Petition to exclude 250g drones from the 5Km rule

[urbanfpv]

If you've not already seen/signed this, then here it is:

https://engage.newmode.net/nm-letter/5971/8334?fbclid=IwAR39X9FEmzdLs3vmV9_esU-oR0X0jNlFCfHU5kyAZtrgeiMnOPNOpvdG5ms

[FPVSteve]

To be honest I have a hard time supporting this - I mean, I get it ... it's just that I think we should all be exempt because I don't think the danger is any less whether you're flying a Phantom or a 250g machine. It's the very act of being there - a bird can kill a plane engine, so will a little quad.

So just stay the hell away from airfields, obey the rules as they currently are and let's concentrate on regulations we can ALL benefit from, rather than 250g flyers - I guarantee you the moment a 250g quad causes an accident in a "safe zone" all bets will be off.

You're essentially asking to fly closer to airports - why? Just stay away! Or at least ask for a shielded operation examptions (i.e. can we fly below tree tops).

[BigT]

Normally I agree with you Steve but in this case not. I live 2.5k from Luton airport and within the ATZ and helicopter let down corridor. So if I want to hover my quad in the back garden to test the latest Beataflight set up  and to stay 100% legal I now have to ring ATC at London Luton? It's a reaction to not getting all they wanted. I also note that in the USA you cannot put your reg number inside the model anymore as you might have rigged it to explode when the policeman opens it up to check the number.

[urbanfpv]

The law needs to be more sensible, perhaps to be like the New Zealand "Shielded operation" law which allows you to fly below tree line.  Even in the US they are allowed to fly in an ATZ.  They have an App where they can request permission and it will automatically grant permission to fly low level - 100ft or something.  Which is effectively the same thing as a shielded operation.

[FPVSteve]

The point I'm trying to make BigT is that asking for something that sounds dangerous "let me fly near airports!" makes no sense to me - what should be proposed is an operation that allows it while not specifically mentioning it.

So you might want to fly near the airport but not "up in the air" so as to cause problems - so you ask for shielded operations, get the permission, fly in your back garden within the ATZ  and don't put that seed of "why is he asking for THAT?" in their minds in the first place.

[BigT]

OK I agree with that Steve, shielded operation makes sense along with the ANO I can see no issues with that until of course someone flies up the high street?

[FPVSteve]

Well this is why education is much more important than legislation but as long as the government think otherwise, we're screwed because nothing will cure stupidity.