Saturday, December 06, 2014 1:11:59 AM
Hot air balloon pilots worry about drones: 'It will explode and kill us'
By Jeff Burnside
Published: Dec 5, 2014 at 8:45 PM PST
SEATTLE -- The raging debate over drones aims to keep the machines safely away from airplanes and tall buildings, but now there's a new concern: hot air balloons.
Hot air balloon are, but their very nature, volatile and vulnerable, especially to an inexperienced drone pilot.
Hot air balloon pilot Shannan Sorensen said one wrong move could spell disaster.
"It's the inexperienced ones who say, 'Oh, let's go up and see how close we can get to this balloon,'" said Sorensen.
She said the thin fabric of a balloon could easily be punctured by a drone rotor and send the balloon into descent. She doesn't even want to talk about what could happen if her propane fuel line was severed.
"It will explode and kill us all," Sorensen said.
This year, the Federal Aviation Administration banned drones from within four nautical miles of the world's largest hot air balloon festival in New Mexico.
Hot air balloon company owner Marilyn Harvey said safety is everything in her industry.
"I feel that anybody running a drone needs some kind of a license," she said.
The FAA won a legal battle just three weeks ago giving it authority to regulate drones. Now they can go after anyone who flies drones in a "careless and reckless manner." Comprehensive drone rules are not yet in place.
By Jeff Burnside
Published: Dec 5, 2014 at 8:45 PM PST
SEATTLE -- The raging debate over drones aims to keep the machines safely away from airplanes and tall buildings, but now there's a new concern: hot air balloons.
Hot air balloon are, but their very nature, volatile and vulnerable, especially to an inexperienced drone pilot.
Hot air balloon pilot Shannan Sorensen said one wrong move could spell disaster.
"It's the inexperienced ones who say, 'Oh, let's go up and see how close we can get to this balloon,'" said Sorensen.
She said the thin fabric of a balloon could easily be punctured by a drone rotor and send the balloon into descent. She doesn't even want to talk about what could happen if her propane fuel line was severed.
"It will explode and kill us all," Sorensen said.
This year, the Federal Aviation Administration banned drones from within four nautical miles of the world's largest hot air balloon festival in New Mexico.
Hot air balloon company owner Marilyn Harvey said safety is everything in her industry.
"I feel that anybody running a drone needs some kind of a license," she said.
The FAA won a legal battle just three weeks ago giving it authority to regulate drones. Now they can go after anyone who flies drones in a "careless and reckless manner." Comprehensive drone rules are not yet in place.
It does not matter where or whom you were born. It's what you do with the gift of life that was given you that matters. - unknown
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