Drones & Model Aircraft in the USA.

[BRIAN RAWCLIFFE]

This morning I was watching the early morning Fox news USA, and on the moving information band at the bottom this message came up.
From the 31st of December all drones and [ model aircraft ] from 0.55 to 55lbs will have to be registered at a cost of $5 per unit, and will be issued with stickers to be attached to each airframe.
Flying any of the above without the sticker could lead to a fine of up to $27,000. Also if causing damage, which could be classed as a criminal offence with a jail term of up to a maximum of five years, as well as the fine...This is because of several near misses with full size aircraft...Has any one else seen it...PS. A Merry Christmas to all LMA members. Brian..

[Alan Cantwell 1131]

Been an oncomng debate on forums Brian, could it happen hete? Hope not, depends on errant drone flyers, rather than aircraft flyers

[Rob Buckley]

For the foreseeable future, it's not happening here, the CAA have no appetite for anything as daft.

[Bob Thompson1894]

Well, its getting closer..... https://www.iaa.ie/Remote-Piloted-Aircraft-Systems

[Dave Collis 2296]

In the US, you only have to register yourself. You do not have to register each aircraft/drone you own. You are issued with, presumably, a number which you affix to each of your models.

This is turning into a very large can of worms, as only the modelers that fly legally and with a modicum of common sense, will register. The idiots that helped bring all this about will go about their business blissfully unaware that flying around full scale aircraft and over forest fires is not a normal thing to do.

I go to a few events in the US, large model meet in Florida, aerotows in Washington State, but as a foreigner, I cannot register in the US, so will I be flying illegally?????no one knows for sure...yet.

Cheers,
Dave.

[Dave Hayfield]

Nasty incident reported on the news a few days ago where a child lost the sight in one eye due to being struck by a small quadcoptor. The people who fly these toys have no idea of rules and regulations to do with flying models and will continue in complete ignorance. Hopefully the repercussions will not impede responsible and legal model flyers in the pursuit of the hobby.

[Bob Thompson1894]

Nasty incident reported on the news a few days ago where a child lost the sight in one eye due to being struck by a small quadcoptor. The people who fly these toys have no idea of rules and regulations to do with flying models and will continue in complete ignorance. Hopefully the repercussions will not impede responsible and legal model flyers in the pursuit of the hobby.

Although that incident is dreadful ( a racing drone in the hands of an idiot flying in a back garden, no guards on the blades) it will not make any difference. The increasing incidence of near misses (some of them not drones, and some just frivolous claims, like the guy who was flying under 400' in a light aircraft and took a picture on his mobile phone (safe, eh?) of a model under him - on a well known model site! These are the things that will increase the pressure to legislate.

[Nigel Cox]

There was a report on a Multirotor forum of a well known high street gadget/electronics store flying a quad in the store, until a responsible quad flyer pointed out the dangers to the manager and pointed him to the CAA dronesafe leaflet they had in store !!

The thing with this USA/FAA ruling it's just daft, you need to be registered to fly anything from 0.5lbs upwards, yet in some states you can walk into a shop, buy a M16 assault rifle and limitless ammunition and that doesn't need to be registered ! Now which is more likely to cause damage if in the wrong hands ??

[Bob Thompson1894]

Well, thats America for you...however, the FAA is only concerned with the same things as the CAA, its unlikely an assault rifle could bring down an airliner, but a quad into an engine on takeoff certainly could.