Originally Posted by Roger Gunkel (Post 1949083)

People are always going to report things that they don't understand using references to things that they are more familiar with, be it ancient times or modern. There are also those who will say that they don't believe it because they didn't see it themselves. As regards mass hysteria, that is usually wheeled out to explain why groups of people reported events that aren't believed by those that weren't there, along with weather balloons and the planet Venus. I have yet to see any scientific evidence to prove mass hysteria was the reason for UFO reports, even though I have had an interest in the subject since early teens. Most reports though not all, can be explained with commonsense and a little investigation. I also have a close friend who was a fighter pilot with the Canadian Airforce and also was one of the longest serving long haul pilots with Air Canada, who has had some very thought provoking experiences.

Over the years, I have seen many unusual things that people near me couldn't understand, although to me it was quite clear what they were, including twice seeing weather balloons at high altitude, aircraft landing lights that appeared to be stationary as they turned, police helicopter searchlights, and chinese lanterns to name a few. However, as a pilot and drone flyer, if I saw a drone flying near an airfield and reported it, I would be pretty miffed to be told that I had seen a plastic bag blown by the wind.

Roger

Originally Posted by Roger Gunkel (Post 1949315)

The trouble is though Steve that no amount of bans and police powers will stop those that want to fly outside the law doing so. Rules and regs are one thing but enforcement is another, as witnessed by criminal and anti social behaviour across society as a whole.

The existing rules regarding drone flying are already quite restrictive, but as you say, it will mean a number of new restrictions on those happy to fly within the regulations, but probably little or no effect on those who have no regard for the law.

Roger