Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

UAV's, drivers, builders and the regulations.
stick_monkey
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Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby stick_monkey » Mon Feb 19 2018, 11:19

http://helihub.com/2018/02/19/lower-hel ... ne-pilots/

I hope this doesn’t happen in Aus for a while. It’d be a pity for even more drivers to be out of work Oc:= pop;
Mallard
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Re: Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby Mallard » Mon Feb 19 2018, 11:46

When a few of them fall out of the sky and kill some people they will be subject to the same regulation that makes helicopters so expensive.

It's not like removing the pilot significantly reduces the cost...
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VBlade
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Re: Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby VBlade » Mon Feb 19 2018, 12:03

Technology on the rise.

Here is something Gonsky posted.

http://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-re ... stone.html

Along the same lines in how it could affect the industry.
Guess time will tell. Oc:=
zzodr
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Re: Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby zzodr » Mon Feb 19 2018, 12:19

They want to use them for candy drops too.
Well this one didn't go so well.

https://www.wetalkuav.com/japanese-cand ... jured-six/
Crystal Clear
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Re: Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby Crystal Clear » Mon Feb 19 2018, 22:16

They have their purpose, but not over large gatherings, everything is based on risk and expense. The TV companies can see savings and therefore go with the cheaper option, the BBC has been using them for a while, though I hasten to add not over large crowds as the UK CAA has legislated against this already.
Gonsky
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Re: Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby Gonsky » Tue Feb 20 2018, 05:04

Actually removing the pilot does drop the cost massively.

Now with full 4k HD downlinks weighing 500 grams and platforms that cost ~100$ an hour to run it all just comes down to $$, nothing more it will always be dollars that makes the difference.

And yes safety is an issue yet if a full size heli goes into a crowd or a quad does you know which will make the bigger mess.

Regards,
'Mankind has a perfect record in aviation - we have never left one up there!'
actionman
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Re: Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby actionman » Tue Feb 20 2018, 06:59

Yep, let's just all bury our heads in the sand and the problem will go away, it worked so well for Kodak. Put all the negativity on it every which way you can so get with the program or go home. I'm not known as a visionary but even blind freddy can see where most of us will be in 5 to 10...
Dont become a Kodak employee, work it out, do the numbers. there is old saying, if you are in and industry that is not growing, then it is slowly dying..
Having said all that, it will be a while before there are driveless heavy lifters and offshore craft...
And what do you say to the newbie that just posted "should i become a pilot"

all the best everyone, I dont get online very often, probably a good thing..

AM..
now with a RPL
Gonsky
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Re: Drones replacing heli’s for news gathering

Postby Gonsky » Tue Feb 20 2018, 08:21

Disagree with the time frame as It is happening much quicker than you think.

We had an completed an airframe that was going to be launched commercially just before Xmas, it was an 800 litre tandem rotor fire drone we had already been evaluating. Problem was it had dual Rotax, two rotor heads, shafts, GB, Swash plates, actuators and the list goes on and on, too many moving parts and too many things that could go wrong and needed maintenance schedules.

Now the redesign has 8 brushless outrunners, turboshaft straight to dual pancake alternators and numbers could be closer to 1000 litres from all the weight that was saved, improved aerodynamics and it has a smaller foot print. Over time you can drop the turboshaft and use batteries. It was not a huge redesign as you just drop a quad layout on the top and away you go, and once you do it the simplicity just hits you in the gut and you can never go back to conventional designs. Should be testing final prototype in about 3 months.

Same layout can be used to lift containers, long haul and offshore work. The offshore side is easy as long distance over water is perfect for autonomous UAS on supply runs not necessarily ferrying passengers.

Main and tail rotors are gone never thought i would say it.

Regards,
'Mankind has a perfect record in aviation - we have never left one up there!'

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