Originally Posted by
Thomas B
Flying any type of RC model, FPV or not FPV, close enough to a neighbors house for them to see if it has a camera or not could get your club shut down. Not really a valid argument against FPV
Spotters cover the limited field of view issue. If you want to fly FPV in an AMA club environment, you are going to need qualifed spotters as the AMA prescribes. Seems reasonable to me at this stage of development. Again, not a valid argument against allowing FPV ops at an AMA club field.
Simply a matter of selecting a suitable pre programmed RTB spot to use that does not park the model in the way of normal RC activity. Perhaps outside the pattern bring flown. I have yet to see an RC field where the occasional excursion across the flight pattern does not occur and a rare LOS on a model with autonomous RTB capability is not going to cause any more of an issue than we already have with human error or exuberance at the RC fiield....
No need to invent problems that are actually less of a problem than situations we already peacefully co-exist with in the RC hobby.
I agree with your first sentence but Since the FPV flights were the only ones that flew to close to the houses, My club voted to not allow it at this time. It may work just fine at some clubs depending on the layout and the safety committee rules.
None of the one liners in the post are enough to make a decision one way or the other on FPV ops. BTW, my statements are from actual events not what I think might happen if FPV ops are allowed at our field.
I don't disagree with the requirement but it is not the club's responsibility to provide the spotters. If the FPV pilot is flying something the spotter is competent at flying the FPV flight will be much like training on a bubby box. If the FPV pilot is flying something that is not usually flown at the club it would up to them to ensure the spotter is capable of fulfilling their duties. In our case, the FPV pilot felt he was to experienced to need a spotter and that $100 a year was to much to pay to have to fly in the pattern. (Which I understand, as I would want to be able to fly my FPV out of LOS if I had one)
My reference to the RTB capability was a complement to the multi-copters not a reason for disallowing FPV. If the multi-copter pilot announced dead stick, for lack of a better term, it would be a benefit to all on the flight line to know that it would return to it's take off point and other pilot's should stay clear until it has arrived.
I don't believe I have invented any problems, only described the problems I've witnessed. We have a leased flying site with 50 active members but only one prospect that was seeking to fly FPV, It's not likely that the club was going to change a whole lot for one possible member. If in the future our members obtain enough equipment and people to try it again all it takes is a motion and vote to give it a shot.
We lost a flying site in our area recently because of noise complaints from a newly built sub-division.
My perspective on FPV is that it may work better at flying sites that are on public land away from homes and private property. I hope FPV takes off and eventually the cost comes down so that more can afford to do it with whatever they like to fly but at this point risk versus reward has to be a factor. Same reason we have to get special permission if we want turbines at our fly-in events.