Brantel
Well Known Member
In the past I have not really given much thought to the danger that improper UAV operations might create as it relates to our GA activities.
Recently I got interested in the latest drone technology and true to my normal form I set out to learn everything I can about them, the rules, etc. Recently I took the plunge and purchased a photography centered GPS enabled drone. 90% for hobby use with the occasional commercial application. I did take the steps to earn my Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (pretty easy if your already a pilot).
In the past operations of UAV's, (drones, RC aircraft, etc) was for the most part unregulated but that all changed as of the middle of 2016. There are now tons of regulations regarding their operation. There are separate rules for operating them as a hobbyist vs a commercial operator.
While the regs seem to take some pretty good steps to ensure the safety of GA activities, they are only good if people abide by them.
I will finally get to my point.... Anyone can jump onto YouTube and see hundreds if not thousands of examples where the many are either totally oblivious to the regs or just refuse to follow them. There are a couple of cases where everyone can be legal but still create the potential for an accident. This has impacted the way I enjoy my RV. I no longer have any desire to spend much time at the lower AGL levels. At the speeds RV's operate and the small size of the typical UAV, a stray drone could end up in your face before you even noticed it.
The regs say we as full size pilots should fly at least 1000' AGL over congested areas or congregations of people, 500' over other than congested areas and lower only over water or sparsely populated areas. The UAV regs state that a drone operator can't exceed 400'AGL as a hobbyist (there is at least 1 exception) and as a part 107 operator but part 107 operators may obtain a waiver to exceed this altitude. This basically makes the "over water and sparsely populated areas" a danger zone for low level operation of an RV. Tons of UAV operators love to fly in those areas and this can be seen by the mass number of shared videos on social media. Tons of full size pilots love to fly in these areas to get the thrill of low level flying. This is an area where both full size pilots and UAV operators could be following the regs but still create the potential for a collision.
Most assume that operation of a UAV is not allowed anywhere near an airport but this is not necessarily true. While all the details are complex, it is fairly easy for a hobbyist UAV operator to be legal to fly near an airport by just making a phone call to "notify" the airport operator or control tower about the operation. They do not need "permission" but if the airport operator or tower objects and the drone operator ignores them, it could be perceived as reckless operation by the FAA. Keep this in mind when you are in the pattern!
Being a drone owner myself and someone that grew up operating RC aircraft, I feel that UAV operators have just as much right to legally enjoy the airspace of our country as we do as full size GA pilots. I do my best to follow the regs and would never intentionally put any full size aircraft at risk while I enjoy my hobby. I do not look forward to the day when some rogue UAV operator causes a serious accident. Since UAV operators must always give right away to full size aircraft, the UAV operator will be at fault regardless if they were operating legally or not.
Be safe out there!
Recently I got interested in the latest drone technology and true to my normal form I set out to learn everything I can about them, the rules, etc. Recently I took the plunge and purchased a photography centered GPS enabled drone. 90% for hobby use with the occasional commercial application. I did take the steps to earn my Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate (pretty easy if your already a pilot).
In the past operations of UAV's, (drones, RC aircraft, etc) was for the most part unregulated but that all changed as of the middle of 2016. There are now tons of regulations regarding their operation. There are separate rules for operating them as a hobbyist vs a commercial operator.
While the regs seem to take some pretty good steps to ensure the safety of GA activities, they are only good if people abide by them.
I will finally get to my point.... Anyone can jump onto YouTube and see hundreds if not thousands of examples where the many are either totally oblivious to the regs or just refuse to follow them. There are a couple of cases where everyone can be legal but still create the potential for an accident. This has impacted the way I enjoy my RV. I no longer have any desire to spend much time at the lower AGL levels. At the speeds RV's operate and the small size of the typical UAV, a stray drone could end up in your face before you even noticed it.
The regs say we as full size pilots should fly at least 1000' AGL over congested areas or congregations of people, 500' over other than congested areas and lower only over water or sparsely populated areas. The UAV regs state that a drone operator can't exceed 400'AGL as a hobbyist (there is at least 1 exception) and as a part 107 operator but part 107 operators may obtain a waiver to exceed this altitude. This basically makes the "over water and sparsely populated areas" a danger zone for low level operation of an RV. Tons of UAV operators love to fly in those areas and this can be seen by the mass number of shared videos on social media. Tons of full size pilots love to fly in these areas to get the thrill of low level flying. This is an area where both full size pilots and UAV operators could be following the regs but still create the potential for a collision.
Most assume that operation of a UAV is not allowed anywhere near an airport but this is not necessarily true. While all the details are complex, it is fairly easy for a hobbyist UAV operator to be legal to fly near an airport by just making a phone call to "notify" the airport operator or control tower about the operation. They do not need "permission" but if the airport operator or tower objects and the drone operator ignores them, it could be perceived as reckless operation by the FAA. Keep this in mind when you are in the pattern!
Being a drone owner myself and someone that grew up operating RC aircraft, I feel that UAV operators have just as much right to legally enjoy the airspace of our country as we do as full size GA pilots. I do my best to follow the regs and would never intentionally put any full size aircraft at risk while I enjoy my hobby. I do not look forward to the day when some rogue UAV operator causes a serious accident. Since UAV operators must always give right away to full size aircraft, the UAV operator will be at fault regardless if they were operating legally or not.
Be safe out there!
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