national

Gov't to establish drone licenses for flights out of operator's sight

16 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

16 Comments
Login to comment

After 500m away and let's say 130m vertical height, you will not be able to see your drone. Using binoculars is not VLOS.

Agreed, I'd say even less than 500m. But even if we are talking about a Mavic Air, it doesn't make your 'Maximum range even with signal boosters is less than 2KM' statement anywhere near true.

The truth is you have no idea, other than instrument data, of the wind conditions beyond VLOS.

Again I agree. But I may have the same wind problems inside my VLOS that I have out of it.

On a perfect day, sure no problem.

I think drone users quickly find out that wind is their main problem and don't take risks with their $1500 toy. But on that perfect day it does feel good to let the drone stretch its legs!

All the systems on a advanced drone may require 6S or more.

I'm not sure what you mean. But either way, as far as I'm aware it isn't possible to strap an extra battery to a drone, unless you want to deliver that battery into a tree.

There's an answer with no examples. #trustanythingyousay. Please share with us where you are flying your drone beyond VLOS.

Certainly. Asagiri Kogen in Shizuoka & Yatsugatake in Nagano are two areas that immediatley spring to mind. Japan's massive coastline is also great. Biwako is a good flight. There are lots of small hills in Japan, if you can find one without trees on the top its a great chance to give the quad a good run. Lots and lots of places are out there if you can find a good launch.

Basically I'm saying most of what you are saying; Don't be silly, but also don't be too scared.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There’s no doubt that a drone can fly 3km away or more.

So why did you falsely claim that 'Maximum range even with signal boosters is less than 2KM.'?

A: Hmmm I don't think we are talking about the same type of drone. For now, let's assume that we are discussing DJI drones. Let's say your standard Mavic Air. If you are doing all your preflight checks, IMU Calibration, Compass Calibration, prop rotation inspection, then of course there's the initial startup while the drone picks GPS satellites. You are losing battery life during that whole process. After 500m away and let's say 130m vertical height, you will not be able to see your drone. Using binoculars is not VLOS.

Try bringing your drone back through a headwind.

Wind accounted for in pre-flight, check

Wind accounted for in YOUR vicinity. The truth is you have no idea, other than instrument data, of the wind conditions beyond VLOS. On a perfect day, sure no problem.

Wifi and power lines can cause signal loss. When that happens you are no longer in control. You have to rely totally on GPS

Course confirmed pre-flight, check. RTH point & RTH Altitude confirmed, check.

Good for you! Stick around because your drone will most likely return. It all depends on the area of course.

How many Lipo batteries are you going to strap on the drone?

Just the one, 'strapping' a second battery would be silly.

Depends on far you are trying to send the drone. All the systems on a advanced drone may require 6S or more.

We are NOT in the U.S. of A where it’s so open that you can range test your drone beyond VLOS.

There are a plethora of places in Japan where you can do so.

There's an answer with no examples. #trustanythingyousay. Please share with us where you are flying your drone beyond VLOS.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There’s no doubt that a drone can fly 3km away or more.

So why did you falsely claim that 'Maximum range even with signal boosters is less than 2KM.'?

It is adherently dangerous to fly beyond VLOS.

You mean inherently, and it's not. It's more dangerous than flying beyond VLOS, in the same way driving at 50kmph is more dangerous than 40kmph.

What you are not accounting for is wind conditions, weight, signal interruption, battery life, and circuitry failure.

Who says we aren't accounting for that? You do, so why can't we?

Try bringing your drone back through a headwind.

Wind accounted for in pre-flight, check

Wifi and power lines can cause signal loss. When that happens you are no longer in control. You have to rely totally on GPS

Course confirmed pre-flight, check. RTH point & RTH Altitude confirmed, check.

How many Lipo batteries are you going to strap on the drone?

Just the one, 'strapping' a second battery would be silly.

We are NOT in the U.S. of A where it’s so open that you can range test your drone beyond VLOS.

There are a plethora of places in Japan where you can do so.

Get ready for Remote ID.

How do I get ready for it?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

It is adherently dangerous to fly beyond VLOS. Doesn’t matter what the range is. Since some of you don’t really get it, let me be one of the first to explain.

There’s no doubt that a drone can fly 3km away or more. What you are not accounting for is wind conditions, weight, signal interruption, battery life, and circuitry failure. The more moving parts you add to anything, the greater the chance of mechanical failure.

Flying in one direction with the wind behind is like a jet stream. Naturally, greater distances can be achieved. Try bringing your drone back through a headwind.

Wifi and power lines can cause signal loss. When that happens you are no longer in control. You have to rely totally on GPS

Here’s another scary thought! How many Lipo batteries are you going to strap on the drone? Have you ever seen what happens to a Lipo battery dropped from a high altitude? Check YouTube. It’s basically a bomb. Imagine it packing 4 or more 6-Cell batteries.

Finally, the issue of circuitry overload and heat. Brushless motors get HOT. The onboard circuitry also gets hot. Try flying a drone in the summer. Even with heat sinks and fans, you always have to deal with the issue of heat.

I understand that companies will be using industrial drones with more advanced systems than your retail consumer level drone. My previous comment was directed towards those individuals who are using consumer level drones that seem to think flying beyond VLOS is an okay thing to do. We are NOT in the U.S. of A where it’s so open that you can range test your drone beyond VLOS.

Get ready for Remote ID.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

When I taught an after school robotics club ten years ago, we already had powered glider drones that went out as far as 7 kms. We set one up as a training experiment, and mostly flew it over the sea in case of a crash, etc. at that time, I needed a license in Japan, to build and demonstrate model rockets over a certain size for the club, which I had; it was only a one day training event and small exam. A similar situation isn’t unreasonable for drones.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So if I see my "drone" crashing into an Airliner thats now had it's route reassigned over my central Tokyo abode... is that okay ?

I honestly object to the way the Government has rerouted Airline traffic over the populous. Two reasons -

(1) Traffic continues into the early hours - like 2am... so this is disrupting the sleep of key workers who are paid well enough, and can afford to live in Central Tokyo.

(2) If a Crash occurs - and if it destroys a Family, then the Japanese Government will be held totally Liable.

If my Family were destroyed, then I would wish in mind, to any use any of the pitiful monies received, to see that those in the J. Govt. be held responsible, and placed in front of an old fashioned Firing Squad. But that would be wishful thinking... especially within the "Shogunai" Japanese Culture - which is akin to the Chinese Support of their own CCP in this Global Crisis.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Still really hard to prove that the operator cannot see it. Impossible.

Lol, fair point!

Teacher - So Mr Bugle, where is your drone?

Bugle - S'over there innit, by that cloud

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Still really hard to prove that the operator cannot see it. Impossible.

Depends on the circumstances, but yes possible to prove, not Impossible.

The licenses seems to be more for commercial use, not recreational use by individuals.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

'Line of sight' refers to visual line of sight, not the actual straight line between drone and operator. Drones can fly several kilometres from the operator, well beyond line of sight, before they lose connection.

Still really hard to prove that the operator cannot see it. Impossible.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"is if THEY license THEY"

"Some of us here actually went to a drone school."

But some of us here did not go to a grammar school...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Maximum range even with signal boosters is less than 2KM. I’m pretty sure you couldn’t see a drone past 1K.

It really isn't. I've flown mine to 3km out without sweat. I've heard of Mavic 2 owners flying them to over 5km.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

You’d have to be pretty stupid to fly a drone outside your VLOS. Maximum range even with signal boosters is less than 2KM. I’m pretty sure you couldn’t see a drone past 1K. At that point, you’re just looking at your iPhone or radio to see GPS info.

What most drone users should worry about is if they license they already have will be recognized. Some of us here actually went to a drone school.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Most drones lose connection with the operator if there is no line of sight.

'Line of sight' refers to visual line of sight, not the actual straight line between drone and operator. Drones can fly several kilometres from the operator, well beyond line of sight, before they lose connection.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Will be hard to enforce. It's rather difficult to prove that the operator did not have line of sight. Most drones lose connection with the operator if there is no line of sight.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I like this new law.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites