Drone hampers aeromedical crew from landing at MVA

Flying a drone and causing trouble during an actual call?

See, I told you that it would happen. To verify, check my documentation from my AAR on 03-06-14 (AirOps Branch-Observation/Recommendation-3 on page 16).

IMG_5603

@rusnivek

 

 

Police: Ohio Man’s Drone Prevents Medical Helicopter from Landing at Crash Scene

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) — A man is facing charges after deputies say he was flying a video camera-equipped drone that hindered the landing of a medical helicopter at an accident scene.

Kele Stanley, of Springfield, said he’s been unfairly charged and would have landed it immediately if he knew the medical helicopter was en route.

“I’m not an idiot,” he said.

The hobbyist was flying the $4,000 drone over a crash scene on Saturday morning to shoot photos and video.

Authorities said both fire officials and a Clark County sheriff’s deputy told Stanley to stop flying his remote-controlled aircraft because the helicopter was preparing to land, and that he refused. The helicopter was able to land and depart safely from the scene.

Stanley is facing a felony charge of obstructing official business and misdemeanor charges of misconduct at an emergency and disorderly conduct. He pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Monday and said he’s going to hire a lawyer to fight the charges.

Stanley, a 31-year-old copy-machine repairman and videographer, said he flew his remote-controlled “hexacopter” about 75 feet above where a pickup had hit a tree in Moorefield Township near Springfield. He said he was shooting the video as a hobby and would have turned it over to local television stations, as he has done before.

There currently are no regulations in Ohio governing private use of the unmanned aircraft, although law enforcement agencies must get special permits to use them. The Federal Aviation Administration bars the commercial use of drones.

Yarnell Hill Incident Commander discusses investigative report #LODD

USA Today interviewed the Yarnell Hill Incident Commander (IC) discusses the investigative report after the 19 Line of Duty Deaths (LODDs) from Prescott Fire.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/04/commander-reflects-on-yarnell-fire-tragedy/2926419/

Opinion: I don’t think this report exonerates his command team.

My recommendations: Proper training for all responders will help better understand ever-changing and very dangerous conditions on the scene.

@rusnivek

Your crisis response plan should not include spray paint #PIO

Thai Airways had a front landing gear failure upon landing at Bangkok.

As part of their crisis plan, they spray painted/blacked out their company logo from the aircraft.

Ahem…despite your vehicles, apparatus, aircraft, etc….getting into an accident, do not try to spray paint your logo off the rigs.

Here to help illustrate the point, check this short video out.

Kudos to those crazy Taiwanese animation folks.

@rusnivek