Drones to be limited to 50m max altitude by EASA! 250g maximum for homebuilt!

[FPVSteve]

The rise of fpv has been a worry for regular modelling fraternity for a long time.

None of which was justified - it was all based on "what if's".

There concerns are turning into a reality.

No, the reality is that regulation is being thrust upon us for no reason other than a perception of danger that doesn't exist. If it did, do you really think we'd still be allowed to fly? Would we have been granted an exemption even though the CAA were aware of people flying outside of the ANO? No. There is no danger. There is almost zero probability of anything happening, certainly FAR less probable than an accident involving your car analogy.

We have just all had it good for a long time.   It's never nice having rules imposed -  but sometimes it's for the best.

And sometimes it's bureaucracy. Explain to me why I should have to register anything and identify myself? I have caused no alarm or distress, nor any danger to anyone.

This little bit of red tape as you describe it is not required. And we need to resist it.

[BigT]

Actually Rob this will effect you and all other RC pilots in the U.K. regardless of Brexit etc. as EASA have overruling powers and basically would like to ban all model flying not just FPV. The proposal by EASA on how to fund the operation of enforcement  was through license fees. So each and every model that you own will need to be registered and issued with a registration document and a fee paid, change of ownership registered, declaration of scrapping or decommissioning notified.


The only hope that we in the U.K. have is that the CAA and DOT have existing legislation in place to deal with infringements of the ANO etc., airspace rules etc etc. The CAA have already passed over responsibility for investigation and prosecution to the Police as they don't have the manpower.

Membership of one of the official "bodies" such as the LMA or GBRCAA may be seen as the minimum qualification to allow legal operation of an RC model, along with some type of qualification enabling solo flight. So we may have "country" members as we do now with the BMFA or you may have to join a club that is affiliated and registered with one of the organisations

Hopefully the proposed banning of homebuilt models will be dropped for the U.K. too. If not then owning and operating a homebuilt model will be like owning and using an unlicensed firearm.

How this will be enforced is perfectly ludicrous.

Consider the number of vehicles in the U.K. currently uninsured or the number of unlicensed drivers, motor cars are a far more lethal weapon than a model airplane.  Or the number of anglers without a rod license. The main reason the dog licence was scrapped was Joe Public stuck 2 fingers up! 

So it's not just about FPV, or drones, it even effects free flight, rocketry, control line, paragliders, thermal soarers etc

[rob.thomson]

Never doubted it would affect me.  But I am pragmatic about things.

I will simply adapt to a new form of flying.  In life you have to work with what you have.  Sometimes the 'sh%t' hits the fan and you have to adapt.

Ask yourself this.  Will these rules being brought in result in somebody dying?  Nope?  So don't stress about it.

I have seen to many people I know either killed in car crashes/alcahol and murdered through political upheaval to be concerned about rules being brought it that limit where and how I fly.

[FPVSteve]

It's not about people dying, it's about our liberties being encroached upon for no good reason. Sometimes it's worth fighting back.

Don't get me wrong, if drones were bringing down airliners on a regular basis I wouldn't be as bothered .. but they're not, so why should we be restricted as if they are? If it was going to happen, I think it'd have happened by now.

If anything I think drones are becoming less and less of a fad amongst the general public. I still say this is a small step towards protecting future commercial interests from those pesky hobbyists.

In any case - only the people you DON'T need to worry about will be the ones who register their aircraft. It's a pointless exercise for catching crims.

[pk-surfing]

I agree with Steve.

Rules are part of everyday life, that's part of living in a society, however rules should be proportionate.

By any test you want to apply these rules regarding model planes are patently disproportionate, the factual evidence to support the proposals just doesn't exist at this point in time, they can't be justified.

PK  :)

[Chilternflyer]

In any case - only the people you DON'T need to worry about will be the ones who register their aircraft. It's a pointless exercise for catching crims.

Yep. Criminals and terrorists don't operate within the law because they don't give a toss about regulation.

I've been a very long standing member of the BMFA. I serve on the committee of my local club (I'm the BMFA Technical rep).

I fly within the current rules. I find them quite workable and I encourage others to do the same.
We're lucky in this country that we have the CAA. The CAA have been proven to listen and make sensible rules that are a benefit to all parties.
EASA on the other hand, are clueless and reckless.

The aero modelling community has an excellent safety record. It is self regulating and self educating. EASA won't gain anything by outlawing us but we all stand to lose.

If EASA over regulate model flying then people won't bother with clubs, the BMFA or any other association (You become known to the authorities, too much like hard work - CBA etc).
This just drives the hobby underground. Ultimately this means that on one will fly within the rules and won't be insured either.

EASA seriously need to start listening and take advice from the experts instead of destroying the hobby otherwise the air will just become full of random aircraft bought off the internet that are flown by uneducated and uninsured idiots.
Yep - that's really safe. A big win for EASA.

We're having a bad enough time with every consumer that buys a Phantom and then posts videos of them flying over houses and roads. We already have regulations that stop them flying in congested areas. Clearly regulation isn't working but that's only because these people aren't educated.
Education is the way forward not more regulation.

OK so you catch the uneducated because you've turned their drone in to a wi-fi powered paperweight but you've killed off the associations that govern the activities and lost all of the educators.
It still doesn't stop someone flying 50m above houses people or traffic. Surely that is where the danger is?

So..
Can someone now tell me what the benefits are of EASA's new rules?
How does any of this make EU airspace any safer?

[rob.thomson]

case - only the people you DON'T need to worry about will be the ones who register their aircraft. It's a pointless exercise for catching crims.

100% agreement with that.   Completely pointless and only punishes the people who where not the problem!

[BigT]

In the first rumbles of this proposed legislation the main reason EASA gave for a blanket legislation that roped in the UK and NI was that in the whole of the EU there was no common legislation controlling UAV inc rocketry and paraglider, with a few countries with no governing body or national rules at all. It was a mishmash, for example to fly any legal FPV in Italy the pilot in command had to have a PPL. So this blanket policy was promoted.

As I have had the dubious experience of being interviewed by over enthusiastic and bolshy police during a perfectly legal line of sight flying session at a registered and totally legal flying site, it's not a pleasant experience. 

[English Turbines]

  Cant we somehow ensure its against our Human Rights to have these Draconian nonesense rules hoisted upon us......?

  It works if you are a Hate Preacher....or a criminal who wants to avoid being Deported....and we the Taxpayers have to pay for it...

    :vulture:

[FPVSteve]

We're not humans any more, we're worker bees - did you miss the memo??

[gt40driver]

"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools" Douglas Bader.

[Dillwhacker]

My dad taught me that, when I was 8, in 1965.
He also taught me "the best way to get something done, is to do it"
Yep...

[Billy_boy_2010]

Any idea when these will come into force?