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Drones #298667
03/31/2023 10:45 AM
03/31/2023 10:45 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 168
R
RickandJulie Offline OP
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RickandJulie  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 168
Okay. Here’s a first for us. We’re currently staying in a waterfront villa in French Cul de Sac. Yesterday afternoon while we were all relaxing on the deck, here comes this drone that pauses right off our deck and hovers a bit before taking off over the bay. It returns and does the same thing before flying right over our heads and moving on.
My question is this: are there any laws or regulations on the island that govern this invasion of privacy? To say it is frustrating is an understatement. We’re not 100% sure which villa it is coming from. Any suggestions or experiences to share?

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Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298670
03/31/2023 11:04 AM
03/31/2023 11:04 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
It is my understanding that Drones have to be registered to be used on the Dutch side of island and there are restrictions on where they can be flown.

Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298673
03/31/2023 11:08 AM
03/31/2023 11:08 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
My suggestion would be to contact the owner of the villa or the villa rental agent. That would annoy the h*ll out of me also.

And by the way, Scuba, I THINK the area is in French St. Martin, close to Pinel, not on the Dutch side.


Carol Hill
Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298676
03/31/2023 11:32 AM
03/31/2023 11:32 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 168
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RickandJulie Offline OP
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RickandJulie  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 168
Yes Carol, we are on the French side looking at Pinel. We’re going to wait and see if it reoccurs this afternoon. I like the idea of contacting our villa agent.

Re: Drones [Re: Carol_Hill] #298679
03/31/2023 11:55 AM
03/31/2023 11:55 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
My bad. I see that now. Maybe swing a baseball bat at it if it comes in at close range again. jester

Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298681
03/31/2023 11:59 AM
03/31/2023 11:59 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
RickandJulie--I would contact the villa agent regardless, even if you don't see it today.


Carol Hill
Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298686
03/31/2023 02:11 PM
03/31/2023 02:11 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176
Ontario, Canada
OllieEh Offline
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OllieEh  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176
Ontario, Canada
I fly drones (semi) professionally in Canada. I searched and searched and searched for laws pertaining to Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS/Drone) use on the French side and I couldn’t find anything specific to SXM other than the EU Laws which are even stricter than Canada especially if the drone has a camera. That being said, I took mine. I would NEVER fly close to or over people in St. Martin. I only flew in the Happy Bay/Friars Bay area very early in the morning before the beaches were populated, in the open area east of Quarter of Orleans and at La Belle Creole. I totally understand and respect people’s privacy here at home and on vacation but the hobby has exploded lately and most people are either ignorant of the laws or just don’t care.

I flew at La Belle Creole with a well known local business person who also pilots drones. He didn’t even have a EU drone license which kind of shocked me. Like most everything else in SXM, it’s like the Wild West.

I’m almost certain that someone was piloting illegally in RickandJulie’s situation due to EU privacy laws.

In Canada, piloting a drone over 250 grams within 3 nautical miles of a major airport would require Advanced licensing and authorization from NAV Canada. Drones are considered an aircraft. If you took one down in any way, it could be a major offence in Canada.

Here is a quick guide of EU laws from a USA training company. Click HERE

Re: Drones [Re: OllieEh] #298690
03/31/2023 03:04 PM
03/31/2023 03:04 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Ollie--I knew you had some knowledge of this situation, but I guess I should not be surprised that SXM is the wild, wild west. Do you have any suggestions for the original poster, other than my suggestion of contacting the rental agent?


Carol Hill
Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298692
03/31/2023 03:15 PM
03/31/2023 03:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176
Ontario, Canada
OllieEh Offline
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OllieEh  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 176
Ontario, Canada
I have no advice. I’m sure the rental agent can’t do anything. The Gendarmes maybe or call the Aeroport de Grand-Case L’Espérance for advice.

Re: Drones [Re: OllieEh] #298693
03/31/2023 03:17 PM
03/31/2023 03:17 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
OK, thanks.


Carol Hill
Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298702
03/31/2023 04:03 PM
03/31/2023 04:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 168
R
RickandJulie Offline OP
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RickandJulie  Offline OP
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 168
Thanks for all the input. It’s been quiet today (knock on wood) but I do think we will reach out to our villa agent just so she is aware.

Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298704
03/31/2023 04:52 PM
03/31/2023 04:52 PM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,478
Central Florida!
Glad it has been quiet today, but I definitely would tell the agent.


Carol Hill
Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298714
03/31/2023 05:50 PM
03/31/2023 05:50 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 410
the Long Island
the captain Offline
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the captain  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 410
the Long Island
I have a Drone but sorry this drone operator was a jerk.

Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298715
03/31/2023 06:02 PM
03/31/2023 06:02 PM
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
S
SXMBND Offline
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SXMBND  Offline
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S
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 705
South Coast of MA
Pull !!!!!!!!!!! noevil

Re: Drones [Re: SXMBND] #298717
03/31/2023 06:18 PM
03/31/2023 06:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
Originally Posted by SXMBND
Pull !!!!!!!!!!! noevil

👍bang.

Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298738
04/01/2023 07:55 AM
04/01/2023 07:55 AM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
sxmmartini Offline
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sxmmartini  Offline
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,461
Vermont
Drone was hit and crashed into a swimming pool. It hit a pelican and the pelican is in the swimming pool as well.
The pool service saved the pelican but the drone drowned.

Re: Drones [Re: sxmmartini] #298758
04/01/2023 10:54 AM
04/01/2023 10:54 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
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SXMScubaman  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
Sad ending. Wonder if the Drone owner will face any action as the Pelicans are considered protected.
Unless it's another one of your April Fools jokes.

Re: Drones [Re: SXMScubaman] #298760
04/01/2023 11:11 AM
04/01/2023 11:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
kim Offline
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kim  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,673
Newtown, CT
Originally Posted by SXMScubaman
Sad ending. Wonder if the Drone owner will face any action as the Pelicans are considered protected.
Unless it's another one of your April Fools jokes.


I’m going with Aprils Fools!

I walked out on my deck last year and a drone was staring at me! Lost my $&@T!!! Found out the owner above me was filming their decks for rental ad. Really despise the things.

Last edited by kim; 04/01/2023 02:25 PM.
Re: Drones [Re: kim] #298764
04/01/2023 12:46 PM
04/01/2023 12:46 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 691
Okemos, Michigan
NumberCruncher Offline
Traveler
NumberCruncher  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 691
Okemos, Michigan
Do you think that a old tennis recket could be a good tool for low flying drones?

Re: Drones [Re: NumberCruncher] #298766
04/01/2023 12:56 PM
04/01/2023 12:56 PM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 687
Lake Texoma, Texas
C
cruzer Offline
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cruzer  Offline
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C
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 687
Lake Texoma, Texas
I'm thinking an armful of sargassum.

Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298781
04/01/2023 04:57 PM
04/01/2023 04:57 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 685
Rhode Island
Bluesfan Offline
Traveler
Bluesfan  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 685
Rhode Island
High pressure garden hose.

Re: Drones [Re: RickandJulie] #298782
04/01/2023 05:14 PM
04/01/2023 05:14 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
I remember the episode on Modern Family they were trying to get rid of a pesky Drone and Gloria shot it out of the sky like a sharp shooter.

Re: Drones [Re: SXMBND] #298805
04/02/2023 06:41 AM
04/02/2023 06:41 AM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
Colour1 Offline
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Colour1  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,989
Westchester /NYC
I like that!! "Nothing better than the smell of buckshot in the morning...smells like victory"!!!


Sand Gravity, got to love it!
Re: Drones [Re: Colour1] #298819
04/02/2023 10:37 AM
04/02/2023 10:37 AM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
SXMScubaman Offline
Traveler
SXMScubaman  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 18,566
Auburn, WA
Buckshot has no smell. It's the burnt powder. Just saying.


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