| > Strict licensing requirements I don't think there's any reason to prevent a hobbiest from flying a drone at lower altitudes over their own property. Wouldn't solve any problems and wouldn't gather any public support. But drone pilots engaging in most other types of activity should be qualified, with some regulation. That said... > A total ban on flying over private property (without explicit, written permission) seem like no-brainers to me The airspace in the US above a certain altitude is legally public space. It belongs to everybody. I'm a private pilot. With the exception of certain security sensitive areas and military operations, I can fly anywhere. Busier airspace is "controlled" in that I have to be in contact with ATC, announce my intentions, and follow their instructions... but they can't prevent me from using the airspace. I can take my small, slow Cessna to JFK and ask to land, and they have to keep my card on the board and slot me in when possible. So, with almost no exception, I can fly over any private property legally. A Recreational or Sport Pilot license is even easier to get than Private, and enables mostly the same situation wrt flying over private property. Ultralight aircraft can be flown without any pilot licensing whatsoever. They cannot be flown over "populated areas", but this includes a vast majority of the country that is still "private property" So my question is; Why should drones be so much more restrictive that actual person-carrying airplanes? |