Here's some info on UAV certification and the FAA regs.

http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/new...s/08024top.xml

BRG,
Jon

Jon

That's quite a link. A few minutes on Google turned up a bunch on Access 5. It certainly puts a different spin on things. Thanks for the info.

JR

So does the FAA define what is a UAV?

I *think* that is still up in the air. I would be surprised if the FAA did not finally, in frustration, make some definitions up that fit their charter to protect persons and property from flying machines.

I understand (probably incorrectly) that the FAA asked the AMA for the definition of a model, and suspect it was an attempt by the Feds to get others to do the work for them. As Abel can attest, 'we' may have blown that deal with a poor almost definition that clearly does not work for US much less the Feds.

The unfortunate implication here is that we have to keep up with Aviation and Space leak to get educated in things that impact models. I wonder how many of the AMA EC are aware of the Access 5 effort. This article, and the other stuff available on Access 5 clearly points out what WE might have to deal with.

This whole issue highlights the external studies people on the EC must do to protect the future of modeling and the AMA. Wonder how many do that. . . .

Not quite sure what your question is. UAV is Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, i.e any aerial vehicle without a person in it.

there is or was RPV Remote Piloted Vehicle so how does one differentiate between the two

Is one delegated to a preprogramed flight plan or controlled by someone manning a transmitter. Or dos it really matter?

If your question is "how has the FAA defined classes of UAV's" , that is the subject of many ongoing efforts and has not been determined. As I read the information, Access 5's inital concern is how to get from the ground to high altitude without interference with manned craft. Then other concerns will be addressed after experience is gained.

There is site after site on this stuff and it is going to be impossible to reduce it to a few posts here. Run a Google search of "Access 5".

Hi ya'll,
AMA officials voice concern that model airplanes may come under any UAV regulations and
desire to seperate models from UAVs.
J-R is right> ALL MODEL AIRPLANES are UAVs! Unmanned aerial vechicles?
Obviously the effort should not be to seperate the model aircraft but rather to put hem into
a special category with no relation to real UAVs,

The fed agencies can make things complex, on purpose it seems. Best to stay clear of them?
So what?
]
Hal deBolt

Dave Brown had a piece in the August 2004 Model Aviation Magazine, (The AMA Mag). Basically he states that according to the FAA, the term used to be RPV and is now UAV. They are changing it to UA. Simply, “Unmanned Aircraft”. According to his write up in the Presidents perspective this is so the FAA can have jurisdiction over UA's, their certification and licensing etc as with other Aircraft. Near as I can tell the AMA wants to be distanced from ANY type of UAV activity. Even if it means just tooling around in your underpowered Telemaster via video link from the parking lot at the Field. I do understand that it is an attitude designed to prevent FAA regulation of Model planes.
Hal, You fly a bit with Dave Jones down there in Florida don't you? I have to plug here that I have enjoyed your work over the years. Hal “Pappy” DeBolt is a well known and respected name. Thank you for all your years of dedication and sharing with us.

I've talked with Dave a few times and know he's been up here in Idaho doing some UAV work. Good for him. I'm working down that same path and am find aggravations with respect to the availability of information. It's going to be defined over the next few years. It has to. The UAV's are here to stay. We just have to go to private fields and go darn near underground to keep development coming from Modelers.

Dan

I've been following this thread a bit now, and would like to toss in something. I work as an SUAV technician and flight instructor for a Tampa based defense contractor. Because of the FAA's new 60 day advance notice provision, we cannot even test fly our birds unless within an MOA. Our UAVs are not Preditors or anything like that. They are small, electric birds from Aerovironment, which typically have a mission altitude of 300 ft AGL. Despite this, we are being dumped into the same class as all other DOD UAVs. So, it's not just you private guys getting stiffled. We can't do much without driving down to Avon Park Bombing Range in central Florida. Therefore, development within our company is difficult to test as well as you guys. Matter of fact, I'm driving down to Avon Park tomorrow to test two Pointers and two Ravens we just repaired. That's a lot of time and expense we wish we could avoid by simply flying over farmland or state parklands. Part of the reason is we have to fly out to 5km for a proper range test, so we need a lot of airspace.

In any case, I understand a bit what you guys are talking about. The FAA isn't making it any easier on the professional SUAV industry either.

Erich Freymann
WinTec, In
www.arrowmaker.com