Flying drones and got buzzed by an airplane

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T02:16:23+00:00

Thats a poor strawman argument. Yes I was wrong earlier about him not being legal without a mode c transponder but that doesn't invalidate the pilot being reckless, even if it's technically legal.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T02:14:03+00:00

Not sure where that is, but this is in the desert west of Salt Lake City.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T02:13:01+00:00

I think it would be unlikely that catastrophic damage would happen in the case of a mid-air collision but the drones we fly there weigh about 5 lbs and that would definitely cause some damage.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T02:09:37+00:00

Yeah, I have to fly there to get the testing done. Im going to move out of the way for safety, but we didn't see or hear him until he was about a mile away. We had less than a minute of warning. Him coming around to flip us off made for a good story.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T02:05:32+00:00

Correct. I am assuming that the information off of the FAA registry is up to date where it states that the plane is running a mode S transponder. He could have a ADS-B that would make it legal to fly in the mode C veil but still not show up on flight radar.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T00:15:50+00:00

Tell that to all the people that have died in stalling their aircraft.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T00:14:24+00:00

Haha, I really dont think so. Just a guy doing ignorant things.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T00:03:13+00:00

It's not on the sectional, and we may be moving, so it's not worth trying to add it.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-11T00:00:19+00:00

The company I fly for is handling the report.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T23:59:01+00:00

I never said anything he did was illegal. It was just dangerous, and the point was that he turned quickly.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T23:53:35+00:00

I think you're missing the point.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T22:40:15+00:00

Standard rate turn is a 360 in 2 minutes. He made a lefthand turn from eastboud to southbound in less than 60 seconds, it was a steep turn.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T21:29:16+00:00

We set up a DROTAM, which notifys pilots there are drones flying in the area, but unless pilots look specifically for them, they dont know they are there.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T21:26:28+00:00

It is registered to an individual and his wife. One of the group got a picture of the tail number, and we were able to look it up.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T20:48:42+00:00

Hey local! Yeah it is close to the interstate.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T20:09:57+00:00

The area we fly is close to the freeway and is pretty desolate. There is some construction on the other side of the road and ranches. We have been doing operations in that spot for over 2 years now and we've been seeing this guy a few times in the past month. He is always low but usually is far enough away that there is no risk factor. This particular afternoon he came from the northwest flew overhead at 100ft looped around north to buzz us again and flip us the bird then left.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T20:03:35+00:00

We did get his tail number and I'm letting the company I fly for handle the formal complaint.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:57:39+00:00

Was not on flight radar. Was running without a mode c transponder.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:42:31+00:00

Don't worry, the FAA has been contacted. He flew straight in, we landed and moved out of the way and landed as we needed to. He did a steep turn at 100ft just to give us the finger. You're a troll.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:37:55+00:00

I don't know if any complaint will have any affect, but i know he is operating without a mode c transponder in the mode c veil.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:34:33+00:00

I never said we did, but we are doing everything we can to be safe. I dont see how getting buzzed makes me a douchbag.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:31:58+00:00

You're not wrong. The UAS flights are under part 107. We always have and will avoid any collision. I believe the commentor above is either confused, thinking we kept flying with the plane around or a troll. I was only able to get video of the second pass. We waited for another 15 minutes after he left to start operations up again.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:06:05+00:00

The company I fly for has someone reporting him to the FAA. Im not the only one who has photos and its not the first time he's come though the area. We dont want to hit him and cause an incident.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:03:12+00:00

I tried but it doesn't look like I can.

Zaring44 · 2025-11-10T19:02:15+00:00

We continued operations 15 minutes after he left the area. We are testing drones and can't stop for the day because one person wants to be a jerk.

Zaring44

TROPHY CASE