Comment from Corey Spaulding
Corey SpauldingSupportBusiness
Summary: Corey Spaulding, a freight train conductor at CSX transportation, supports the proposed restriction on drone operations near fixed site facilities. He argues that drones flown by management are a safety distraction and a hazard to workers, the public, and nearby aviation operations.
My name is Corey Spaulding I'm an employee of CSX transportation out of Selkirk, NY. I've been a freight train conductor for 3 years now and have been terrorrised by countless Managers of Train Operations flying drones all around the terminals we operate our of wether it's my home terminal in Selkirk NY which is right next to a private Airport that literally has planes landing nearby hourly. Or in my away from home Terminal located in North Bergen NJ or in Port Newark NJ which both locations are located near massive airports as well. These drones should not be flown as tools by management they are distractions from me performing my job safely daily by moving a multi thousand ton train with varying levels of hazardous materials in densely populated areas. Please remove the ability of managers to fly these drones without extreme merit in case of emergencies only. Performing an operational TEST is not an emergency. It is a distraction of my duty to work safely and a hinderance to properly adhering to those safety regulations. These drones should not be flown near airports and over densely populated areas in general because of the threat to a highly populated air space and interference with frequencies used by those air ports. They fly them like toys and crash them often they are unpredictable and not to be used nearby a detrimental movement of a train. They could injure me, a member of the public, or themselves by using them. Please stop them from doing so. It is imperative to the safety of others.