A drone hovers over the Oracle Park.
Technology can be time-saving or time-wasting, just as it can be a life saver or a danger to life. In most cases, it is not what the technological advancement is meant to achieve, but, in how it is thoughtfully or thoughtlessly utilized by its owner, which makes that difference.
Drones have become a big problem in many parts of the world. According to an article from The Guardian (Dec 20, 2018 ‘How dangerous are drone to aircraft?’) “Any midair collision with an object is dangerous to aircraft, as exemplified by the crash of US Airways Flight 1549 in January 2009.” In that case, it was a flock of Canada geese which was hit. The article goes on to say, “The weight of a Canada goose – between 2kg and 6.5kg – is exceeded by some professional-quality camera drones.”
There are federal laws concerning drones which apply to every state in the United States of America. In addition, there are laws for the State of Arizona which apply to the entire State of Arizona. These laws can be read about further by visiting online at : https://uavcoach.com/drone-laws-arizona/
The Town of Kearny also has its own ordinances, which cover what is and is not allowed concerning the use of drones by its citizens, for their protection.
Anna Flores, Kearny Town Manager, stated, “The Town of Kearny is approximately 2.75 square miles and with the Medi-vac, along with the airplanes flying in and out, almost daily, flying a drone in the flight path, can be dangerous. The Town wants the residents to know the dangers of flying a drone within town limits. There are many open spaces outside of town limits that are perfect for flying drones.”
Ordinance No. 18-208, Section 10-1-25, passed and adopted on Aug. 20, 2018, which is related to imposing community based safety requirements on the operation of all model aircraft including drones, no person shall operate any model aircraft within the Town of Kearny or within 5 miles of an airport or helicopter pad, without prior authorization of the FAA. It goes on to say that “Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.” The full ordinance can be read at Kearny Town Hall.
Use your drones wisely, whether for fun or work. Just keep it safe, for the benefit of all, including yourself.