View Poll Results: Do you think drones should be allowed at the track?
Yes, with a good set of guidelines.
54
40.00%
No, I don't want them.
61
45.19%
I think it needs to be studied more.
20
14.81%
Voters: 135. You may not vote on this poll
Drones at PCA events - Poll
03-31-2015, 09:47 PM
#1
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Drones at PCA events - Poll
Curious to get opinions on the use of drones at the track. They are currently banned but I am trying to work with PCA National to see if they will reconsider. Here is a little background:
Last year my wife bought me a DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter. If you want to see the model here it is on Amazon -
I started using the drone at PCA DE events and the feedback was universally positive. We made sure to mention that there would be a drone at the drivers meeting so that no one would get surprised to see something flying around.
The drone I have live streams video from the drone to my smartphone. It gives information about its location, height, and battery level. If a signal is lost from the controller it automatically lands from where it took off. The drone has a GPS so it knows where it is all the time. It is an amazing piece of electronics, very stable, and surprisingly easy to fly.
There were some basic rules - don't fly it over the track; don't make it a distraction; seek permission from the track.
I took a lot of cool video and pictures with the drone. I even incorporated some video from the drone into a "Welcome to DE" type video for novice driver. I'm not Scorcese but hopefully some people have been helped by it.
Many people gave me their email addresses and asked me to send them pictures and video of their cars at the end of the day. Everything was cool. No one had a complaint. No one driving on track even saw the drone. I used it at Lime Rock Park and Thompson Raceway and those tracks were fine with it.
Some of my pictures were used in our region's magazine and someone from outside of the region "helpfully" asked PCA National if drones were allowed. Well, they were up to that point and then - BAM! - they were banned.
Last year I asked Zone 1 to reconsider the ban. At first I got a really demeaning and obnoxious reply from someone who didn't have any authority to answer on behalf of the PCA. The guy was an obnoxious jerk in the several emails that went back and forth. I won't get into it further than that.
Happily, some officers from Zone 1 replied and I was invited to prepare a set of guidelines and a permission form for the drone operator and track venue. They also apologized for the obnoxious reply I had received.
I worked on this for several months and was assisted by a lawyer from the PCA. I think what I came up with was a sound set of rules.
Some of the rules involved:
1. The need for the drone operator to register with the PCA and track.
2. Use of a spotter.
3. Restrictions on where to fly (away from the track and people, etc.)
4. Visual flight only.
5. Must be equipped with GPS and auto-landing.
6. Drone must have a remote low battery warning.
7. Procedures for respecting property and privacy.
I was told that nothing was being promised but a good set of rules was a must for them to consider the ban to be reversed. The most pressing reason for the ban was liability insurance.
Currently, the executive committee of PCA national is reviewing what I drafted. I don't know if they will reverse the ban, ask for more information, and just say no.
I realize that not everyone is a fan. I think most of this comes from a lack of knowledge about how drones operate these days and a lack of a clear set of guidelines. Then there are some people that are concerned about privacy. I can tell you that the guidelines will help to ameliorate just about all of these concerns.
Curious to hear people's comments in advance of an answer from PCA national.
Last year my wife bought me a DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Quadcopter. If you want to see the model here it is on Amazon -
I started using the drone at PCA DE events and the feedback was universally positive. We made sure to mention that there would be a drone at the drivers meeting so that no one would get surprised to see something flying around.
The drone I have live streams video from the drone to my smartphone. It gives information about its location, height, and battery level. If a signal is lost from the controller it automatically lands from where it took off. The drone has a GPS so it knows where it is all the time. It is an amazing piece of electronics, very stable, and surprisingly easy to fly.
There were some basic rules - don't fly it over the track; don't make it a distraction; seek permission from the track.
I took a lot of cool video and pictures with the drone. I even incorporated some video from the drone into a "Welcome to DE" type video for novice driver. I'm not Scorcese but hopefully some people have been helped by it.
Many people gave me their email addresses and asked me to send them pictures and video of their cars at the end of the day. Everything was cool. No one had a complaint. No one driving on track even saw the drone. I used it at Lime Rock Park and Thompson Raceway and those tracks were fine with it.
Some of my pictures were used in our region's magazine and someone from outside of the region "helpfully" asked PCA National if drones were allowed. Well, they were up to that point and then - BAM! - they were banned.
Last year I asked Zone 1 to reconsider the ban. At first I got a really demeaning and obnoxious reply from someone who didn't have any authority to answer on behalf of the PCA. The guy was an obnoxious jerk in the several emails that went back and forth. I won't get into it further than that.
Happily, some officers from Zone 1 replied and I was invited to prepare a set of guidelines and a permission form for the drone operator and track venue. They also apologized for the obnoxious reply I had received.
I worked on this for several months and was assisted by a lawyer from the PCA. I think what I came up with was a sound set of rules.
Some of the rules involved:
1. The need for the drone operator to register with the PCA and track.
2. Use of a spotter.
3. Restrictions on where to fly (away from the track and people, etc.)
4. Visual flight only.
5. Must be equipped with GPS and auto-landing.
6. Drone must have a remote low battery warning.
7. Procedures for respecting property and privacy.
I was told that nothing was being promised but a good set of rules was a must for them to consider the ban to be reversed. The most pressing reason for the ban was liability insurance.
Currently, the executive committee of PCA national is reviewing what I drafted. I don't know if they will reverse the ban, ask for more information, and just say no.
I realize that not everyone is a fan. I think most of this comes from a lack of knowledge about how drones operate these days and a lack of a clear set of guidelines. Then there are some people that are concerned about privacy. I can tell you that the guidelines will help to ameliorate just about all of these concerns.
Curious to hear people's comments in advance of an answer from PCA national.
03-31-2015, 09:57 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
The "Ban the drones" call came from motorsports insurers. That's why...suddenly...everyone from NASCAR (sanctioning bodies) to the local kart tracks (facility owners) issues the "No Drones" fatwa.
03-31-2015, 10:16 PM
#3
Your location
Soviet Socialist Republic of Connecticut
'nuff said
P.S.
My dog did his business behind my back; the drone saw it and I didn't, but the drone captured it.
Soviet Socialist Republic of Connecticut
'nuff said
P.S.
My dog did his business behind my back; the drone saw it and I didn't, but the drone captured it.
03-31-2015, 10:24 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Ban.
03-31-2015, 11:01 PM
#7
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At Thompson the track personnel actually drove me around on a golf cart to different areas of the track to launch the drone.
If PCA had drones as an insured risk I think more tracks might allow them.
I spent years in the insurance industry so it is just a matter of the underwriters fixing a premium amount. If you can insure a race car you can insure a drone.
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03-31-2015, 11:03 PM
#8
Rennlist Member
Sorry. Speaking only for myself, I don't want **** flying when I am on track.
03-31-2015, 11:13 PM
#9
+1, Last thing I want is a bunch of rednecks flying drones around the paddock and track.
(would make for some cool footage though)
I think your proposal, if they could actually execute against it, is a good one though. Watch PCA try to grid a DE at COTA and you will quickly lose a bit of optimism. I appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
(would make for some cool footage though)
I think your proposal, if they could actually execute against it, is a good one though. Watch PCA try to grid a DE at COTA and you will quickly lose a bit of optimism. I appreciate your thoughts on the subject.
04-01-2015, 12:02 AM
#11
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The replies are interesting. I'm curious if the people who are against drones have every watched one in operation up close.
Remember, the drones are not flown over the track, or over people and cars in the paddock. They are merely used as aerial video and photography platforms.
We would weed out the "rednecks" because drone pilots have to be PCA members, agree to PCA drone guidelines, have permission from the track, and walk with a spotter.
Obviously, I'm a fan, and so has everyone that has watched me fly at the track.
Remember, the drones are not flown over the track, or over people and cars in the paddock. They are merely used as aerial video and photography platforms.
We would weed out the "rednecks" because drone pilots have to be PCA members, agree to PCA drone guidelines, have permission from the track, and walk with a spotter.
Obviously, I'm a fan, and so has everyone that has watched me fly at the track.
04-01-2015, 12:11 AM
#12
The replies are interesting. I'm curious if the people who are against drones have every watched one in operation up close.
Remember, the drones are not flown over the track, or over people and cars in the paddock. They are merely used as aerial video and photography platforms.
We would weed out the "rednecks" because drone pilots have to be PCA members, agree to PCA drone guidelines, have permission from the track, and walk with a spotter.
Obviously, I'm a fan, and so has everyone that has watched me fly at the track.
Remember, the drones are not flown over the track, or over people and cars in the paddock. They are merely used as aerial video and photography platforms.
We would weed out the "rednecks" because drone pilots have to be PCA members, agree to PCA drone guidelines, have permission from the track, and walk with a spotter.
Obviously, I'm a fan, and so has everyone that has watched me fly at the track.
04-01-2015, 12:16 AM
#13
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It appears to be a different animal. No GPS. A DJI will hover in one place if you don't give it any input. It knows where it is. You turn off the controller and it automatically and it will automatically land where it took off from.
TBS looks cool - they market it as built for speed. Maybe not as stable but I am just guessing.
TBS looks cool - they market it as built for speed. Maybe not as stable but I am just guessing.
04-01-2015, 12:23 AM
#14
It appears to be a different animal. No GPS. A DJI will hover in one place if you don't give it any input. It knows where it is. You turn off the controller and it automatically and it will automatically land where it took off from.
TBS looks cool - they market it as built for speed. Maybe not as stable but I am just guessing.
TBS looks cool - they market it as built for speed. Maybe not as stable but I am just guessing.
Last edited by ShakeNBake; 04-01-2015 at 10:38 AM.
04-01-2015, 08:10 AM
#15
Rennlist Member
Remember, the drones are not flown over the track, or over people and cars in the paddock. They are merely used as aerial video and photography platforms.
We would weed out the "rednecks" because drone pilots have to be PCA members, agree to PCA drone guidelines, have permission from the track, and walk with a spotter.
We would weed out the "rednecks" because drone pilots have to be PCA members, agree to PCA drone guidelines, have permission from the track, and walk with a spotter.
Because "guidelines" prohibit all of these things.
Sorry, like Shake, I have zero faith in the ability of 100% of amateur drone operators at a race track being 100% perfect 100% of the time.
Leave the flying devices out of going to the track, please.