‘What are they looking at up there?’ SC drone pilots also seeing large aircraft at night
Marsh Deane has just as many questions about the nighttime drones being spotted up and down the Grand Strand as others.
Deane will on occasion fly his drone at night for work as part of his media company MLNL Media based in Pawleys Island.
But drones as large as vehicles that have been reported by people in the Myrtle Beach area – well, that’s not him.
In fact, local drone pilots say they don’t know what they are.
“I’ve certainly see some large drones,” Deane said.
Deane said he saw one recently over the ocean around Huntington Beach State Park. “It was so large, I was thinking it could be a helicopter,” he said.
Deane is certified with the Federal Aviation Administration to fly both in the daytime and at night. The nighttime certification is available for both commercial and recreational drone pilots.
And while Deane is allowed by law to fly at night, he rarely does, unless he’s shooting for a nighttime event.
“Beautiful Christmas lights, attractions, that’s the place I would expect to see a drone at night. Somewhere that’s lit up and beautiful,” he said. “But over residential neighborhoods is strange to see.”
‘What are they looking at up there?’
Drones in South Carolina cannot fly at night, unless it’s 30 minutes after sunset or before sunrise, according to the Code of Federal Regulations. During that time, which the law refers to as “civil twilight,” operators can only fly drones if they have “lighted anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles that has a flash rate sufficient to avoid a collision,” the law says.
As far as photography is concerned, “there’s really not a great reason to fly at night,” Deane said.
Deane has tried to get video of the large drones, but unfortunately, he usually sees them while he’s driving.
“I’ve been noticing drones over Pawleys for months at night and I thought, ‘What are they looking at up there?’,” he said.
Deane flies a DJI Mavic, which is a commonly used drone. It’s by no means as big as a vehicle.
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There has been some discussion about what is considered a “large” drone. A recent episode on NBC’s “Today” show demonstrated the different sizes of drones and how big a commercial-grade cinematography drone can be.
The appearance of drones over New Jersey for the past month has created hysteria with residents and government officials demanding to know what the “mysterious” drones are.
There has been speculation about what they could be, but ultimately the FBI and FAA has not been able to give a definitive answer. A combined statement from the agencies says that the FBI has received more than 5,000 tips of drone sightings in the last few weeks. The sightings investigated “include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” the statement said.
There have been reports that it could be the military or even the government flying drones.
Shaw Air Force Base, which is home to the 20th Fighter Wing in Sumter County, often does military training in the Myrtle Beach area. However, a spokesperson for the base said that they have not flown any drones in the area in the last week.
Horry County departments do use drones in different situations, according to Horry County Public Information Deputy Director Thomas Bell by text. However, the only department that typically uses drones at night is the public safety department and its only during specific operations, Bell said Thursday.
None of the drones have been flown at night this week.
In addition to New Jersey, residents in South Carolina and North Carolina, as well as other states, have reported seeing large drones flying at night.
David Worzalla, who also has a legally registered drone to fly at night, said that the large drones he has seen in Pawleys Island are not by hobbyists.
The drones resemble those of military grade with one propeller and a tail, Worzalla said.
“I don’t know what they are,” Worzalla said. “I find it really odd.”
But with the continual sightings, as well as threats Worzalla has received about his drone, which cost $2,500, “my drone is parked,” he said.
People have replied to Worzalla’s photos posted online that “if you fly over my house, I’m going to shoot you down,” he said.
“Ninety-nine times out of 100, I’m videoing something away from their house,” said Worzalla, who is retired from International Paper in Georgetown. “I don’t shoot straight down.”
It is against federal law for a person to shoot down any aircraft, which includes a drone, and a person who does so could face criminal charges.
“I’ve twice had people threaten to shoot down my drone,” Deane said. However, when he explained what he was doing, most people understand.
While Deane is concerned about the number of drone sightings, he realizes that “by having so much freedom,” anyone can ultimately fly a drone.
“We’ve allowed it to be pretty easy for ... pretty much anyone (to) get a drone in this country,” he said.
That includes someone who may have nefarious purposes.
“I believe we do need some new laws; maybe it’s not a good thing that it’s so prevalent and easy,” Deane said. “My concern is there will be some crackdown, but maybe that’s a good thing.
“Hopefully it will give us some increased security.”
This story was originally published December 20, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
