In a move that has certainly drawn the eyeballs of enthusiasts and law enforcers alike, YouTube user Tollymaster flew his DJI Phantom 2 drone up to as high as 11,000 feet. Drone-flying is as yet not legally permitted in India, while in other countries the hobby is restrained under laws and governances. Drones are not allowed to fly higher than 500 feet in European Union nations, while the United States of America allows drone hobbyists to go as high as 400 feet. Having broken all possible legal restrictions in terms of flying drones, Tollymaster uploaded a breathtaking video of views captured by the Phantom 2’s onboard camera, only to later realise his mistake of sharing his work publicly and took it down.
Drones, generally, are programmed to not fly beyond a certain height. The DJI Phantom 2 is usually programmed to restrict itself within an altitude of 1,500 feet, which itself is higher than what is permitted in general areas. The uber-enthusiast hobbyist may have personally altered the firmware locks that restrict drones and quadcopters within limits, and if he is eventually found to have done so, he may face severe consequences in front of law, both monetarily and otherwise, despite the amazing video that he shot.
This video in question was procured by the drone enthusiast blog DroneWatch, and re-uploaded on the Internet. It is not clear as yet about what penalties will Mr. Tollymaster face for such a deed, and although we hope he is treated with lenience upon legal approach, we cannot help but thank him for capturing such a breathtaking view from the soaring height. Take a look: