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

[electrotor]

Another snippet from Brussels, but it lacks any clarity in how it might ultimately affect model flyers. Bear in mind that this is from the European Parliament, whilst EASA is an agency of the European Union and is headquartered in Cologne.
To directly quote the EASA website :
EASA is an Agency of the European Union. As a Community Agency, EASA is a body governed by European public law; it is distinct from the Community Institutions (Council, Parliament, Commission, etc.) and has its own legal personality. EASA was set up by a Council and Parliament regulation (Regulation (EC) 1592/2002 repealed by Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 and amended by Regulation (EC) 1108/2009) and was given specific regulatory and executive tasks in the field of civil aviation safety and environmental protection.
The Agency has been designed in order to ensure a degree of separation between the political process (the role played by the European Commission, Council and Parliament in drafting and enacting legislation relating to aviation safety) on the one hand, and the design and implementation of the technical measures necessary for safety, on the other. This explains why the Executive Director is granted independence in decision-making relating to the safety issues under the Agency's responsibility. This, however, is without prejudice to the chain of accountability to which the Agency and its Executive Director are subject.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/20161107IPR50386/aviation-safety-transport-meps-back-draft-eu-rules-on-drones-and-emerging-risks

[FPVSteve]

"The Commission should also set out conditions and procedures for mandatory registration, marking and identification of unmanned aircraft, say MEPs. All certified drones, plus those that are not certified and have a maximum take-off weight above 250 grammes, should be registered", they add."

I wonder how much that'll cost - you know it's going to happen when they have a little note at the bottom:

"Civil drone technology could account for an estimated 10% of the EU aviation market within the next 10 years, according to (i.e. about €15 billion per year). According to the European Commission, the drone industry could create some 150,000 jobs in the EU by 2050."

KA-CHING!! \0/

[ORCA]

Copied from the BARCS forum:
Press release from the EU Parliament Transport and Tourism committee -
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=IM-PRESS&reference=20161107IPR50386&language=EN&format=XML
"Plans to update EU civil aviation safety rules to address emerging risks were amended and approved by Transport and Tourism Committee MEPs on Thursday. The updated EU regulation will also introduce the EU-level requirements for drones, to ensure safety and privacy."
Looks to me that they are going to sneak it in by the back door. Although, at the moment EASA only have authority down to 150kg, under 150kg its devolved to national competence. EASA are pushing to gain the authority over less than 150kg aircraft and it is up for review shortly. Going by past EU parliament decisions it will probably go through on the 'nod'. I'm a pessimist!

[BigT]

Task Force Report
https://www.easa.europa.eu/document-library/general-publications/study-and-recommendations-regarding-unmanned-aircraft-system

[Loopdreams]

No mention at all of how they would differentiate between drones and model aircraft.

[BlueFlyer]

It's because they're too lazy.

It's much easier for them to apply these stupid rules to EVERYTHING than it would be for them to have to legally define the very thing they're regulating

[KillerDave]

When you say "everything" it really is EVERYTHING!
It's a massive jump from 150Kg to 250g! :o
None of these reg's are going to stop the average Joe flying without giving a toss about any rules or safety.... >:(

[BigT]

So despite many emails and letters of complaint " some quite rude" the heavy Jackboot of EASA marches on. Looks like compulsory registration is on the way.
https://bmfa.org/News/News-Page/ArticleID/2424/Update-on-EASA-Prototype-Rules

[Andy Sayle]

This bit cracked me up:

EASA reported that a 'significant' number of responses had been submitted by the model flying community and that 'not all of them were polite'.

Andy.

[FPVSteve]

Roll on Brexit...

[CurryKitten]

As suspected, it looks like the model flying associations bent over backwards to agree to the "let people fly at our clubs as they've done before - but criminalize everyone else" idea.

[rob.thomson]

No point getting upset about all of this.

It was inevitable.

I suspect it will simply be mandatory to have your 'number'  on your airframe.   

No issue to me.   I fly by the rules anyway.    I also have now got a number of sub 250g frames and to be honest..    They fly great.    Not as fast as a 250.. But more than find for acro in the woods.

The only problem I have with this is that it will only punish the people who already follow the rules.   Those guys who flaunt them already..  Well they will just not bother to put a number on their airframe!

[BlueFlyer]

I don't follow the existing rules, but I've never killed a baby and my flying habits are such that the probability of me causing any harm to a person or property is minute

[FPVSteve]

No point getting upset about all of this.

It was inevitable.

I suspect it will simply be mandatory to have your 'number'  on your airframe.   

No issue to me.   I fly by the rules anyway.    I also have now got a number of sub 250g frames and to be honest..    They fly great.    Not as fast as a 250.. But more than find for acro in the woods.

The only problem I have with this is that it will only punish the people who already follow the rules.   Those guys who flaunt them already..  Well they will just not bother to put a number on their airframe!

News just in: man unaffected by changes doesn't care about them.

Would you care about them if you had a 200g drone and the legislation was sub 200g?

If so then why even comment because it's exactly how other people are being affected. I don't give a crap about your personal situation, it's about all modellers being :censored: over under the guise of safety when there are no actual safety issues, any incidents have been handled using existing legislation and noone seems to care that their individual liberties are being stripped away one by one.

At what point do you turn around and say "you know what mate,  :censored:  off and leave me alone to fly my toys - I'm not endangering anyone, I know the rules and I don't need the nanny state to help me use common sense".

[rob.thomson]

News just in: man unaffected by changes doesn't care about them.

Would you care about them if you had a 200g drone and the legislation was sub 200g?

If so then why even comment because it's exactly how other people are being affected. I don't give a crap about your personal situation, it's about all modellers being :censored: over under the guise of safety when there are no actual safety issues, any incidents have been handled using existing legislation and noone seems to care that their individual liberties are being stripped away one by one.

At what point do you turn around and say "you know what mate,  :censored:  off and leave me alone to fly my toys - I'm not endangering anyone, I know the rules and I don't need the nanny state to help me use common sense".

I have around 30 RC models.     Most are around 3 meter wing span and well over 2kg in weight.   So..      Yes.  I am affected.

But let's be honest here.   This outcome was predicted by many a long time ago.   It was inevitable.   

The rise of fpv has been a worry for regular modelling fraternity for a long time.    There concerns are turning into a reality.

But hey..  It won't stop me flying.   I don't have an issue with registering or flying in the rules.    Just means there will be a little red tape.

That's life.   Getting a driving licence never stopped me driving.   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.