Are Drones Dangerous? Are They Safe To Use?

Way up in the sky you can see it. It hovers in the air and seems to be watching everything. Its robotic form and blinking lights have become all too familiar to us. It’s a drone.

 A flying unmanned aircraft whose pilot holds a controller in their hands and guides it wherever they will. 

Drones can be an enjoyable device to fly on a clear-skied Saturday afternoon. With it, you can capture the most amazing perspectives of the world from an aerial point of view. 

You can photograph landscapes, oceans, skylines, and more. But are these technological tools actually safe? 

Could they possibly be dangerous to us or those around us? 

Drones are safe if they are used correctly. If used for the invasion of privacy or if collisions occur then that is what makes them dangerous.

Drones can be dangerous if they are used incorrectly. They could be used as a spying tool invading others’ privacy and making people fear they are being watched. Accidents sometimes occur if the drone user is not careful and can result in crashes with other flying aircraft or even hitting people on the ground. 

Rules are set in place to avoid this by the FAA but unfortunately, some people still don’t follow them. Drone operators are required to stay outside of 5 miles of an airport to eliminate the risk of real planes hitting these unmanned vehicles.

Unfortunately, recreational flyers who don’t know these drone rules can accidentally violate these airspace restrictions and in turn, risk damaging a plane or even causing a crash.

Drones can also be safe. These unmanned aircraft systems have saved many lives and are helpful in land surveillance and farming (using the drone’s camera) along with many other commercial uses. 

Footage from a drone can be used to even locate missing people in places that a normal aircraft or search parties could not easily get to.

Flying a drone recreationally is also really fun. You can take pictures and videos from a new point of view or just gain a different perspective of the world around you. 

To see the most popular drone models just click here. 

Drone Safety Rules

As drone technology has advanced so have the many rules surrounding drones and drone safety. Although drone manufacturers have tried to make these unmanned ariel vehicles as safe as possible some people who fly them don’t seem to care about the potential risks.

So when looking at drone rules and regulations what are the most important ones that the drone’s remote pilot should remember?

• Avoid airports (All drones are required to stay 5 miles away from the airport’s airspace)
• Register your drone (If you are in the U.S. and your drone is over 250 grams)
• Do not fly your drone over groups of people (flying over large groups of people like at stadiums is against the FAA regulations)
• Stay under 400 feet (altitude restrictions are in place to make sure you keep your drone in your line of sight and don’t accidentally hit other aircraft)
• Commercial operators must pass a knowledge test

For a full list of rules and regulations check out the FAA website.

Drones are constantly getting more and more features that help you stay safe while flying them. Things like obstacle avoidance, helping you maintain a visual line of sight, etc. all help you stay within the safety guidelines.

Many drone manufacturers have added special safety features to their drones to help ensure that you fly your drone in accordance with these rules however, these safety features can be overridden.

Ultimately it is up to you to ensure that your drone follows all of the rules and regulations that I mentioned above as well as the many other smaller ones that are mentioned on the FAA’s website. As a drone operator, it is your responsibility to make sure that when you fly your drone it is done safely and does not become a danger to you or anyone else around you.

Is It Dangerous To Fly A Drone?

If you are looking at drones for the first time you might wonder if they could be dangerous to you as they take off or land. Obviously, you don’t want to get injured or even be in danger but would a drone be dangerous?

Flying a drone isn’t dangerous if it is done right. By following the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) rules on where and when to fly the drone you can enjoy a safe flight.

Flying a drone can get dangerous when it interferes with other aircraft or when you become careless. Sometimes it can have radio frequency interference and if flown too high can collide with an airplane. 

You should never fly close to airlines. 

The FAA states that drones should stay at a safe height of below 400 feet. Make sure the lights are on during morning/evening and night flights. 

Commercial drone pilots must have a license in order to operate their drones.

It is also important to know when and where to fly a drone. The FAA has guidelines and regulations concerning this. 

Some areas do not permit drones to be flown on their property. You are also not allowed to fly a drone in populated places such as beaches, parks, events, or sports games. 

You should not fly your drone over people because if the drone crashes to the ground during its flight this could be dangerous to pedestrians. 

If someone is struck by a crashing drone, it could injure them severely. 

If a drone is used to invade someone’s privacy or survey them from the air then this could be dangerous as well. Take proper measures if you suspect that you are being watched by a drone.

How Can You Fly A Drone Safely?

If the safety of flying a drone concerns you, let me reassure you that there are ways to fly a drone that aren’t dangerous. 

If you know how to fly it safely and if it is flown in the right kind of weather then you will have a great time during your drone flight.

Flying a drone is easy and it can be a lot of fun to operate. Follow the rules on how to fly it safely and you will have an enjoyable experience.

Some simple instructions on how to fly a drone safely will help you have a smooth flight. 

• Always keep the drone in your line of sight. 

• Do not fly the drone over people, animals, or running vehicles. 
• Make sure the drone will not interfere with any other aircraft. 
• Never operate a drone if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

• Keep your hands on the controller at all times to control the drone properly. 
• Check for damages to the drone and get them fixed before attempting to fly it again. 
• Use a strong GPS when flying for a smooth flight. 
• Practice before using a drone flight simulator 

Can A Drone Spy On You?

The robot flies above your head as you are out enjoying a nice summer’s day. It hovers there, making you wonder if its camera is pointing in your direction. 

Have you ever wondered if a drone could be watching you? 

It is possible that a drone can be used as a tool to spy on people. Although this is not always the case, if you feel uncomfortable, take your suspicions to the police.

So while it is possible that a drone could be watching you and even recording your daily life, the drone would have to be close enough to you to do so. 

If you are inside, you would need to be in a well-lit area close to the window for it to be able to see you.  At this point, you could see and hear the drone from your point of view. 

The chances of a drone spying on you are slim and it could not be filming you at all. However, if you feel suspicious about it, follow the drone and take photos of the activity. 

Drones are only allowed to be flown within a person’s line of sight.

It is always a good idea to be careful so if you are uncomfortable with the presence of a drone, check out its lights. If the drone’s camera is recording you then the red lights will be facing in your direction while the green lights are facing away.  

If the drone seems to be spying on you, call your local law enforcement right away.

Are Drones Helpful Or Harmful?

So, can those flying machines actually do any good? Even though they can be harmful in some ways, they can do much more that helps people than you might realize. 

Drones can be harmful if in the wrong hands but they can also be very helpful instruments used for good.

There are no laws to regulate the use of drones by the government or police. Because of this people have a fear of being watched and listened to by drones. These hovering aircraft can be harmful if used in the wrong way.

Drones can also be very helpful if used in the right way. 

They have been used during natural disasters and in saving lives by using them to transport the medicine and supplies they need. Drones can be used anywhere such as tall structures that would put a human in harm’s way. 

They can also be helpful when they are used for surveillance and security reasons such as outside of prisons.

Along with their many great qualities, drones can be harmful if used incorrectly or if an accident occurs. They can also be helpful and assist in natural disasters and saving lives. 

Recreational use of drones is also an exciting experience as you fly high in the air capturing the world from a new point of view.

What Are Drones Used For?

We’ve all had a time when we glanced up at the sky and saw lights on a strange plane-like device. At first, we probably thought it was a plane but then we noticed it was flying too low. 

As you looked a little closer you realized it was a drone. What could the pilot possibly be doing with it?

Drones have many commercial and recreational uses such as taking photos for land or real estate transactions, recording natural disasters, and much more. With their advanced technology, a drone can do some pretty amazing things.

Let’s talk about a few of the different ways drones are used. 

Land and geological surveillance for farming, agriculture, archaeology

• Measure and count crops, check health and water quality
• Heat sensors can detect the temperature of livestock, water, and emergency surveillance
• Survey and map land
• Air quality

Commercial

• Farmers
• Fire departments to track an amp wildfires
• Companies to monitor pipelines, buildings, etc.
• Inspect power lines, towers tall structures
• Saves money and no humans are in harm’s way

Filmmaking

• Hard-to-reach places
• Reduces costs
• Sporting events

Oil, gas, mineral

• Electromagnetic sensors can detect leaks that can save lives

• Locate and save a life
• Send medical supplies, life jackets, etc.
• Rescue missions
• Delivering packages to remote places
• Search and resume missions with infrared sensors

Real estate

• Gather images and information about land and job sites
• Marketing materials and building inspections

Security

• Heat sensors

Military

• Gathering information and thermal imaging

Space travel

• Unmanned space shuttle
• Reusable and sending experiments back to Earth

Recreational

• Fun
• Fly where you can see it
• Photography