Japan drops banhammer on drunk-droning for the sake of public safety

Everyone has a mate who won't stop droning after a few bevvies – and the Japanese government clearly thinks the activity is dangerous enough to be outlawed. Today, among other restrictions clapped on UAV enthusiasts, the country approved penalties for anyone caught drink-droning with kit weighing more than 200g – including a …

[chivo243]

Japan

sake of public safety

I see what your did there!

[JoMe]

Understandable, especially given that some countries now require you to register drones under certain conditions.

[Anonymous Coward]

Personally I don't see a problem if the drone is in level flight, but I absolutely agree that you shouldn't drink and dive

[My other car WAS an IAV Stryker]

"Drink and dive"

Same goes for swimming, especially in natural waters that could be hiding obstacles. Or water that's too deep.

(Bought a new house last month and the pool goes to 10 feet. It's weird swimming in water over my head again that's not a natural lake with dirt/sand/mud bottom or steady wave action; haven't been in that situation since I was in high school. If I'm going to drink, I'll find a good floatie or stick to the shallow end, not just dive/jump in.)

[SolidSquid]

Re: "Drink and dive"

The difference there is that you're only putting yourself at risk, not other people. Still not a good idea though

[Anonymous Coward]

For a moment there, I thought they'd banned alcohol from karaoke bars...

[Christoph]

I thought it meant playing the bagpipes while drunk.

[jelabarre59]

I thought it meant playing the bagpipes while drunk.

What, that isn't how they're played normally? Or as the joke Dad would tell goes:

"Why do bagpipers walk around while playing?"

...

"To get away from the noise."

[The Oncoming Scorn]

Have you appointed your designated droner?

I'm in the middle of divorcing from it.

[Mike Moyle]

Laws banning drunken droning...?

Headline: "Legislative Bodies Around the World Go Silent as New Law Goes Into Effect"

[FozzyBear]

Re: Laws banning drunken droning...?

It's a beautiful dream to have isn't it?

[DontFeedTheTrolls]

UK Limits

The alcohol limit for flight crew, cabin crew and air traffic controllers in the UK is 20mg of alcohol/100ml blood, I see no reason drone pilots shouldn't be subject to the same level.

[joeW]

Gatwick

Was it ever proven that there really was a drone near the airport?

[Ken Moorhouse]

Re: Was it ever proven that there really was a drone near the airport?

According to this non-contemporary report there could have been a few hundred of them...

https://sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/gatwick-airport-all-abuzz-with-new-arrivals

The rumour could have been started by the baggage-handlers as they didn't relish the prospect of 40 to 50 thousand workers coming in to take their jobs.