are useful for taking overhead pictures and videos, recreation, and also, wreaking havoc.

For a long time, drones were clumsy, expensive, and difficult to fly, and so, drones were few and far between, and less capable in the hands of your average hobbyist. Today, drones are user friendly, compatible with most smartphones, and mostly available for under a thousand dollars. This year, more people than ever will receiving them as Christmas gifts. The widespread use of drones raises much public concern about privacy, security, and safety, and so, laws were recently put in place to govern public use of quadcopters. After all, drones make for a perfect tool for peeping Toms intruding on others’ privacy, have the potential to interfere with air travel, and in the wrong hands, could be used as a weapon of espionage. Though the FAA hasn’t yet published the anticipated regulations, it’s expected that a pilot’s license may be required to operate drones once the laws are put into effect. Currently, the best hobbyist can do in abiding by proper drone practice is following the guidelines delineated in the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ National Model Aircraft Safety Code, which

discourages flights over 400 feet within a three mile radius from any airport, and a safe distance of 100 feet away from other people. As public awareness of drones increases, people grow increasingly wary of the dangers they pose. In October, a man was arrested on the grounds of reckless endangerment after flying a drone over Manhattan. If you do receive a drone this year for Christmas, bear in mind, it’s the irresponsibility of hobbyists that could ruin recreational drone use for everyone.