Saw this drone during a public firework display this evening … anyone else see that?

There were 2 or maybe 3 drones in total. One flew right over the firework display with a bright white light. The others had green flashing lights and stayed further away. Would love to see the footage from the drones if anyone got it.
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I bet they were flying legally, that’s awesome. Maybe hired by the fireworks guys or something like that.

Scout said:
I bet they were flying legally, that’s awesome. Maybe hired by the fireworks guys or something like that.

I hope they were just flying because it was fun and they wanted to get a good shot, not just because it was legal.

@Jordan
I think they might have been working for the venue, that’s likely what the context is.

@Jordan
This is like saying ‘I hope that guy crossed the road just because he enjoyed jaywalking, not because it was legal.’ What’s the deal with you?

Sloane said:
@Jordan
This is like saying ‘I hope that guy crossed the road just because he enjoyed jaywalking, not because it was legal.’ What’s the deal with you?

It’s wild to think that in some countries jaywalking is actually a crime. Where I am, we just cross when we need to, learning how to judge cars and timing as kids.

@Brook
I think you missed my point here.

Sloane said:
@Brook
I think you missed my point here.

Maybe, but I always thought it was funny that it’s even considered a crime.

Brook said:

Sloane said:
@Brook
I think you missed my point here.

Maybe, but I always thought it was funny that it’s even considered a crime.

Fair enough, it was the first example that came to mind, but I get it now.

I fly my drone to film fireworks and drone shows, usually with waivers, especially near fairs and stadiums. There are always unsanctioned drones flying around during these events.
During most of my flights, my VO makes sure I avoid these others. It used to bother me, but I’ve come to accept it as part of the risk, and I do my best to work around them.

@Yan
What exactly is an unsanctioned drone? I know stadiums are sensitive areas, but fireworks shows usually happen in open public spaces like parks. Are there special laws about flying drones near fireworks? Seems okay to me.

@Koa
Unsanctioned drones are those flying without a permit or waiver. These events are open air, with a lot of people, and there are often Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in place. Some pilots ignore all of this. It’s fine if they get away with it, but it’s a hassle for us since we plan our routes with local law enforcement and venue officials, and these unsanctioned drones mess things up.

@Yan
Okay, I get it. I’ve never seen a fireworks show with a large crowd. I guess if you’re in a big city, it makes sense that this could be an issue.

Koa said:
@Yan
Okay, I get it. I’ve never seen a fireworks show with a large crowd. I guess if you’re in a big city, it makes sense that this could be an issue.

The best way to avoid these issues is to get a waiver from the FAA for flying over people. It’s a bit strict on how the drone is set up, but they are giving waivers more easily now. I got one recently, and it’s good for a year.

@Yan
B4UFLY is a good app to check. It’ll show if there’s a TFR in place. It’s really helpful.

Rowan said:
@Yan
B4UFLY is a good app to check. It’ll show if there’s a TFR in place. It’s really helpful.

It didn’t show anything about the TFR in this case. We checked the app onsite, but it didn’t update. It’s an issue they’re trying to fix.

Ok :ok_hand:

Fireworks with the drone never turn out great because it’s so dark, but it’s still fun to fly up there.

Luca said:
Fireworks with the drone never turn out great because it’s so dark, but it’s still fun to fly up there.

You should watch some hardcore live set footage, it’s amazing. If you want to see some, try the short format Ground Zero 2022 live sets on YouTube. :grinning:

@Pace
There are some smooth dives through fireworks, and it also shows off how big the crowd is. It’s a dream of mine to film large parties in the Netherlands one day. Imagine making money while contributing to the music scene and enjoying the show while flying. <3