UAV Safety and Preventing Injuries

I would like to see 2018 be a year where UAV and drone safety becomes of high importance, both commercially and recreational. In the coming months, I will be finishing my studying for my FAA Part 107 Commercial Operators License, and as an avid flyer already, I have spent much time researching our growing world of drones. The stories and images of drone-related injuries are gruesome.

So I do not go into detail, I will leave it at this; already we have had many UAV related injuries that have left lasting impacts on lives. The images of such injuries, are horrifying. To think that with millions of these machines bought each year, and not a care for personal safety going into operating them, is terrifying. While many pilots take proper precautions while operating these aircraft, many do not think of what these little machines are capable of. I am not deferring you from flying, nor am I promoting our products. I am simply here to warn others of the dangers of UAV operation and to help create awareness so we can all fly safely. Drone safety must be taken seriously. Please read the following information and take time to watch the video.

Almost 3 years ago, Discovery Channel’s Television Show “MythBusters” conducted a series of tests to see what the damage of a drone colliding with a human would be. The results, terrifying. At “flight speed” plastic drone propellers have the force to cut though soft tissue and cartilage, this includes; jugular, stomach, and other soft areas of the human body. If loss of control, a gust of wind, or mechanical malfunction were to occur, the results could be fatal.

Another great risk, is take-off and landing. As your drone creates thrust, it also creates rotor-wash. As you descend onto the ground, you are creating rotor-wash since you are still applying power to the motors, if done in a “bowl” or confined space (such as between buildings, around a circle of people, or near vehicles) the rotor-wash can create a vortex around the drone, which can result in partial, if not full, loss of control. This can be mitigated by properly marking UAV operation zones, utilizing barricades or other means of sectioning off the operational zone, using open space for an UAV zone, and staying at least 25 feet away from operating UAVs.

Using an elevated launch pad can also help provide personal safety, DJI (the leading consumer drone manufacturer) has developed their technology so their drones take off to 3ft and hover. 3 feet puts the UAV at the height of a child’s neck to skull area and an adult’s abdomen. Loss of control at this height could be fatal. Using an elevated platform such as the “Jonny-on-the-Spot” Pro and Hobby, can put the drone at anywhere between 5-7 feet above the ground. At 7 feet, while not much above the heads of tall adults, will give enough space that a small gust of wind will not prove fatal without elevating any more upon take-off.

Here is an excerpt from “ FAA Issues Study on UAS Human Collision Hazards”

When the studies were complete, personnel from NASA, the Department of Defense, FAA chief scientists, and other subject matter experts conducted a strenuous peer review of the findings. The studies identified three dominant injury types applicable to small drones:

• Blunt force trauma – the most significant contributor to fatalities

• Lacerations – blade guards required for flight over people

• Penetration injuries – difficult to apply consistently as a standard

To Read the full article from the FAA, go to:

https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=87950&omniRss=news_updatesAoc&cid=101_N_U

Here is the link to the MythBusters video showing a propeller cutting through a raw chicken to demonstrate soft tissue versus a “flight speed” propeller.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mge...