As Drone Use Rises in Austin Along Side Concerns

from keyetv.com

If you haven’t heard the whirr of drones yet, you will. Amazon and Google are experimenting with drone deliveries. Austin real estate agents are capturing aerial shots of homes and businesses. And, college students are incorporating the flying cameras in their research.

Drones are here, but the government rules to regulate them are not. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is under growing pressure to establish safety guidelines and privacy rules. But, until then the sky is not off limits.

The wide blue yonder is becoming the wild wild west when it comes to drones and privacy laws.

“Flying over a public park like this, there’s no problem,” said Robert Youens, owner of Camera Wings Aerial Photography.

Youens specializes in drone based photography and video. His custom drones can cost up to $35,000. But, hobbyists just wanting to capture Austin from a different angle can now put cameras in the sky for less than $1,000.

“We have one of the highest densities of drones per capita of anywhere,” said Youens.

For people worried about their privacy, it means tiny cameras that were at eye level now have a bird’s eye view.

“It’s a real concern,” said Dr. Todd Humphreys who directs the Radionavigation Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin.

“These can fly low. They can fly fairly quietly. And, they can fly over your backyard,” said Dr. Humphreys.

Drones can not only be discrete, they can also maneuver into places you might think are safe from prying eyes. So this is my KEYE TV precision landing task,” said Youens.

On a windy morning we asked the pilot to bring the drone in low, stay directly in front of us and land on top of our GoPro.

“Mission accomplished,” said Youens. “People could abuse them, just like they could any camera, but the vast majority is going to go out and take pretty pictures with them.”

Whether you build or buy a drone, flying for fun doesn’t require the government’s go-ahead. As long as the unmanned aircraft stays under 400 feet and away from airports and restricted air space, the drone is basically in the clear.

“It’s a little bit surreal and a little bit futuristic,” said Dr. Humphreys.

In the absence of adequate federal rules, he helped create the Texas Drone Law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2013.

“You’re not supposed to take pictures from a drone of private property without the person’s consent,” said Dr. Humphreys. “But, it’s tough to enforce.” You’d have to see the drone or see yourself on YouTube to even know your privacy was invaded.

For now all eyes are on the FAA to see if it can take control of an industry that’s just now taking off. Congress has mandated that the FAA finalize comprehensive drone rules by September 2015. But, a government audit shows the FAA is already behind schedule.

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