EASA & drone regulation

[electrotor]

It all seems to be coming thick and fast these days what with the FAA, then the IAA. Rest easy for a while though as EASA is still at the early stages. Anyway, it's maybe just as well to have a heads up on developments within Europe. Bear in mind however that currently EASA does not regulate all aspects of civilian aviation within the EU. Model flying for instance is still left up the the national aviation authorities.

http://easa.europa.eu/easa-and-you/civil-drones-rpas
Extract from above link :
Next steps
In 2016 and 2017, new rules will be developed, or existing ones will be amended, within the framework described in the Technical Opinion. Also, guidance material, including safet promotion, will become available. All relevant work will be made available on this part of the EASA website.

http://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/opinions/opinion-technical-nature
Again very general

http://www.easa.europa.eu/system/files/dfu/EASA%20Drone%20Safety%20Leaflet_web.pdf
ABout as detailed as it get for now. Most of us are already sticking to this anyway, well most of the time.

[FPVSteve]

Theoretical question for the members on here.

If we were put in a position like the FAA are putting US citizens under, i.e. enforced registration... would you register? Or would you try your luck and see how you got on? Or would you just hang up your wings?

[Lola]

Theoretical question for the members on here.

If we were put in a position like the FAA are putting US citizens under, i.e. enforced registration... would you register? Or would you try your luck and see how you got on? Or would you just hang up your wings?

I suppose I could register because that is not going to stop me flying low over fields where the danger is near zero.

The only reason they are doing this is so they can employ people to drive around all day looking for RC flyers. Then they will ask the bloke flying for his registration number. If he ain't got one he will end up with a hefty fine and probably some time in nick. It's a money making machine. That's it.

It's worth taking two planes when you fly, if someone turns up just put the one your flying in circle mode and wait till they've gone off!

[FPVSteve]

Don't you think that if they were going to go through the trouble of sending out "enforcement" people that they'd have the power to stop you from flying if they saw you flying illegally? Even if you were registered?

[Lola]

Well that's the whole point. If you fly illegally you get fined, if you are also not registered then you may as well pull your pants down and take it like man.

You might get pulled over because you failed to renew your tax disk in time and you get a fine. Then it turns out you haven't paid your insurance and your still on a provisional. Lol. Pull your pants down time again.

[electrotor]

I have taken the liberty of copying the links from another thread but simply because it is relevant to this one. Thanks to big a for the links.
It just shows what a sensible approach can be taken when the regulator and interested parties have a good dialogue.

ANNUAL MEETING OF CAA / MODEL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATIONS
http://www.bmfa.org/Downloads/All-Downloads?Command=Core_Download&EntryId=1568 the LMA have also reported on the meeting at http://www.largemodelassociation.com/resources/over-20kg-scheme/annual-meeting-with-the-caa-2015/

[wgt40w]

This is the best piece of writing I've yet seen on the problems surrounding Registration:-

Copied from http://fpvcentral.net/2015/12/why-drone-registration-solves-nothing/

Why drone registration solves nothing
December 22, 2015 11:50 | By fpvcentral   | 1 Comment

"Drone registration", as the FAA calls it, makes a lot of sense. That is, until you start thinking about it
beyond the usual talking points. Here's why it actually does not solve any problems whatsoever.

The talking points sound really convincing at first glance: Registration enables the authorities to
track down irresponsible operators if there's an accident, it gives them an idea how many owners
there are in a given area, it helps educate owners about the regulations, and it makes our skies safer
for everyone.

Unfortunately none of that is true, and here is why.

1) Bad guys don't register their gear.
At the end of the day, if someone wants to do something silly, they can just not register their multicopter and fly recklessly. They get the benefit of being able to vanish without a trace. Tracking someone via the purchase trail of their recovered model is impossible if they're using individual components instead of buying RTF models. Registration doesn't solve this.

2) Even registered owners may remove their ID if they're planning something stupid.
Think about it: If someone is registered, but they plan to do something illegal, they can remove the ID number from the model at any point before flight. So really, the only time you will get an ID from a copter is when someone's accidentally breaking the rules, not when they are intentionally breaking them. Registration does not help here either.

3) Registration IDs are easy to forge.
It's just a number. Evil operators may easily snap a picture of your ID number at the flying field or at a model air show, and then put that number on their own models. Registration actually creates a new problem here.

4) Forged IDs cause a reversal of the burden of proof.
Someone flew a multicopter in a city and the police recovered it with YOUR ID on it. But it's not your multicopter. How do you prove that you did not own that model to begin with? The police have their proof, it's your ID. Now suddenly you're in a position where you have to provide proof for your innocence.
Even real IDs cause a reversal of the burden of proof.
Someone steals your multicopter and does something stupid with it – it's your copter, your ID, but you didn't fly it. Have fun explaining – and proving – that to the authorities.

5) Why does the FAA need to know that you own a multicopter again?
Ok so they build a database of all RC models in the United States (and soon, Europe) – why? What do they gain from that knowledge? There is no tangible gain in safety, and did they ever justify how a potential gain justifies this? Turns out, no they did not.

6) Why does registration cost money again?
I get that they want to tie it to your person via your credit card – but why five dollars? Why not one dollar, or ten cents? Or why not use a different means of proof of identity? If the goal is to register pilots, you'd want the maximum amount of compliance. The reason is return of investment in the registration system, of course. At least registration is currently per-pilot, but it is not certain that Europe will be as smart about that aspect yet...

7) Why does registration expire again?
So you registered and paid five bucks... why do you have to register again in a few years? Because chances are the terms of registration will be even more restrictive next time around. Perhaps you'll be required to register each model, with a maximum of 10 models, then later just 5, or 2...

8) Registration doesn't make us safer.
It does the opposite: Legal, law-abiding RC modelers are now forced to pay regularly for a registration which only serves to be able to hurt them with excessive fines in case of an accident. And bad guys who want to use RC models for nefarious purposes are already ready to break the law, so why should they register?
If bad guys can just not register their models, if the ID is easy to fake, if registration only catches those who violate rules by accident or not on their own fault, if it doesn't prevent anyone from doing something bad in the first place, and if it isn't even certain the authorities fine the right person based on that easy to fake ID number... why are we doing this again?

Because it sounds good, provided you don't think about it too much.

[electrotor]

Interesting reply and emphasising the only real positive I can see so far in registration - pointing people in the direction of responsible flying.

Drone registration solves nothing if a drone pilot chooses to break the rules and fly irresponsibly. However, the FAA appears to be trying to give people the opportunity to get educated about safe and responsible flying, much like how one needs a driver's license in order to drive a car. Getting a driver's license means at some point you demonstrated to an official that you learned how to drive. Renewing it means that you continue agree to drive responsibly according to the laws of the land. On the other hand, it won't stop an unlicensed driver from getting in a car and driving safely or recklessly, but if caught, there will be consequences. True, an unlicensed drone pilot has less likelihood that he will get caught, but at least more pilots will have the opportunity to learn about safety through the registration process. Oh, and in any registration program, there are costs in administering the program–is $5 really a big deal when the a/c costs several hundred? And for the record, I, as an AMA member, am taking the AMAs advice and holding off registering until the AMA can either get the FAA to accept AMA membership as registration, or not.

As regards forging IDs, the forger doesn't even need to snap a picture. The database will be publicly available, which is already an issue.

[BigT]

So the CAA actually asked  this off the record


"The CAA did ask that any video footage on YouTube or similar of naughty things being done with any form of drone or model aircraft be sent to them for investigation, so if you see anything like that, please let us know."

You have been warned

Anyone else think it was a bad move for FPVUK not to be there?

Oh and remember the next time you stick a finger in a prop, send in your MOR to the CAA

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Gundummy]

I don't have time to cut and paste thousands of links to the CAA......

[BigT]

USA To Require Registration of Toy Planes
FAA ANOUNCES NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR HOBBY DRONE OWNERS



Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that starting February 21 2016 hobby drone owners and model aircraft operators will have to follow new rules and regulations. All owners and hobbyists will need to be registered to a database maintained by the FAA. Each drone will need to have a unique identification number displayed on each drone that weighs more than 0.5 pounds.

The owner operator is required to wear an arm band issued by the FAA. FAA spokesman Herman Gerbiles explained; "the wearing of the armband is so that the public can identify a 'droner' from a regular citizen" The FAA says the wearing of the armband is only a temporary requirement. "The need for the armband will only be till all the drone owners can be tattooed with their unique FAA issued serial number." Mr. Gerbiles explained.

The FAA concedes that these current regulations are only an initial solution while the agency works on a final solution which the agency says will entail the relocation of drone owners to special camps in order to assure the safety of the public at large. "I think they, the type that like to fly drones, will be happier if they are all concentrated into areas where they can be amongst their own types and leave normal citizens alone. The agency is currently looking at Kansas and Wyoming as potential camp locations."  The camps will have jaunting fun names such 'CAMP FREEDOM' and 'STALAG FPV'.
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?p=33476672


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[wgt40w]

Oh no!

I'm allergic to needles !!

   :laugh:

[Lola]

Why the hell do you need an armband when you've got a f$&@!?g TX in your hands and goggles on your head?

If anybody personally knows the pillock that came up with that, please punch him in the face as hard as you possibly can!

[Gundummy]

Lola... read it again lol

Put tongue in cheek  ;)

[Lola]

Lola... read it again lol

Put tongue in cheek  ;)

...still punch him. Lol