On one day alone, August 4, 2015, at one airport, New Jersey’s Newark, four different commercial airliners on approach for landing reported seeing drones near or in their flight path.

According to the FAA, pilot reports of unmanned aircraft have increased dramatically over the past year, from a total of 238 sightings in all of 2014, to more than 650 by August 9 of this year.

Among those dodging hobbyist drones are pilots of commercial airliners, fire fighters and air ambulance pilots. The safety implications of these unmanned drones – being flown by anyone with a few hundred bucks to purchase one –is very concerning for all of those involved in aviation safety. Do we need to include drone evasion in commercial pilot training? Will helicopter flight training have to include drone identification?

For now, the government is focused on trying to control the behavior of drone pilots – albeit unsuccessfully to date. While the FAA guidelines, or rules, for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) are clear, they are in fact not law (the FAA can’t make laws).

• A small UAS operator must always see and avoid manned aircraft. If there is a risk of collision, the UAS operator must be the first to maneuver away.
• The operator must discontinue the flight when continuing would pose a hazard to other aircraft, people or property.
• A small UAS operator must assess weather conditions, airspace restrictions and the location of people to lessen risks if he or she loses control of the UAS.
• A small UAS may not fly over people, except those directly involved with the flight.
• Flights should be limited to 500 feet altitude and no faster than 100 mph.

Operators must stay out of airport flight paths and restricted airspace areas, and obey any FAA Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs).

The public is becoming increasingly aware of the implications of these seemingly innocuous encounters – like when western fire fighting aircraft were forced to ground activities this summer over safety concerns of the drones in their space. It appears lives literally are on the line.

Drones have been spotted at altitudes as high as 10,000 feet and at airports throughout the country including, Newark, JFK, Denver International, Fort Lauderdale, Allegheny County, Dane County, Burbank, Greenville-Spartanburg International and Dallas Love Field to name a few.

Will public pressure – hopefully before a drone-caused air tragedy occurs – lead to more regulation of drone pilots? Or will we force pilot training institutes to start including drone awareness training for their commercial pilots – the ones responsible for the safety of hundreds of air passengers?

At this point, the answers are not clear. And as drones become less expensive and more ubiquitous, this challenge will only increase.

Safety of the passengers must remain the paramount objective of commercial pilots. It appears many drone pilots are not deterred by the guidelines law, so in the name of safety, commercial and private pilot training may be a logical response.

One of the most popular toys today is a remote control or RC toy. These toys allow a child to use a joystick or something similar to control the motions of the toy. The most common RC toy is a remote control vehicle. You can find these in just about every shape and size imaginable, from a tank to a motorcycle.

However, the one drawback to such a toy is often the price. These toys can range in value from under twenty dollars to several hundred dollars. There are a few ways you can save money on these toys and here are some tips to help you.

Visit the Mega Size Toy Stores

Many of the larger toy stores will buy products in bulk and pass their savings onto the customer. You will usually find a larger selection of RC toys as well. Most will have weekly or monthly sales and you can check the ads in your local paper to plan your shopping accordingly.

Shop During the Holidays

One of the best times to shop for remote control toys is during the holiday season. This is when all of the good sales happen and when quite a few newly released toys hit the market. There are always huge sales right after the holiday as well. This can be a great time to pick up a birthday present or two.

Visit a Hobby Store

Remote control toys arent just for kids. Many adults consider them a hobby and spend thousands of dollars each year on keeping up with the latest developments. The hobby stores that serve this segment of the population are a terrific place to look for these toys. You can find new toys, used toys, and parts for repairs. Best of all, you can usually get some great advice on using your remote control toys.

Browse the Net

Online shopping isnt just for clothes! You will find entire websites dedicated to remote control toys. If you find a toy that you like, take a moment and look for a coupon code. These online discount codes can offer a wide range of ways to save some money, such as with codes for free shipping or a percentage of your total purchase.

Stores such as NitroRCX, offer both types of codes. This lets you choose which one can save you the most money. Nitro Planes gives you free shipping on all of their replacement parts. As quickly as shipping charges seem to rise, these can result in a significant amount of cash in your pocket.

In Closing

Remote control toys are a fun pastime for many people, but often the cost of the toy can be a drawback. With the above tips, you can find several ways to save that money. Shop online and use an online discount code. Check out the nearest remote control toy stores. For children, shop the large chain toy stores at or after the holidays. You can save on remote control toys!