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Ski areas uniting to restrict drones over slopes

This image was captured by a camera flown over a ski area in a drone. (YouTube)
This image was captured by a camera flown over a ski area in a drone. (YouTube)

WINTERSPORTS -- Ski resorts are the latest group to step up and take a stand against the aerial intrusion of camera-packing drones.

If you don't think the sky is becoming a giant eye on your life, consider this: 

Recreational drones have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. The Federal Aviation Administration expects 1 million drones to be sold during the holidays, but so far no concrete regulations have been established except in some cases, such as states that have banned the use of drones in hunting.

Here's what wintersports areas are up to.

U.S. ski areas work on explicit ban of drones
Anticipating that the use of drones may be the next big trend hitting the slopes, The Denver Post reports that ski areas around the United States are working on rules that would explicitly ban the use of the popular aerial cameras except by special permit.

In June, the National Ski Areas Association sent a letter to Antoine Balaresque, the founder of Lily Robotics, asking that the company stop using footage of ski areas in advertising for its throw-and-go autonomous flying camera.



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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