Bad News for South By South West

Last minute news from SXSW isn’t looking good.

Less than 2 days before the festival starts, Event Planners have scuppered hopes for Drone based antics and activities. So no aerial ‘selfies’ or aerial views for the festival this year.

http://sxsw.com/news/2015/use-drones-sxsw

South By South West is a annual Technology conference, held in Austin Texas, so it may come a surprise to many in the industry, that SXSW of all people, are scrapping the proper use of UAVs.

I would expect this is more of an issue at a music festival, were drunk people might try to hit a UAV with a beer can….which is inevitably going miss and cause more harm than a small UAS ever would.

This is a quote taken directly from the SXSW website

SXSW has a strict no drones policy due to the safety risks drones present to the public, and pursuant to City of Austin Ordinance, Chapter 13-1. This policy was established after consultation with drone experts, user groups, municipal authorities and aviation safety experts.

The article continued to discuss the potential ramifications for those who flaunt the ruling…

The Austin Police Department will also be watching for drones in crowded and/or public areas where the drones could pose a risk to public safety, are subject to seizure by Austin Police Department and the operators are subject to fines and/or arrest.

Is this heavy handed legislation? Is this reasonable? I’m not sure. The article states UAV’s will be at the Festival, in specific locations, albeit Tethered to the ground. I understand the logic in protecting the public, but surely this is going a little too far? Why not have a cordoned off area, properly managed, away from the crowds. Is a tethered UAV, much safer than one without a cable attached?

As a Brit, this is something i find strange about America culture; small UAVs are banned from a Technology Festival, for safety reasons,  but anyone can buy, own and carry a loaded GUN!!! What??!?

The FAA are so strict, less than 20 US companies have permission to fly in America commercially, because ‘drones are dangerous’, but guns are ok? I appreciate the FAA has nothing to do with Guns, but surely a culture that accepts the ownership of guns, should be more accepting of the minimal risks a small UAS can cause.

TU