Went flying today and found out that some of the guys got kicked off of Lake Mead with there float planes. Seems UAVs are not allowed??
Irony: We are still allowed to fly from the lake mead RC site, it's all of a 1/4 mile from the water???
I have thought of the Piper Cub as a lot of things but a UAV??

I'm not surprised... we have a fairly large reservoir not too far from where we live... boating, swimming, fishing, and all is allowed, but break out an RC boat, or aircraft, and the ranger will be before you before you know it... all RC must take place in approved areas.

I believe anything that is remotely controlled could be considered a UAV... back in my early days as a kid, large RC planes were used to bring pot across the boarder between California and Mexico.. now the technology has advanced considerably, with all the HD onboard video cameras, there's bound to be restrictions; invasion of privacy, etc.



John M,

Gene,
Is that a state park or national park? Our federal government made all national parks off limits to RC "EXCEPT" at approved flying sites. Meaning established clubs where AMA rules and membership are inforced. My description is short and sweet and may be a little bit off in how it is worded. But, that is the jist of the rule/law. Its out there on the internet somewhere.

Seems there were some self centered folks flying quads with cameras over places like Mount Rushmore, Old Faithfull, Grand Canyon, ect ect. So the rest of us have to pay for their lack of judgment.

Lake Mead is a National park and under federal rules, I think?? I thought I took you over there one day to see the big asphalt slab they put in as a RC site? It just came as a surprise to us because the club has been using an almost unknown launch site for years for float planes. It's a perfect cove and sheltered from the wind. Last year the FAA was having a lot of talks with the AMA about UAVs but it read like a typical Gov. document and no one could understand it. Some of it was posted here on RCU. This effects not only planes but even RC items like sail boats and power boats. I just got the plans for an old Hydroplane that is now a two channel electric and this puts a big damper on even that.
On the bright side lake Las Vegas allows RC gear to be operated from there water but from what I have found out it has to be electric?? That leaves my swoose out as a water plane except for the rare times I would go with Smitty to his private lake in Calico Calif. That is what I built it for anyway.
I had no idea the feds have now classed all RC items as UAV.
Lake Mead has always been our go to site and it's now closed to us. The lake bed is also within the no fly zone, when Dumbo comes to town all flying of any type is closed within a 35 mile circle of Vegas, even private planes. Our club web site sends out a notice whenever butthead decides to visit so we are all notified in advance. Gets real quiet around the house when he visits though so that is kind of a positive I guess.
This just came as a surprise to us and I was just informed yesterday.