A photographer narrowly avoided a drone collision with famed DJ Fatboy Slim, as reported in court proceedings, and has been ordered to pay over $1,000 in penalties.
Giles Dalby, 39, was attempting to capture a video of DJ Norman Cook's (known as Fatboy Slim) performance when he lost control of his drone, causing it to crash onto the stage near Cook.
Dalby faced charges this week for his careless or negligent operation of the drone, endangering both Mr. Cook and the audience of 8,500 people at the event. Speaking at Brighton Magistrates Court recently, the security designer expressed remorse, insisting he had no harmful intentions and was striving for a dramatic aerial shot of the concert when he confused the controls after turning on sport mode, which disabled some of the collision sensors. Dalby added that he had subsequently obtained a drone pilot's license and acknowledged his error in flying the drone over a populated area. On the other hand, prosecutor Megan Attree noted that the drone's flight data showed Dalby had ignored multiple warnings.
Dalby was accused of recklessly or negligently allowing a drone to endanger people or property, violating the Air Navigation Order of 2016. The court, recognizing Dalby's clean record and early guilty plea, imposed a fine of £576, along with a £230 victim surcharge and £85 in costs, totaling £891.
How much was the DJ fined for having such a stupid name?
Cook adopted a quasi-blues-style pseudonym Fatboy Slim in 1996. Cook said of the name: "It doesn't mean anything. I've told so many different lies over the years about it I can't actually remember the truth. It's just an oxymoron—a word that can't exist. It kind of suits me—it's kind of goofy and ironic."
Ban drones from public events, all public lands and over all private property that is not owmed by the operator without written permission.
Only allow over some events in authorized by the organizer and proof of license to fly amd permit to fly that specific event oily.
Drones are chasing wildlife causing harm, becoming annoying to people trying to enjoy their own private property and destroying any quiet enjoyment of parks etc.
Thank God national parks have banned them. Now let's expand those bans.
I concur.
"...insisting he had no harmful intentions..."
Interesting. A few years ago, I attended a writer's conference where one seminar was the use of drones. Interesting and informative. The fellow did say he had a couple in some lakes. Seems that they have their place but, as time goes on and drones increase in number, there need to be some regulations and/or guidelines for their use.
This is prefect example of why ...Part 107 is important, couple with more flight time requirements for fly over people. Finally why would you need to fly in Sport Mode, when CINE would produce a better images, and story telling