FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

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mekender
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Re: FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

Post by mekender »

JAG2955 wrote:I simply skimmed the proposed rule.

Is there a requirement for it to be powered? Or non-RC? Does this mean that a balsa-wood, rubber band powered airplane would have to be registered if it was over .55lbs? A paper airplane? Lawn dart? Didn't see anything like that on first glance. This could get stupid.

But, thanks, FAA! You just helped a new generation become anti-registration. I bet that it bleeds over to guns, too.
It appears that it has to be powered by a motor or engine...

But it does not apply to rockets which may be up to 3.3lbs before the FAA is involved...
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JAG2955
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Re: FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

Post by JAG2955 »

All I saw was that they had to be capable of "sustained flight in the atmosphere." Another poorly written definition brought to you by the government.

I do kind of feel like trolling the FAA, calling them, engaging in a long conversation about an "experimental R/C aircraft" that I wanted to register. Then email them pictures of a cinder block with two sheets of paper taped onto it like wings.
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HTRN
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Re: FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

Post by HTRN »

How long before the rc organization start suing?
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Termite
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Re: FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

Post by Termite »

JAG2955 wrote:All I saw was that they had to be capable of "sustained flight in the atmosphere." Another poorly written definition brought to you by the government.

I do kind of feel like trolling the FAA, calling them, engaging in a long conversation about an "experimental R/C aircraft" that I wanted to register. Then email them pictures of a cinder block with two sheets of paper taped onto it like wings.
You would not be the first.

Lawyer gets FAA to approve powered paper airplane

I shit you not.............. :lol: :lol: :lol:


HTRN wrote:How long before the rc organization start suing?
The fee is $5, and the number can be used on all the planes any RC pilot owns. I would hazard a guess that the fed judge would rule that it isn't an "undue burden".

I figure that a fair percentage of non-commercial operators(ordinary RC and drone) will register, the rest will not. Those that don't will treat it like I treat photo speeding tickets: simply ignore it.
Last edited by Termite on Wed Dec 16, 2015 8:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Weetabix
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Re: FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

Post by Weetabix »

Mike OTDP wrote:I'm gritting my teeth here. The FAA has made a massive mistake in issuing a rule that will see wholesale non-compliance.

On the other hand, there are perfectly legitimate concerns. The off-the-shelf hardware that can be bought is growing in performance and weight. Increasing in capability. And is getting into the hands of people who are not terribly responsible. An R/C modeler who built his own airplane tends to operate sensibly. Timmy Teenybopper who got a "dwone" for Christmas? Not so much. He'll plow the thing into someone's house or car...or worse, get something that has the performance to operate in an airfield operating pattern. I've lived the last twenty years in the pattern of a general aviation airfield, am a GA pilot, and the thought of some twit operating his toy in the national airspace scares me silly.
The Silicone Graybeard posted about it here. It sounds like there are legitimate safety concerns for small aircraft pilots. I can see two sides to this, but I'm not sure which one should triumph.
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Termite
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Re: FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

Post by Termite »

Weetabix wrote: It sounds like there are legitimate safety concerns for small aircraft pilots.
There are.
However, 250grams(.55 lbs) is a ridiculous bottom limit. One kilogram(2.2lbs) would have been a more realistic lower limit.

The problem isn't the drones, it's the people that fly them near airports.

Pawpaw lives near KESF, where I have my QC Challenger hangered. In fact, he's just outside the downwind leg for runway 32. Pattern alttitude is 1000 AGL. However, I'm pretty sure that he isn't going to let the grandkids fly their RC toy planes at 1000 ft, and probably no higher than 300 ft. Occasionally I've circled his house at 500-600ft. But that's just me dropping by to wave hello.
"Regular" planes in the pattern will be at 1000 ft, or higher. So there should be no problem with his grandkids having fun with the new toys.

The problem is guys flying big drones with video linked back to HUDs or lap tops, either in the pattern, or worse, hovering near the touchdown zone trying to take pictures of landing planes. Is hazardous, they know it is, but they will do it anyway, and new regs aren't going to stop them because there are ALREADY regs about flying drones within 5 miles of an airport, particuliarly a towered airport, and ESPECIALLY in such a manner as to constitute a hazard to other aircraft in the pattern or landing/taking off.
And those guys ARE NOT going to stop, unless busted and fined/arrested by the cops. Or better yet, a couple of GA pilots backtrack the drone to the operators, and "open a can of whip-ass" on them.
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Netpackrat
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Re: FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

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