Drones

Viscount Aggro

The first sighting of a military drone in UK or Ireland… these operators' business model will be dust.

AlanG

I had seen somewhere, possibly here, that manna had been given pretty much exclusive rights to fly drones in D15 and I didn't believe it at all. However, with the controversy over the Jim Gavin video in Porterstown I was wondering why it was a red zone. Looking at the map https://www.iaa.ie/general-aviation/drones/uas-geographic-zones it seems obvious that D15 is the only significant red zone that is not linked to a Gov building, Airstrip, Nature reserve or military site.
Amazing that D15 residents need to get permission to fly drones so as not to disturb Manna.

kirving

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123871091#Comment_123871091

That's a fairly reasonable explanation aright. Have a look at my post here showing the difference between what an operator of a DJI drone would be shown - a fairly generic warning. IMO it's actually worse than no warning, as in the past you used to be shown all areas and automatically restricted from flying around prisons, airports, etc.

I think DJI should be forced to give warnings for prisons, airports, etc - but I can totally understand them removing all restrictions if they were being expected to enforce agreements which give their competitors legalized monopoly.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123869008/#Comment_123869008

Flinty997

Its mentioned here but not clarified. I think we can join the dots..

https://www.rte.ie/news/2025/1001/1536300-drone-use-explainer/

I assume people don't want private drones either.

Jizique

AMAZON FACES FAA, NTSB PROBE AFTER DRONE CRASH IN ARIZONA: CNBC

Jacketpotato

So much for not needing planning permission. Retention for coolmine industrial estate Manna hub went in at the end of September
FW25A/0428E

planning.agileapplications.ie/fingal/application-details/102570

daymobrew

While the should have applied for planning permission before setting up that hub, plenty of people apply for retention permission after they've done some building work. (I get the weekly planning emails from Fingal and retention applications are frequent).

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123871639#Comment_123871639

Here's a link to the article: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/02/amazon-drone-crash-faa-ntsb.html

That NTSB and FAA are investigating the collision makes it sound very serious but they would investigate all incidents from trivial to serious. Here the AAIU (Air Accident Investigation Unit) does the same (see some of their reports here). You can read the 21 page report on the 2022 drone crash in Balbriggan.

Jacketpotato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123897559#Comment_123897559

Fair point on retention happening that way.

But the owner of Manna made a gaffe to residents at the meeting in dundrum for their planned new site saying they dont believe they need planning permission full stop for drones, it was quoted in news articles after. I would guess that they are applying now for the two other sites here because the council took enforcement against them….not a good look.

ozmo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123832118#Comment_123832118

thats crazy - a zero height limit for hobbyists in Blanchardstown Parks (height limit 0 meters in screenshot below) - i presume even after-hours when mana dont fly - thats new and the dji app doesn't show that… thats so unfair.

Flinty997

Whatever about parks, nothing stopping a hobbyist from videoing houses and gardens Those private drones do have video cameras on them. They've been used to case places for robberies.

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123898732#Comment_123898732

One doesn't even need a drone to check a place out - just walking by a house can gather info about whether it is a possible target.

Some people suspect that those dropping off fake charity clothes collection leaflets in the middle of the night are also scoping out houses. Also, many estates regularly have people walking around at night checking car doors and robbing cash from unlocked cars. Not a drone in sight.

Flinty997

One thing at at time.

Treppen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899076#Comment_123899076

I think you're missing the point. They're saying drones can be used to invade privacy to the point of flying over your back garden to do so. I flew a drone over my estate a few years ago to get video of our own garden and kids birthday etc. and our of nosyness I had a look at neighbors, was surprised by the amount of windows opened in empty houses.

Of course you don't need a drive to break into everyone's house.

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899153#Comment_123899153

So you're more of a privacy threat than Manna? :-)

I believe Manna when they say that the camera is not on until it's over the landing site. Even if it was on, the drone passes over properties quite quick so you wouldn't see much, and the camera quality isn't great. Furthermore, the operator is probably busy managing a few drones and doesn't have time to have a nosey and really doesn't give a damn about doing so either.

Flinty997

Whatever about Manna. If the privacy concerns are valid for Manna. They are much more valid for private drones. Same with safety. Operating a private drone in a park where there are loads of other people. If it applies to one it applies to all. This is why model airplanes have designated areas.

Jacketpotato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899205#Comment_123899205

It's appropriate that people not using the delivery, to expect privacy from not being recorded or monitored or live streamed over their homes or gardens during their day to day life and may have an unease with their only reassurance being to believe a company telling them to trust them. Same for being forward looking and thinking how it may proliferate as a new normal if other companies or small time operators begin using drones.


I thought it was just delivery also when the camera light turns on, but looking at the website here why is their terms and conditions saying cameras are on at all times for safety if the flight is automated???

1.1. Drone Flight & Delivery

Why: All our drones have onboard cameras that are needed for safety management of flight and delivery. The flight/delivery is monitored by the drone pilot only but not recorded. The drone flies at approximately 60m at which height identification of individuals is not possible.

‍

Data We Process: Eircode, streaming of images during flight/landing procedure.  

‍

How (Legal Basis): It is necessary for the safe operation of the drone delivery, otherwise we would not be able to provide the service to you in accordance with the contract we have with you. The legal basis for this processing is Subject to Contract.

greenfield21

I sometimes pass by the shopping center. and its Interesting to see a sky news report on Manna planning to setup in UK next year and the use of the Irish Base for drone flying now. I wonder will these things become more widespread.

https://news.sky.com/story/food-delivery-drones-could-soon-be-roaming-british-skies-13447794

Just on Manna. Does anyone know where else this company operates from in Ireland now. It appears they only have planning for the one site and all the others would be considered unauthorised. Also the site in the shopping centre, the planning expires next year. So next year it will all be over for Manna if the planning approvals don't go their way?

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899205#Comment_123899205

Do you think Manna would be tempted by an offer from a business who could monetise those video recordings without having humans look at them?

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900003#Comment_123900003

I don't have any idea whether they would be tempted but I think you're going down a bit of a crazy hypothetical-scenario hole which, if drones were banned for what-if, would have massive knock on impacts as other people/organisations could record stuff e.g. the postman to wear a 360 degree camera recording while on his route so we'd then have to cancel An Post.

If that situation were to arise, the Data Protection Commissioner would likely block it.

Jacketpotato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899384#Comment_123899384

Looks like dublin 15 only with 3 bases and an enforcement brought against two of them for unauthorised development which they applied for retention last month.

Dundrum had heaps of articles about there being uproar this summer from trying to install a base there. Tallaght has some articles going back to the start of the year for a base but it seems it went nowhere in the end? Glasnevin has some articles but again it seems to have gone nowhere.

Not sure why balbriggan stopped, poster 189 mentioned a crash with a link to a 2022 investigation. Maybe reputation loss or maybe it wasnt a good earner out there? google is not showing much on why they stopped.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900058#Comment_123900058

The postman won't be looking down on your back garden from above.

Former Former Former

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899205#Comment_123899205

I believe Manna when they say that the camera is not on until it's over the landing site. Even if it was on, the drone passes over properties quite quick so you wouldn't see much, and the camera quality isn't great.

You shouldn't have to "believe" anything. These things should be controlled and verifiable. As of now, we have only Manna's word for any of this and only their word it won't change. That's not right, and if you think Manna are to be fully believed on everything they say, you haven't been paying attention.

It's also inevitable that focusing a camera on the property next door will also mean it's taking footage of yours too. Whether you care or not is up to you.

Jacketpotato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900058#Comment_123900058

Agreed but the purpose of members of public service using cameras in public spaces is for their own safety like using a dashcam on your car. So its not the best analogy. It's quite different to the general argument on what expectations of privacy or impact to life from private businesses, should people expect or be entitled to when in their own homes.

People were always going to get worked up by this, they get worked up by a lot less like youtube ads or neighbours being loud or construction work. i don't know why the company thought there wouldnt be eventual kickback by coming in and regularly flying drones over a line of housing estates for food deliveries to one or two people on a road. Especially if alternatives already exist for food delivery.

rameire

we are nearing the 'they are eating the dogs they are eating the cats' territory.

Jacketpotato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123900517#Comment_123900517

Come to think of it. Unlikely and as out there as it seems. What happens if somebody claims injury or so where its their word vs the company? An accident with the drone or the delivery? I'd expect CCTV in a store or a dashcam on road based vehicles to contest similar.

Manna are claiming they do not store anything though in their privacy statement I posted in post 198. Surely there would be retention for a period of time for an autonomous vehicle? That seems wild not to cover your own interests….it at best points to how fuzzy the communications on all this is

Treppen

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123899205#Comment_123899205

Who knows? There's zero oversight

daymobrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123902838#Comment_123902838

There is oversight (Data Protection Commission) but they don't have a representative sitting behind the drone controller watching them and ensuring that they are following their privacy policy. I suggested it to someone else that if they think that Manna are violating the privacy policy they should report them to DPC.

The DPC generally relies on people reporting issues e.g. they needed Prime Time to tell them about the sale of location data of mobile phone users.

Similarly the Central Bank provides oversight for financial companies but some still manage to do illegal things; restaurants are regulated by the Food Safety Authority but the FSAI regularly closes establishments for violating the regulations and laws.

Jacketpotato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123897602#Comment_123897602

Great find but would hardly inspire confidence that report, if I read it correclty from flicking through.

A near miss being described as a minor issue…. Two people underneath claiming they were hit with shrapnel from a drone breaking apart mid flight from wear and tear when over a residential area in summers eve. Witness reporting that the parachute only opened last minute and dozens gathering around moments after the crash to chat with Manna on the scene about what just happened.

What exactly is considered a high risk accident if not that? The thing actually falling on somebodies head? Talk about getting lucky all things considered.