Drone Debate Heats Up

My company sells drones. We have sold several to yacht owners. I was in Cannes recently where I trained a yacht owner (of a top-100 yacht) on how to operate a drone safely. Since drones are here to stay, you may want to write an article on the recommended procedures for operating a drone. Also, as covered in your November/December issue, there are no rules yet in place for using drones or the photos taken. Wouldn’t some basic policies that yacht owners agree to be nice? While we may like to take pictures of others, yacht owners usually don’t want pictures taken of themselves, even if they own a drone. Isn’t it about time we develop some protocols for yacht owners?

—G. Payson

ED: As we said in our feature on the subject in that issue, and as I wrote in From the Masthead, drones are incredibly cool machines that are likely with us to stay. But in short order, their rapid proliferation has stirred a hornet’s nest and has exceeded the ability of governments and bureaucracies to get their heads around the big picture. Given the lack of formal regulation of their use and the thorny, unresolved privacy issues associated with them, I think your idea for self-imposed protocols for yacht owners and other yacht-based operators is about as good as anyone can do at this juncture. I must say, though, the skeptic in me says such a move wouldn’t fly far. I invite you—or any readers who care to join the discussion—to propose some suggestions on reasonable, considerate drone etiquette. Our e-newsletters and website ( yachtsinternational.com) are great forums for advancing the discussion.

david pollard dpollard@aimmedia.com Jill Bobrow Dudley Da wson Justin Ratcliffe (Europe) mary south Capt. Richard Thiel andrew pa rkinson aparkinson@aimmedia.com

KIM KAVIN dudley dawson, alan harper, Kim Kavin, Catherine Kent, Virginia Philip, george Sas Jr.