PFLDO founding chapter (drones)

[Gadianton]

A few weeks ago I pulled to the stop sign to make a left and exit my community. Two 20ish black guys riding small dirt bikes of the knockoff variety you'd get for cheap from Amazon were just arriving at the intersection and pulled in front of me, circling, to prevent me from moving into the intersection. I made sure my doors were locked and observed. They didn't look at me. A few seconds later, about twenty black guys mostly on small motorcycles came storming by, while a couple broke off to join the guys circling in my vicinity. After those passed, a group of 100+ all packed together in the right lane of more black people mostly riding e-bikes and e-scooters with some standard bicycles made its way across my lane. There were older people now and and families, and some were really friendly, waving or nodding as they passed by.

I didn't call the FBI. I have no idea what they were doing or why, and I'm not that curious about it. There was certainly quite a bit of playing fast and loose with the law in terms of the kinds of vehicles using the public roads. I reckon if a few citations were written it will serve them right.

There isn't much difference between this kind of behavior, which isn't that unusual to be honest, and a bunch friends getting together and flying their large drones over New Jersey. The fact that some people are panicking over what they are doing isn't their problem. It's not illegal to fly a drone at night, most of the drones are equipped with green and red lights and white lights on the tail, and at worst they are playing fast and loose flying over Picatinny Arsenal, but while the Arsenal reps say 11 have flown over this month, that isn't so large a number compared to the overall number of drones being sighted. Some officials are reflecting the outrage of some of the public, talking about shooting them down and all kinds of draconian measures based on nothing other than the fears they are conjuring up about what could be going on. Well, we live in a world where people are allowed to buy assault rifles and do all kinds of crazy things, and I really don't see evening large drone operation as rising to any significant level of concern.

If a blacked-out RV drives down my street, I don't demand the police make a stop just to satisfy my curiosity that it isn't aliens, or to provide answers to me about their motives. Personally, I'd rather be buzzed by a large drone -- which have been reported as relatively quiet by some -- than have an underpowered Harley Davidson rumble down my street. And so I've launched the first chapter of PFLDO, People For Large Drone Operators, in order to show my support of people who want to fly their large drones around at night and don't feel they need to answer to their neighbors or congress about why they are doing it. Fines for disobeying drone operation laws can rack into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and if the FAA and local law enforcement make an arrest for any illegal drone operation, then that's fine by me. Large drone operators need to know that the PFLDO will not come to your support if you're breaking the law.

The PFLDO is quite concerned about legal overreach. Consider the massive interest of the UAP phenomena -- the drones are getting lumped into this, and people are essentially demanding congress to "do something" merely because they are curious about aliens, while using national security and public safety as a pretense. Even captain Orange has indicated he's for "disclosure" now. Note that it's the unhinged right-wing congress critters fighting the hardest for disclosure. This subject area is a perfect chance for the religious right to secure more power over institutions at the public's behest, and so the PFLDO recommends folks be careful what they wish for. Do you really want to give Nancy Mace and Donald Trump more power over the military, or explore crossing posse comitatus boundaries to appease what boils down to idle curiosity about aliens?

[Markk]

I just saw on the news that a government official when asked what they were, said he did not know. That is alarming? Strange? Surprising? In my mind they have to know. I am not buying they don't. If they really don't they had better learn how to manage drone use fast, it is here to stay,

After I saw this I called my Nephew that lives in Hammonton New Jersey and asked him if he had seen any and he said yes, a few times. He said that he saw one the other night fly over just above tree level, soon followed by State Trooper helicopter. He said it looked about the size of a small plane, but was clearly a drone.

He said that folks there are not so much freaked out about the drones, but of the silence by our Government.

[Moksha]

Markk, how are these unidentified aircraft linked to the homeless in California, and do you have any videos from cruising the streets of Alpha Centauri?

[yellowstone123]

Gadianton wrote:

There isn't much difference between this kind of behavior, which isn't that unusual to be honest, and a bunch friends getting together and flying their large drones over New Jersey. The fact that some people are panicking over what they are doing isn't their problem. It's not illegal to fly a drone at night, most of the drones are equipped with green and red lights and white lights on the tail, and at worst they are playing fast and loose flying over Picatinny Arsenal, but while the Arsenal reps say 11 have flown over this month, that isn't so large a number compared to the overall number of drones being sighted. Some officials are reflecting the outrage of some of the public, talking about shooting them down and all kinds of draconian measures based on nothing other than the fears they are conjuring up about what could be going on. Well, we live in a world where people are allowed to buy assault rifles and do all kinds of crazy things, and I really don't see evening large drone operation as rising to any significant level of concern.

When I read this I thought what in the heck. Where does one even start?

How about first surfing over to the Pilot Institute and taking the basic TRUST test which is free and is required to operate a small drone. A person can then fly a small drone for recreational purposes, as long as the drone is under .55 pounds. Anything over .55 pounds must be registered at the FAA Drone Zone site. Full name, address, phone number, date of birth, serial number of the drone, remote I.D of the drone.

A person interested might find the Pilot Institute Youtube Chanel interesting for news on drones.

If a person has a a drone and is about to put it in the air and opens and app on their phone such as ALOFT AIR CONTROL your GPS position will immediately be obtained and the drone operator can look at the surrounding area. All military installations have a large red shaded type drawing over the area to warn U.S citizens that they cannot fly their drone anywhere close to that base. All airports have similar type markings. All national parks have similar markings on the map.

Some basic rules on small drones are that they cannot fly above 400 feet and the person operating must have it in visual site at all times. If a police officer sees a person operating a drone they can ask to see their TRUST certificate. Many cities don't allow small drones to fly at 400 ft but limited it to 200 or even lower. What about flying over people watching a surfing event? What about propeller guards? If a person wants to make money with a drone of any weight they must pass the FAA part 107 test which is good for two years. And the rules go on and on for those wanting to operate a drone, any drone in the USA.

[Gadianton]

I just saw on the news that a government official when asked what they were, said he did not know. That is alarming? Strange? Surprising? In my mind they have to know.

It isn't surprising that you think this way. it is interesting that you think it's a supreme violation of privacy for the government to maintain a database of people and their firearms, including firearms that are designed to kill people as efficiently as possible, but at the same time, believe that at any given time, every government official should be able to tell you off the top of their head who is operating any given drone over any given airspace.

[Gadianton]

When I read this I thought what in the heck. Where does one even start?

How about first surfing over to the Pilot Institute and taking the basic TRUST test which is free and is required to operate a small drone. A person can then fly a small drone for recreational purposes, as long as the drone is under .55 pounds. Anything over .55 pounds must be registered at the FAA Drone Zone site. Full name, address, phone number, date of birth, serial number of the drone, remote I.D of the drone.

A person interested might find the Pilot Institute Youtube Chanel interesting for news on drones.

If a person has a a drone and is about to put it in the air and opens and app on their phone such as ALOFT AIR CONTROL your GPS position will immediately be obtained and the drone operator can look at the surrounding area. All military places have a large RED red shade type drawing over them to warn U.S citizens that they cannot get anywhere close. All airports have similar type markings. All national parks have similar markings on the map.

Some basic rules on small drones are that they cannot fly above 400 feet and the person operating must have it in visual site at all times. If a police officer sees a person operating a drone they can ask to see their TRUST certificate. Many cities don't allow small drones to fly at 400 ft but limited it to 200 or even lower. What about flying over people watching a surfing event? What about propeller guards? If a person wants to make money with a drone of any weight they must pass the FAA part 107 test which is good for two years. And the rules go on and on for those wanting to operate a drone, any drone in the USA.

Thanks for your thoughts. I agree with your first sentence, where to start? I know enough to believe that PFLDO is on firm moral ground, however, as you point out, the rules are very convoluted. You've given us a glimpse here, and people don't seem to understand that a person can operate a drone, the government probably won't know whose drone that is, why would they? And there is nothing illegal or sinister here. Large drones above a certain altitude have to submit a flight plan, along with all the registration/licensing requirements.

[Markk]

I just saw on the news that a government official when asked what they were, said he did not know. That is alarming? Strange? Surprising? In my mind they have to know.

It isn't surprising that you think this way. it is interesting that you think it's a supreme violation of privacy for the government to maintain a database of people and their firearms, including firearms that are designed to kill people as efficiently as possible, but at the same time, believe that at any given time, every government official should be able to tell you off the top of their head who is operating any given drone over any given airspace.

LOL, I think all those things? Wow. Can you tell me where I ever said that? You do understand that drones are one of the most lethal weapons on a modern battlefield. It is just a matter of time before terrorists start using them. Take a look at the video below.

What are you talking about at any given time, I believe every government official should be able to tell me ? You understand this has been going on for a while, and the governor of New Jersey asked for the meeting today with the Homeland Security. People in New Jersey are concerned, especially given what happened to so many of them on 9/11. These are not any given drones, they are the size of cars. HLS said they don't believe they are hobbyists drones.

They followed a coast guard boat, have flown near military bases, and other strategic places. They should by now have figured this out, it has been weeks. My guess and hope is they do know, and are some agency's or defense contractors sanctioned test program.

https://youtu.be/ZuZtQeGHxi8?t=290

Read this also

https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-n ... b7c18f0abb

[Gunnar]

What does PFLDO stand for?

[Gadianton]

What does PFLDO stand for?

People For Large Drone Operators.

[canpakes]

Gad, do you foresee a day when your organization might merge with PFDOUS (People For Drones Of Unusual Size)?