Nice cityscape video of Detroit!

Mike Lanzetta · Dec 6, 2015

Chuck · Dec 6, 2015

Nice job, Mike. I found the quickness going from one scene to another didn't allow me to focus on the great buildings you were shooting. I had to go back and pause to see what I wanted on the buildings. This is only my personal taste. You have some great high rises there. Thanks for sharing.

Mike Lanzetta · Dec 6, 2015

Chuck said:
Nice job, Mike. I found the quickness going from one scene to another didn't allow me to focus on the great buildings you were shooting. I had to go back and pause to see what I wanted on the buildings. This is only my personal taste. You have some great high rises there. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the feedback,Chuck! My problem is that I have so much more footage that I can't get in!

LuvMyTJ · Dec 6, 2015

Nice job!

Chuck · Dec 6, 2015

That is the kind of problem you want, Mike. That means you are doing some flying....

Burkeam · Dec 6, 2015

Mike Lanzetta said:
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Thanks Mike, brought back many memories. I used to fly over the city all the time out of Grosse Ile and actually watched the Hudson Bldg go down from the minimal 1/4 mile and 500'. Did you do this with coop from the city or on your own? I'd consider donating it to them is you're not 333. I hope it doesn't bring you any negative attention. Nevertheless a nice example of drone video especially with the ones that are familiar with Motown.

Acroduster · Dec 7, 2015

Very nice!

prowler9 · Dec 8, 2015

Makes me miss home.. I grew up in Redford twp. Very good video!!

Mike Lanzetta · Dec 10, 2015

Burkeam said:
Thanks Mike, brought back many memories. I used to fly over the city all the time out of Grosse Ile and actually watched the Hudson Bldg go down from the minimal 1/4 mile and 500'. Did you do this with coop from the city or on your own? I'd consider donating it to them is you're not 333. I hope it doesn't bring you any negative attention. Nevertheless a nice example of drone video especially with the ones that are familiar with Motown.

Thank you! I also fly a Mooney over the city quite often. I called Detroit City Tower and they politely told me to simply fly safe and don't ask don't tell. And in fact I am donating it. They are going to use some of the footage for a year end video.

Burkeam · Dec 10, 2015

Mike Lanzetta said:
Thank you! I also fly a Mooney over the city quite often. I called Detroit City Tower and they politely told me to simply fly safe and don't ask don't tell. And in fact I am donating it. They are going to use some of the footage for a year end video.

Had me thinking about when I said I had a Mooney - earlier post? 1969 low hour Mooney Executive 20F(old school mooney). Boy I miss that hot rod. That happens when you have more then one kid. lol. Worth the trade.

I look forward to see what they do with.

It's nice working with a tower that's easy going in a heavy populated area. They remeber tail #s like names which always helps.

DroneNerd702 · Dec 14, 2015

Beautiful. You know what sucks about Las Vegas? All the casinos on the strip are next door to McCarran Intl Airport. So, all the apps have it in a Drone No-Fly zone, DESPITE the fact none of the inbound passenger flights fly over the strip itself. But, the strip is still within 5 miles of the airport. Effin sucks exhaust pipe from a diesel engine x 10 billion. Every city that I know of, their airports are more than 5 miles away from their downtown. So, I'm not even going to be able to get the kind of footage you have.

P.S. I contacted McCarran using a number they had listed on their web page and that person didn't know who at their office to contact to authorize a small flying exception on the strip. Sucks.

LuvMyTJ · Dec 14, 2015

DroneNerd702 said:
Beautiful. You know what sucks about Las Vegas? All the casinos on the strip are next door to McCarran Intl Airport. So, all the apps have it in a Drone No-Fly zone, DESPITE the fact none of the inbound passenger flights fly over the strip itself. But, the strip is still within 5 miles of the airport. Effin sucks exhaust pipe from a diesel engine x 10 billion. Every city that I know of, their airports are more than 5 miles away from their downtown. So, I'm not even going to be able to get the kind of footage you have.

P.S. I contacted McCarran using a number they had listed on their web page and that person didn't know who at their office to contact to authorize a small flying exception on the strip. Sucks.

If you are referring to calling the control tower at an airport, you do not need 'permission', you only need to make notification of your plans, nothing more.

DroneNerd702 · Dec 14, 2015

LuvMyTJ said:
If you are referring to calling the control tower at an airport, you do not need 'permission', you only need to make notification of your plans, nothing more.

Really? Please help me more by clarifying. So, for example, I am here at the intersection of Luxor Drive and West Reno Ave, at right around sun down when all the strip lights kick in, and wanted to simply fly my Solo straight up to about 75 to 100 feet and hover to get a 5 to 10 second aerial video recording of the horseshoe entrance to the Excalibur hotel, did I Google it right and call these guys to let them know that's what I simply plan to do? I don't need to have any paper on me that shows law enforcement or nearby local ground security that I have the tower's blessing?

LuvMyTJ · Dec 14, 2015

DroneNerd702 said:
Really? Please help me more by clarifying. So, for example, I am here at the intersection of Luxor Drive and West Reno Ave, at right around sun down when all the strip lights kick in, and wanted to simply fly my Solo straight up to about 75 to 100 feet and hover to get a 5 to 10 second aerial video recording of the horseshoe entrance to the Excalibur hotel, did I Google it right and call these guys to let them know that's what I simply plan to do? I don't need to have any paper on me that shows law enforcement or nearby local ground security that I have the tower's blessing?

SEC. 336. SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.
(a) (5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator
of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport
air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located
at the airport) with prior notice of the operation…

SOURCE - https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/model_aircraft_spec_rule.pdf

The airport manager will want is the date and time, exact location and maximum altitude you will be flying. Normally the airport manager will issue a NOTAM for the airport users that there will be model aircraft activity below y feet, x miles Northeast (or wherever) of the airport. If the airport manager wants to be an PITA, tell him that Section 336(a)(5) only requires that you notify them, not ask permission.

DroneNerd702 · Dec 14, 2015

LuvMyTJ said:
SEC. 336. SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.
(a) (5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator
of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport
air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located
at the airport) with prior notice of the operation…

SOURCE - https://www.faa.gov/uas/media/model_aircraft_spec_rule.pdf

The airport manager will want is the date and time, exact location and maximum altitude you will be flying. Normally the airport manager will issue a NOTAM for the airport users that there will be model aircraft activity below y feet, x miles Northeast (or wherever) of the airport. If the airport manager wants to be an PITA, tell him that Section 336(a)(5) only requires that you notify them, not ask permission.

Okay. That reply was just "bad ass". Sincerest apology to the OP for hijacking this thread but, the footage in the video is something I want to do badly but on a much more limited and smaller scale yet all the FAA and local State documentation I've read are convoluted with semantics and other related topics that it's just hard to pin down what you just posted. To add to the confusion I've had, when one uses Drone Buddy for no-fly zones and speak to some persons via phone, the black and white term one received in the case of McCarran Intl Airpost, "if it's in the no-fly zone and within 5 miles of an airport -- it is ILLEGAL", yet with the Henderson Airport Tower, the response was, "Just make sure you've read the FAA documentation and follow the guidelines".

And I'm the type of fellow that needs things to be consistent for my self-confidence as a UAV pilot. Despite the two scenarios I've experienced between Metro and Henderson, my instincts have been screaming that there are gray areas (exceptions), backed up by visits to web sites in my local area for various businesses that's in the business of flying UAV for pay and even have YouTube footage on their web sites showing flights directly above various casino attractions. And hell, I just wanna capture the pretty casino lights from a less bold flight path.

So, it seemed the only around that was to file a petition and answer all these questions which, if approved, seemed to me that I'd be able to fly in their air space (which the limited definition I had about "airspace" for my purposes anyway, was being able to fly within the less than 400 altitude limit in various no-fly zones as reported by various apps).

But now, based on the answer you provided, it looks like I don't even need to go through all that just to capture video using the scenario I provided. Sheesh. Thanks Bro! Your reply freaking helped a lot.

LuvMyTJ · Dec 14, 2015

New rules dropped just today but I haven't seen a change in the current guidelines, just mandatory registration.

FAA Registration Rule Now In Effect - New Rules Dropped today! | 3D Robotics Drone Forum

DroneNerd702 · Dec 14, 2015

Hah! Check this out. I just called the Airport Operations 24-hour number and the person I spoke to wasn't even aware of section 336 and said to contact the FAA but when I mentioned section 336, he was like, "huh? really?", took my contact info and said he'll get back to me once he gets more information. This just gets weirder and weirder considering all the hoopla in the news about regulating this and that, having rules about this and that. And the people you expect to have all their I's and T's, reply with, "huh?" lol. Anyways, I hope I get a call back.

Airport Ownership and Management from official FAA records
Ownership: Publicly-owned
Owner: CLARK COUNTY
P O BOX 11005
LAS VEGAS, NV 89111
Phone 702-261-5211
Manager: ROSEMARY A. VASSILLIADIS
5757 WAYNE NEWTON BLVD
LAS VEGAS, NV 89119
Phone 702-261-5211
AIRPORT OPERATIONS 24 HOUR CONTACT (702) 261-5605

LuvMyTJ · Dec 14, 2015

Call the manager or stop in. You probably got some minimum wage lackey. be sure to mention the entire code so they can look it up if needed. Section 336(a)(5)

DroneNerd702 · Dec 14, 2015

LuvMyTJ said:
Call the manager or stop in. You probably got some minimum wage lackey. be sure to mention the entire code so they can look it up if needed. Section 336(a)(5)

Woohoo! Success! The airport gave me a call back. They're apparently new at this too. So, in short, he has all my specifics for contact, including the date and time I'm planning for the aerial video shoot at that location. And he also gave me the number to our local FAA to coordinate specifics with them also and in the event they have info to provide that's pertinent for my lil humble and very simple flight plan. Straight up no higher than 100 ft, take less than a minute's worth of the scene and purty lights and come back down. Man, I feel great as I feel like I'm going about this the right way and with McCarran being new at it also, I don't feel like I'm going at it alone. haha. This is awesome. Loving it. Thanks brother, your response was soooo helpful man and confidence boosting.

LuvMyTJ · Dec 14, 2015

DroneNerd702 said:
Woohoo! Success! The airport gave me a call back. They're apparently new at this too. So, in short, he has all my specifics for contact, including the date and time I'm planning for the aerial video shoot at that location. And he also gave me the number to our local FAA to coordinate specifics with them also and in the event they have info to provide that's pertinent for my lil humble and very simple flight plan. Straight up no higher than 100 ft, take less than a minute's worth of the scene and purty lights and come back down. Man, I feel great as I feel like I'm going about this the right way and with McCarran being new at it also, I don't feel like I'm going at it alone. haha. This is awesome. Loving it. Thanks brother, your response was soooo helpful man and confidence boosting.

Knowledge is power!