Attention, Hobby Flyers: Come Monday Some Of You May Need An FAA Drone Pilot Certificate. Yes, Really.
Sorry this is in the wrong section of the forum
Sorry this is in the wrong section of the forum
Is this for real? Hobbyist will need 107 and TSA vetting?
- Thread starter Brian Mackey
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That article is a joke and very alarmist. The FAA is very clear with regards to Part 107. Hobbyists don't need to get their 107 license if they're not flying commercially.
Exactly, scare tactics by a fool, not you Brian, the author of the BS article!
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I guess Forbes as fallen down like the rest of the media thanks every one!Typical Forbes BS. Basically, if you don't receive or try to receive compensation for doing something with your drone, you are not commercial.
Furthurmore, the FAA has neither the ability, manpower, etc., or the intention of policing the thousands of drones being sold that are over a half-pound. AFTER a crash or problem that involves local law enforcement, the FAA might get involved. My opinion.
They are looking in your backyard now! The eyes of Uncle Sam are everywhere!
Yup I found one in my Trackimo this morning, sneaky little bastards
It's a Ho tracker Ray! You know , put it on your sUAS and if gets lost you can find it in a Ho House! LOL !
hahaahhahaaIt's a Ho tracker Ray! You know , put it on your sUAS and if gets lost you can find it in a Ho House! LOL !
PatR
Premium Pilot
Here's where they might be able to nail hobby flyers. The following is excerpted from FAA AC107-2, Chapter 4;
4.2.3 Model Aircraft. A UA that is:
• Capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere;
• Flown within VLOS of the person operating the aircraft; and
• Flown for hobby or recreational purposes.
The only place the FAA is allowing the use of FPV is during commercial operations where a visual observer is utilized. In 107 a visual observer is noted as being a flight crew member, as referenced from another 107-2 excerpt below;
4.2.9 Visual Observer (VO). A person acting as a flight crew member who assists the small UA remote PIC and the person manipulating the controls to see and avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the ground.
The FAA follows supports the above with the following;
5.18 Careless or Reckless Operation. As with manned aircraft, remote PICs are prohibited from engaging in a careless or reckless operation. We also note that because sUAS have additional operating considerations that are not present in manned aircraft operations, there may be additional activity that would be careless or reckless if conducted using an sUAS. For example, failure to consider weather conditions near structures, trees, or rolling terrain when operating in a densely populated area could be determined as careless or reckless operation.
5.19 Certificate of Waiver. Part 107 includes the option to apply for a Certificate of Waiver (CoW). This CoW will allow an sUAS operation to deviate from certain provisions of part 107 if the Administrator finds that the proposed operation can be safely conducted under the terms of that CoW. A list of the waivable sections of part 107 can be found in § 107.205 and are listed below:
• Section 107.25, Operation from a moving vehicle or aircraft. However, no waiver of this provision will be issued to allow the carriage of property of another by aircraft for compensation or hire.
• Section 107.29, Daylight operation.
• Section 107.31, Visual line of sight aircraft operation. However, no waiver of this provision will be issued to allow the carriage of property of another by aircraft for compensation or hire.
• Section 107.33, Visual observer.
• Section 107.35, Operation of multiple small unmanned aircraft systems.
• Section 107.37(a), Yielding the right of way.
• Section 107.39, Operation over people.
• Section 107.41, Operation in certain airspace.
• Section 107.51, Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft.
To take advantage of the preceding requires the sUAS operator to be Part 107 certified.
From where I sit it looks like the FAA has sounded the death knell for FPV flying at the hobby/amateur level. The only hope FPV has will come from the AMA, who, realistically, has been proactive mostly with the more traditional side of RC functions with not much attention provided to the multirotor crowd. This is a shame since a large boost in AMA membership came from multirotor operators when model registration was going down.
4.2.3 Model Aircraft. A UA that is:
• Capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere;
• Flown within VLOS of the person operating the aircraft; and
• Flown for hobby or recreational purposes.
The only place the FAA is allowing the use of FPV is during commercial operations where a visual observer is utilized. In 107 a visual observer is noted as being a flight crew member, as referenced from another 107-2 excerpt below;
4.2.9 Visual Observer (VO). A person acting as a flight crew member who assists the small UA remote PIC and the person manipulating the controls to see and avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the ground.
The FAA follows supports the above with the following;
5.18 Careless or Reckless Operation. As with manned aircraft, remote PICs are prohibited from engaging in a careless or reckless operation. We also note that because sUAS have additional operating considerations that are not present in manned aircraft operations, there may be additional activity that would be careless or reckless if conducted using an sUAS. For example, failure to consider weather conditions near structures, trees, or rolling terrain when operating in a densely populated area could be determined as careless or reckless operation.
5.19 Certificate of Waiver. Part 107 includes the option to apply for a Certificate of Waiver (CoW). This CoW will allow an sUAS operation to deviate from certain provisions of part 107 if the Administrator finds that the proposed operation can be safely conducted under the terms of that CoW. A list of the waivable sections of part 107 can be found in § 107.205 and are listed below:
• Section 107.25, Operation from a moving vehicle or aircraft. However, no waiver of this provision will be issued to allow the carriage of property of another by aircraft for compensation or hire.
• Section 107.29, Daylight operation.
• Section 107.31, Visual line of sight aircraft operation. However, no waiver of this provision will be issued to allow the carriage of property of another by aircraft for compensation or hire.
• Section 107.33, Visual observer.
• Section 107.35, Operation of multiple small unmanned aircraft systems.
• Section 107.37(a), Yielding the right of way.
• Section 107.39, Operation over people.
• Section 107.41, Operation in certain airspace.
• Section 107.51, Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft.
To take advantage of the preceding requires the sUAS operator to be Part 107 certified.
From where I sit it looks like the FAA has sounded the death knell for FPV flying at the hobby/amateur level. The only hope FPV has will come from the AMA, who, realistically, has been proactive mostly with the more traditional side of RC functions with not much attention provided to the multirotor crowd. This is a shame since a large boost in AMA membership came from multirotor operators when model registration was going down.
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PatR
Premium Pilot
There is another side to all this. The Forbes article was written using commercial ops and the 107 rules as what might be considered the new "Bible" of sUAS ops. Amateur operators do not operate under Part 107 regulations aside from the blanket careless and reckless operation rule. They have the latitude of following the rules and guidelines of a community based organization. We need the full text of Part 107 to really iron this out.
You're right PatR. It does appear that even hobbyists won't be able to operate if not under LOS. Here is an excerpt from an interpretation letter I found on the FAA site:
"Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft
Although the FAA believes the statutory definition of a model aircraft is clear, the FAA provides the following explanation of the meanings of “visual line of sight” and “hobby or recreational purpose,” terms used in the definition of model aircraft, because the FAA has received a number of questions in this area.
By definition, a model aircraft must be “flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft.” P.L. 112-95, section 336(c)(2).1 Based on the plain language of the statute, the FAA interprets this requirement to mean that: (1) the aircraft must be visible at all times to the operator; (2) that the operator must use his or her own natural vision (which includes vision corrected by standard eyeglasses or contact lenses) to observe the aircraft; and (3) people other than the operator may not be used in lieu of the operator for maintaining visual line of sight. Under the criteria above, visual line of sight would mean that the operator has an unobstructed view of the model aircraft. To ensure that the operator has the best view of the aircraft, the statutory requirement would preclude the use of vision-enhancing devices, such as binoculars, night vision goggles, powered vision magnifying devices, and goggles designed to provide a “first-person view” from the model.2 Such devices would limit the operator’s field of view thereby
reducing his or her ability to see-and-avoid other aircraft in the area. Additionally, some of these devices could dramatically increase the distance at which an operator could see the aircraft, rendering the statutory visual-line-of-sight requirements meaningless. Finally, based on the plain language of the statute, which says that aircraft must be “flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft,” an operator could not rely on another person to satisfy the visual line of sight requirement. See id. (emphasis added). While the statute would not preclude using an observer to augment the safety of the operation, the operator must be able to view the aircraft at all times."
"Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft
Although the FAA believes the statutory definition of a model aircraft is clear, the FAA provides the following explanation of the meanings of “visual line of sight” and “hobby or recreational purpose,” terms used in the definition of model aircraft, because the FAA has received a number of questions in this area.
By definition, a model aircraft must be “flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft.” P.L. 112-95, section 336(c)(2).1 Based on the plain language of the statute, the FAA interprets this requirement to mean that: (1) the aircraft must be visible at all times to the operator; (2) that the operator must use his or her own natural vision (which includes vision corrected by standard eyeglasses or contact lenses) to observe the aircraft; and (3) people other than the operator may not be used in lieu of the operator for maintaining visual line of sight. Under the criteria above, visual line of sight would mean that the operator has an unobstructed view of the model aircraft. To ensure that the operator has the best view of the aircraft, the statutory requirement would preclude the use of vision-enhancing devices, such as binoculars, night vision goggles, powered vision magnifying devices, and goggles designed to provide a “first-person view” from the model.2 Such devices would limit the operator’s field of view thereby
reducing his or her ability to see-and-avoid other aircraft in the area. Additionally, some of these devices could dramatically increase the distance at which an operator could see the aircraft, rendering the statutory visual-line-of-sight requirements meaningless. Finally, based on the plain language of the statute, which says that aircraft must be “flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft,” an operator could not rely on another person to satisfy the visual line of sight requirement. See id. (emphasis added). While the statute would not preclude using an observer to augment the safety of the operation, the operator must be able to view the aircraft at all times."
Even with the Remote Pilot Certificate, the remote PIC or his crewmembers, must maintain VLOS, unaided vision of the craft. The rules are basically the same, whether hobby or commercial. FPV cams cannot sub for the VLOS requirement.
Don't you all know this will prevent terrorists from using FPV? Come on folks, let's have some common sense here.
sarc/off
sarc/off
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