A regulation is not a law and the FAA will get spanked down in court for overreaching again.
This is ridiculous and will not stand.
I half thought about getting a copter and a Hero 3 for some Youtube stuff. A few months back at a 5k my wife ran, there was a guy with that setup that was apparently hired to do the race on video.
I can’t believe the AMA (the model aircraft guys, not the doctor guys) will allow this to stand without lobbying congress to clarify the rules.
I don't see me applying to the king for permission to fly it.
/johnny
I know more than one commercial photographer that uses a quad to take aerial photos for profit. I guess tough luck for them, huh?
There was a photo drone hovering over the entrance to our church on Saturday evening.
I just assumed it was Jeh Johnson & Co. preparing the roundup of Christians.
FAA Interpretive Rule addressing “Special Rule for Model Aircraft” Academy of Model Aeronautics response The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has reviewed FAA’s recently released Interpretive Rule in which the agency provided its interpretation of the “Special Rule for Model Aircraft” established by Congress as part of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-95). The Academy is extremely disappointed and troubled by the approach the FAA has chosen to take in regards to this issue.
As a community-based membership association, the AMA has managed and overseen the nation’s model aircraft activity for the past 77 years and has grown to over 165,000 members in all 50 states, the U.S. territories and at military installations around the world. Over the years the Academy has developed an effective safety program that has achieved an exceptional safety record and has evolved to accommodate new technologies, new modeling disciplines, and a diverse aeromodeling community. AMA’s achievements and ability to manage the model aircraft activity in a safe and harmonious fashion was recognized by Congress in its reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration in 2012. In an effort to protect the aeromodeling community from overreaching and onerous regulation, Congress established the Special Rule for Model Aircraft which exempts this activity from regulation provided it is conducted in accordance with and within the safety programing of a community-based organization, AMA.
States AMA President Bob Brown, “The FAA interpretive rule effectively negates Congress’ intentions, and is contrary to the law. Section 336(a) of the Public Law states that, ‘the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft…’, this interpretive rule specifically addresses model aircraft, effectively establishes rules that model aircraft were not previously subject to and is in direct violation of the congressional mandate in the 2012 FAA reauthorization bill.”
The interpretive rule reflects the FAA’s disregard for and its unfamiliarity with the makeup of the modeling community. Nearly 20% of the AMA membership is 19 years old or younger and an even greater percentage is retirees over the age of 65. FAA’s intention to impose a strict regulatory approach to the operation of model aircraft in the hands of our youth and elderly members threatens to destroy a wholesome and enriching activity enjoyed by a vast cross-section of our society.
“AMA cannot support this rule.” said AMA Executive Director Dave Mathewson. “It is at best ill-conceived and at worst intentionally punitive and retaliatory. The Academy strongly requests the FAA reconsider this action. The AMA will pursue all available recourse to dissuade enactment of this rule.”
Founded in 1936, the Academy of Model Aeronautics continues to be devoted to the safe and responsible operation of model aircraft. With its nearly 2,400 clubs across the country, it serves as the nation’s collective voice for the aeromodeling community. Headquartered in Muncie IN, AMA is a membership organization representing those who fly model aircraft for recreation and educational purposes.
completely unenforceable
A couple of simple rules will make this all go away:
1) Operator / owner of a RC craft assumes full liability for any damage
2) All flying RC must include identification including Owner’s name, address, and phone number (can be on paper inside the drone)
3) limit the transmit power of the controller to X watts. This will limit the range of the craft
4) RC craft must be directly piloted at all times.
5) No craft to be operated within 2 miles of an airport
6) No craft to be operated above 65 db measured at 1 meter
Where are those people who thought my idea of privatizing the FAA like the IEEE was stupid....
I told you this would get worse, and look... Here it is.
When your Department has no legal, Constitutional right to exist... Crap like this happens. Every time.
Now we know why the FAA needs SWAT gear.
Midnight no-knock raids on model airplane hobbyists.
Surveillance Balloons, bows n arrows, camera boomerangs and Trained camera-carrying falcons and eagles are exempt under this BS crap.
Fk em! I’m going to buy a drone(quad copter) tomorrow just because of this stupid govt. overstep
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowest_safe_altitude
FAA definition
In the United States in particular, the Federal Aviation Administration calls this concept the Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA), and specifically defines it as follows in § 119 of Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR):
” Anywhere: an altitude allowing a safe emergency landing without undue hazard to person or property on the ground;
Over Congested Areas: an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal distance of less than 2,000 feet;
Over Populated Areas: an altitude of 500 feet AGL;
Over Open Water or Sparsely Populated Areas: an altitude allowing for a linear distance greater than 500 feet from any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure;”
In other words, keep your quadcopter or model airplane outside of airport control zones and below 500 feet AGL (above ground level) and IF the manned aircraft is operating legally, he will not hit you.
Positive separation - simple problem, simple solution. (Unless you are a kleptocratic bureaucrat looking for new kingdoms to annex)
I predict this rule will be as successful as the FCC requiring a radio license for CB radios in the 1970s. Their edict was universally IGNORED by the masses. Finally, the FCC just gave up and rescinded the stupid rule.