The FAA changing rules for Model Aircraft

http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FAA-2014-0396-0001

In full scale aircraft, anytime a pilot receives compensation he must be a Commercial Pilot.  A private pilot may share equally between all the occupants (including himself) the cost of the flight but ONLY if he is participating in the same event (what that means is a guy says "let's go golfing at XYZ.  I'll fly us, we can split the cost).  It does NOT allow a private pilot to say to his buddies, "I'm trying to build my time.  I can't get paid, but we can split the cost:  You get there faster, and I get cheaper hours."  In the FAA's eyes, that is compensation.

As a private, Commercial, or Airline Transport Pilot, we are all under rules governing where we fly, how close to structures or persons, and under what circumstances we may be paid.

UAVs (RC, FPA, anything not attached to the pilot) have been nearly unregulated by the FAA.  That was fine when it was just a bunch of us old coots flying .35 Cub over a field on the outskirts of town.  Don't get me wrong, there were problems then:  I have seen RC sailplanes ABOVE me at 2000 feet outside the final approach fix.  But now that we have RC jets flying as fast as my King Air, anything under 35cc is considered small, and any idiot with a couple hundred bucks burning a whole in his pocket can buy non line of sight quads, we need to make some rules.

For the record, I am not a fan of regulations, but I do like having "rules of the road".

I am an AMA member and appreciate most of what they do but a bit ticked they generally ignore CL flying.

The FAA regs changing because of the newer technology is mostly going to be well discussed, argued, and ultimately new rules and restrictions imposed. I would love to argue for lesser restrictions as I don't like bureaucrats on principle. However I read about or observe idiots violating what I perceive as common sense rules. Autonomous aircraft operated by professionals are one thing and I applaud FAA for working to control the airspace they will share with private and commercial aviation.

The folks who are making grief for us hobbyist model airplane pilots are mostly not AMA members, have never read any safety rules, and believe that they are entitled to fly their FPV any where they please.

Because of this technology and the bad press (spying on citizens) many states, cities, and counties have started enacting laws or ordinances that are not well crafted and in essence restrict or prohibit any model aircraft flying in their jurisdiction. Lots of RC clubs have had to find their lawmakers and help amend or re-write the new restrictions.

In my county there is one very very large (45 acres) soccer, baseball, community events complex about 1.5 miles away from any houses. Lots of un used land that I want fly my airplanes on.  I asked permission, offered to mow the area I wanted to use, and promised to cease flying any time some team or group wanted to use the playing fields. They listened to my request and said they would let me know. The next session of the council they added a restriction of no model aircraft to the rules regulating all the parks in the county. All I can find are 4 other county residents out of 17,500 that play with rockets or aircraft, not enough to petition and have a vote on a rules change.

I am not miffed with their decision but I am extremely ticked off at the idiots out there that caused this irrational fear.

Fred:

Much of the resistance to flying in public places come from liabiliity concens.  It's
"sue happy" world out there.

Never mind one may be hurt or killed playing sports.

SuperDave

flyjsh wrote:In full scale aircraft, anytime a pilot receives compensation he must be a Commercial Pilot.  A private pilot may share equally between all the occupants (including himself) the cost of the flight but ONLY if he is participating in the same event (what that means is a guy says "let's go golfing at XYZ.  I'll fly us, we can split the cost).  It does NOT allow a private pilot to say to his buddies, "I'm trying to build my time.  I can't get paid, but we can split the cost:  You get there faster, and I get cheaper hours."  In the FAA's eyes, that is compensation.

Yeah. The interpretation that irks me is the "same event" thing:

"Hey! I'm going to a conference in L.A. next week. You're going to a conference in L.A. next week too? Let's split the gas and oil to fly down. Wait, what? Your conference is in a different hotel than mine? Nope, can't share expenses. You have to fly commercial..."

The Irked Mark

Thanks to the "Ignorant", the Gov't wants to take away my guns and now they want to take away my planes! Well they will have to pry them out of my cold dead hands before I give any of them up!! I seem to recall something called the Constitution that was supposed to protect the Civil Liberties of the American People and protect them from a tyrannous Government. Whatever happened to that?     


The "  Gov't can *Ki$$ my American %^$  " Shawn

sdjjadk wrote:Thanks to the "Ignorant", the Gov't wants to take away my guns and now they want to take away my planes! Well they will have to pry them out of my cold dead hands before I give any of them up!! I seem to recall something called the Constitution that was supposed to protect the Civil Liberties of the American People and protect them from a tyrannous Government. Whatever happened to that?     


The "  Gov't can *Ki$$ my American %^$  " Shawn

OH NO, that rant was harvested by the NSA, they will be sending jack booted IRS thugs after you soon.   

crankbndr wrote:

sdjjadk wrote:Thanks to the "Ignorant", the Gov't wants to take away my guns and now they want to take away my planes! Well they will have to pry them out of my cold dead hands before I give any of them up!! I seem to recall something called the Constitution that was supposed to protect the Civil Liberties of the American People and protect them from a tyrannous Government. Whatever happened to that?     


The "  Gov't can *Ki$$ my American %^$  " Shawn

OH NO, that rant was harvested by the NSA, they will be sending jack booted IRS thugs after you soon.   

I say "Bring It On"!!!!  In the mean time, I'll be flying my model airplanes!!!

The "I'm Ready For The Stormtroopers" Shawn