Sport_Pilot

I suspect that this is so dangerous that the FAA won't have to regulate. By the time they draw up regulations the 100% fatality rate would wipe the users off the earth!

init4fun

10 minutes and close to 90 MPH , gonna get real interesting when people riding those things start hitting buildings & trees & other terrain at 90 MPH , they will be the human equivalent of a Bug on the windshield

N410DC

Very good question. Since it's a manned aircraft, it should be regulated just like any other manned aircraft. Currently, a small "hoverboard" may theoretically fit into the Ultralight category, which requires no pilot certificate or training. Ultralights also can't fly over congested areas, and must get permission before flying in controlled airspace. So, even though the hoverboard can reportedly go to 10,000', this would not be possible in most parts of the US (without prior permission), since Class E airspace begins at a much lower altitude, in most areas.

If the hoverbaord idea really takes off (pun intended,) and similar "personal aircraft" hit the market, then the FAA may indeed have to regulate these aircraft separately.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

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One of these should keep ya busy for ten or more years. May be more fun too.

N410DC

...and you don't have to register with the FAA! (I don't think so, at least, as long as the aircraft is light enough and only has one seat.)

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

No registration for Ultralites under 255 lbs empty weight

Light Sport and every thing yes U even need a FAA license to fly anything but an ultra light. For Light sport U just don't need a 3rd class medical, Boy sure would hate to have a medical,biannual flight test ect. Many couldn't pass any of them, Pacemakers and all the Pills WOW. Be happy with a FAA Registration number for $5.

Flight Risk

My Feedback: (1)

To be flown only over water, or with a parachute? I imagine this test pilot has 100s of hours training with the water jet unit before doing this.

Sport_Pilot

Flying over water won't help you if you are at 10,000 feet. And I'm talking about the same idiots flying drones into airport airspace flying them, not test pilots.

Rob2160

They couldnt pay me enough to step on that thing. Clearly the developers haven't seen what happens to a human body in an aircraft accident.

I really question the sanity of people who beleive they need to risk their lives to enjoy it.

I had a few friends like that. They all died years ago.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Hey how PYLON racing them at your Local Airfield ... I'm sure they would come under Ultralite category well maybe except for the speed and 4 turbines OH well !

mike1974

My Feedback: (1)

The FAA couldn't regulate the current aircraft out there BEFORE this whole "drone" thing. They most certainly cannot regulate "drones" or RC. That is just funny! The gov't moves at a snails pace while technology is now moving at warpdrive pace. Technology is going to continue to outpace our current gov't and their lack of ability to regulate so much as a fly buzzing through the air without 800 committee meetings and 1500 votes 5 years later. And that's for something simple. How long have they had to come up with "drone" regulations? Years I believe. And they have completely botched it in epic proportions. Once again regulating the 99%+ of people who are not going to cause problems anyway.

Want proof our gov't will never be able to regulate RC? How about the Drug War. 40 years, 1 trillion dollars, enormous amounts of manpower and multiple agencies specifically crerated for drug regulation. Result? Drugs are easier to get, cheaper, more refined and more potent than in the previous 40 years. And thanks to big pharma almost anyone can walk into their Dr's office and get high after they pick up their script a half hour later.

How in the world is the FAA going to police all the rural areas across the country? Joe Blow who goes out to a field at any random time for a half hour to hours? Not possible. IMHO they need to quit their stupid BS regulation crap that does not pertain to over 99% of RC'ers and concentrate on the ACTUAL problem. People flying quads in congested, populated areas and near airports. That is the real problem IMO.

I personally have a 250 FPV racing quad that I rip around at low level and in safe areas. I have no interest in big heavy quads that can just fall out of the sky upon battery or other failures. I like having the glide factor. lol.

mike1974

My Feedback: (1)

I also checked out the B4UFly app. It might have some use if every freakin' grass field that someone decided to mow was not listed as a 5 mile no fly zone?!?!?!? These people need to seriously pull their heads out of their *****es, get out of the meeting room and explore the REAL world that apparently does not exist when they are having their meetings and coming up with this ridiculous crap.

init4fun

Exactly !

I had my crazy fun in my youth as well , but even then it was calculated risks , things like riding motorcycles but not driving like an idiot and I did live to tell the tales . Something like this real hoverboard seems as though the death per accident rate would be high enough for it to never become a household toy like the little skateboard based "hoverboards" they sell today (with the obviously not well managed Lipos , many fires in the news here in the US involving the hoverboards batteries) .

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

http://jalopnik.com/the-thrill-of-dr...mme-1770873852

Yup, yet another organization getting in on the "fad" of MR racing. Just a little organization called ESPN. I'm sure only a few folks will shop up to the races in New York, just like a few showed up to collect over a million dollars in prize money in Dubai.

Sport_Pilot

Move to up state NY. Between 3 = 5 mile limits here so no restriction here.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

How can that be? the Rule is 5 miles and contact with the manager and a tower if present. RIGHT?

Sport_Pilot

Between 3 airports and their 5 mile limits. That is outside of all of those 5 mile limits.

TheEdge

My Feedback: (788)

[h=1]Drone hit British Airways plane approaching Heathrow Airport[/h]
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36067591

init4fun

Yep , and it's only a matter of time till it happens here too . My local big airport (Boston's Logan Airport) has already reported a bunch of near misses and I really hope that when it does finally happen here that the aircraft is undamaged as that British one was . It musta been a small toy grade drone cause the story did say the aircraft was cleared for it's next flight but that's no bearing on how big or small the NEXT drone is to collide with a jetliner !

Thank God not one person at any of the fields I fly thinks my P51 or my F4U is a drone !

"Nice plane ! ..... Got any Drones ? .... No , I don't fly drones , just miniature copies of some of my favorite full sized airplanes ..... Oh , well , cool plane anyway"

franklin_m

What's unfortunate is that the only reason there wasn't serious damage is luck...however there will be some who say "See, I told you hitting a drone wouldn't cause any damage."

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Well...the truth is painful isn't it? Let's assume what they are claiming is 100% true, although there are absolutely no facts in evidence to prove this, just the pilot's word. There was no damage, at least none that were of concern to the airline company.

What's really unfortunate is that we both know (heck we all know), that the threads will be FILLED with people who have been waiting for this type of scenario for years now, saying "see, I told you so, I knew it would happen and now a plane has crashed/is damaged etc etc etc. We'd never hear the end of it.

If it was a "drone" and they can track the owner down he should be arrested and held accountable to the full extent of the law.

Rob2160

The fact that it happened in London and not the USA is proof FAA registration works!

Just kidding of course. Glad nobody was hurt... this time.

Sport_Pilot

Probably a bird.

TheEdge

My Feedback: (788)

What's unfortunate is that the only reason there wasn't serious damage is luck...however there will be some who say "See, I told you hitting a drone wouldn't cause any damage."

Rather a Sporty statement.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/dji-sells...042832962.html