Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog

Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog
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Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 2:03:43 AM

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I was just breezing through the President's blog on the AMA website and saw this.

quote:

FAA to Convene Aviation Rule-making Committee
by Dave Mathewson Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 11:21 AM
The acting FAA Administrator has recently authorized the creation of an Aviation Rule-making Committee (ARC) tasked with making recommendations to the FAA regarding the integrating of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS). According to the FAA, the challenge for the committee will be "to propose regulatory language that allows for the maximum safe operations supported by the current technologies, while harmonizing with current manned aviation." The results of the ARC's work will be used to help "in establishing a regulatory basis for allowing sUAS to operate in the National Airspace System for compensation or hire, and to clarify the definition of a model aircraft."

AMA has been invited to participate in this process and will be represented at the initial organization meeting to be held in Washington DC on May 27-29, 2008. The anticipated term of the committee is 20 months.

That's hitting a little close for my comfort. Now we'll have a "clarified" Federal Definition of "Model Aircraft"

Yikes!

Greg S

< Message edited by KingCrash -- 5/8/2008 2:04:39 AM >

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 2:25:16 AM

rt3232

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Like George Washington said coverment is dangerous

Bob T AMA13377

< Message edited by rt3232 -- 5/8/2008 2:31:53 AM >

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 3:59:54 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: rt3232

Like George Washington said coverment is dangerous

Bob T AMA13377

yes but a spell checker is not.

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 4:47:37 AM

HH

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That's one reason why I was Not thrilled a few years back when they flew an RC plane across the Atlantic. Once the powers that be realize what can be done with our "toys", They're gonna want to control everything.

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 10:22:01 AM

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Guys I think this may be a response to aerial photography rc planes for hire and similar. These do not fit the definition of hobby rc aircraft. You can find more info at http://members.tripod.com/wcs_bbs/reporter/index.html - Seth

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 10:25:19 AM

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The rules are already in place and have been in place for sometime. Now they are probably just going to enforce them.

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/uas/uas_faq/

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 12:32:10 PM

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quote:

yes but a spell checker is not.

I think covermant might have been a Freudian slip!

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 1:07:55 PM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Sport_Pilot

quote:

yes but a spell checker is not.

I think covermant might have been a Freudian slip!

Yes, and wonderfully so.

It may be good that AMA is stepping up to the plate on this. Earlier attempts by the AMA with the informal agendizing of AC 91-57 have resulted in confusion and ambiguity. I recall when the FAA questioned DB about 'Net reports of people flying R/C planes to 30,000' and DB reacting in a clue-challenged manner. I don't want to see regulation of R/C AP any more than the next person, but _will_ be a fact of life but the more help we have, the better. Admittedly, there is the real difference between hobbyist and commercial AP, but one mode will help the other.

Bill

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 5:40:38 PM

littlecrankshaf

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but

Questions & Answers
Operating UAS

Based on how I operate, do I need an experimental certificate for my UAS?
Yes, if you plan to fly your unmanned aircraft as a civil aircraft (defined in 14 CFR §1.1). The FAA's current policy is to issue only special airworthiness certificates to UAS's in the experimental category for the purposes of research and development, crew training, or conducting market surveys (14 CFR §21.193).

No, if you are a hobbyist and intend to fly your model aircraft in accordance with the guidance in Advisory Circular 91-57, Model Aircraft Operating Standards.

No, if you intend to operate your UA as a public aircraft for the purposes of governmental (civil or military) functions. In this case, the FAA's Air Traffic System Operations and Safety Office (ATO-R) may issue a Certificate of Authorization or Waiver (COA). Normally, the government proponent (not the UAS manufacturer) contacts FAA to initiate the COA process.

Do I need a pilot certificate to operate a UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS)?
Yes. In general, 14 CFR part 61 prescribes the requirements for issuing pilot certificates. Section 61.3 states that a person may not act as pilot in command or in any other capacity as a required pilot flight crew member of a civil aircraft of the U.S. registry, unless that person has a valid pilot certificate. Because the FAA has determined that UAS are civil aircraft in accordance with 14 CFR §1.1, these aircraft must be operated by a pilot in accordance with part 61.

Can I be paid or compensated for operating my UAS under an experimental airworthiness certificate?
No. UAS issued experimental certificates may not be used for compensation or hire. See Federal Register Notice, Unmanned Aircraft Operations in the National Airspace System (PDF) for FAA policy.

-

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 5:46:40 PM

littlecrankshaf

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It is important to know when you are ahead and winning. There are many instances of adverse rulings because of the inability to recognize when you are ahead.

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 6:17:43 PM

NorfolkSouthern

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Keep in mind that it was hobbyists who flew their planes to 30,000 feet. I remember one web site where someone was doing something similar with a scale Cub, only I think he reached somewhere around 20,000 AGL or so. He had a video link and a Ham radio license. And then there are those who endanger our hobby by flying their models in inappropriate locations. For example, the student who accidentally flew his electric Twin Jet into one of the windows of a gym in Albuquerque, NM. This caused one injury. The bomb squad was called in due to the batteries catching fire after the crash.

The commercial AP community rarely takes their equipment above 200', and they use planes that only weigh a few ounces: Slow Sticks, for example. They fly very slowly to get the best exposure with the sharpest image possible. These are professionals, they want to minimize any chance of damage and protect their expensive hardware. The better quality the image, the more food that gets put on the table. Professional photographers are the least of our worries, and you can add environmental scientists and climatologists to the list. It amazes me that the people who are most conscientious about safety are the ones the FAA seems to want to go after the most.

NorfolkSouthern

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 6:19:38 PM

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quote:

No, if you are a hobbyist and intend to fly your model aircraft in accordance with the guidance in Advisory Circular 91-57, Model Aircraft Operating Standards.

Exactly, which simply states that AC 91-57 has actual teeth to it, it's not just a guideline or voluntary mechanism. If you intend to fly above 400' the UAS policy kicks in, as per our other discussion. UAS is a relativley new mechanism, but like I said, the FAA is going to start enforcing the policies someday soon, instead of what many people beleive, are currently overlooking.

This document clearly states that AC 91-57 is policy. It's also the best referernce of where hobbyists stand in the grand scheme of things.

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/uas/reg/media/frnotice_uas.pdf

Bottom of page 5: The current FAA policy for UAS operations is that no person may operate a UAS in the National Airspace System without specific authority. For UAS operating as public aircraft the authority is the COA, for UAS operating as civil aircraft the authority is special airworthiness certificates, and for model aircraft the authority is AC 91-57.

< Message edited by STLPilot -- 5/8/2008 6:50:42 PM >

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 7:33:26 PM

littlecrankshaf

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quote:

ORIGINAL: STLPilot

This document clearly states that AC 91-57 is policy. It's also the best referernce of where hobbyists stand in the grand scheme of things.

stl
More semantics...please… give it a rest already.

Now if or when someone gets bitten then we can truly determine the score of the teeth…dang! Cite a case example sometime!!! So we can see the extent of the teeth you talk about. In this country with 300 mil people, if it was truly an issue, at least a few examples should be evident.

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 8:15:23 PM

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Interesting reading.

quote:

Earlier attempts by the AMA with the informal agendizing of AC 91-57 have resulted in confusion and ambiguity.

I'm hoping the AMA can help un-muddy the water a bit too, but I fear when they start saying things like "clarify definition of MODEL AIRCRAFT" we all may well wind up with sour persimmons!

Greg S

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 8:19:33 PM

littlecrankshaf

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KingCrash

Interesting reading.

quote:

Earlier attempts by the AMA with the informal agendizing of AC 91-57 have resulted in confusion and ambiguity.

I'm hoping the AMA can help un-muddy the water a bit too, but I fear when they start saying things like "clarify definition of MODEL AIRCRAFT" we all may well wind up with sour persimmons!

Greg S

Good point. I agree.

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Wow! Another epiphany…that is why the suckups suckup. Super sucking protection power. Yea baby.

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RE: Interesting tidbit from the President's Blog - 5/8/2008 8:28:57 PM

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Perhaps muncie will find a new place to install a comma in these new rules to spin them around too.

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