To Fly or Not To Fly...OVER WATER??

Written by Ben Cashell

G’day my fellow Droners, 

Australia

I’ve read and seen a lot of talk about to fly or not to fly over water recently, and how a lot of pilots are not real keen on the idea. Well, I was in this boat (pardon the pun) not so long ago myself. Umming and arrring whether or not to take the plunge so to speak.

I do a lot of flying at the beach and areas surrounded by a lot of water, always too scared to finally do it and go out there. Then one day I said to myself, "rito mate let’s do this?!?!" In the back of my head I was thinking, what are you crazy mate? What if something happens? What if I mess up and she goes into the drink? What this? What that?

Whatever, I came to the conclusion of as I headed out to sea. Where the water is well...water!! With the controls shacking around in my hands like an outback dunny does after dodgy BBQ at ya mate’s house, I found I was still in perfect control of my beloved drone and not only that I was loving it! At the same time capturing some awesome footage!

I went from almost total loss of bowl control to WHO’S THE MAN!! In like 2.3 seconds. Then just as I thought to myself I should have done this ages ago, Bloody seagulls 9 o’clock!! Holy crap I was all the sudden like a lone P-51 Mustang flying over Tokyo in 1943. (Not a good place to be from what I can gather?)

Anyway back to the seagulls, so I’m only about 75 meters off the beach and clearly violating their airspace .Now I’m no seagull expert but what do know is if there’s 6 of the bastards attacking my drone over water I’ve just gone from WHO’S THE MAN!! to OH STRUTH IM IN TROUBLE HERE!!! In like 1.2 seconds. So I did what any bloke in my position would do, maintained a controlled state of bowl movement while all the while returning my drone back to land.

As soon as I was back over the beach the bloody seagulls lost interest in me and returned to their airspace. Go figure?? I was still shaking like a shithouse in a thunder storm with early morning walkers looking at me quite strangely when I thought that’s it mate! I’ve had enough of this pleasure (STRESSFUL) flight for today.

I have since then flown over water and captured some amazing video and photos, just never back in seagull airspace. I guess the moral of the story guys and girls, is when you’re ready to venture out over water. DO IT!! (I accept no responsibly or liability if the shit hits the fan however) It’s the best yet most uncomfortable feeling ever! Just stay away from seagulls!!!