2270 Drone Nut

I'm thinking drones are not integrating into our society as well as some had hoped. The drone nuts were wrong. Example: Recently a drone flew into an Independence Day fireworks display and got shot down. I hope it wasn't allegorical. A Chinese made rocket shooting down an American drone. Or ironic, said drone being shot down during a patriotic display.

The truth is, for all the vaunted wonders of drone aircraft they are still pretty accident-prone. In fact, a recent study showed that more than 400 drones have accidentally crashed since 2001, slamming into homes, farms, runways, highways and waterways. One even crashed into an Air Force transport plane in mid-air. Ouch.

That's something to consider since the FAA has just said it's okay for private drones to take to the air. Since so far they've only approved private use to take aerial surveys over north Alaska, we're probably safe from Amazon package droppers accidentally dropping into our living rooms, but you might want to make your voice heard in protest. The private company the FAA just allowed to fly drones in Alaska is none other than safety superstar BP. 

At the same time, the FAA is telling others to stand down. They recently issued a warning to the real estate industry that using drones to get birds-eye pictures of homes, and then using those views to help sell real estate, was illegal. 

Which is good. Nip that bud right there. I'm not sure I'm ready for the next wave of Google streetview cameras flying through the air filming all and backyard-deck-nude-sunbathing sundry. Or Coldwell Banker Coldwell banking into an accidental turn around my property. 

Then again, if I put up my home "For Sale By Owner," I could take a drone selfie. 

America, ya gotta love it.