Are we all in for a Kicking - Death of Civilian UAV's?
- Thread starter Droider
- Start date
Efliernz
Pete
I have been discussing the UAS future in New Zealand with our CAA and depsite continuous nagging / requesting (over the last 2 years), they are rolling out a UAS "policy" where one certification covers all. The only line in the sand is a 25Kg over/under benchmark.
Whether I am flying LOS under 400' (within our current model aircraft / CAA rules) or a gps waypoint controlled jet-motor powered surveilence beast, the same criteria will apply.
For an existing company like me, where I have flown LOS and under 400' for the last 6 years, I am required at minimum to sit PPL (private pilot licence) exams in met and law as well as get a radio cert and radio. I need to give then my operations manual (I wrote one 6 years ago so not a big deal) and they want to monitor at least two jobs to assess my practices.
If I was starting from scratch and trying to get a UAS Cert, I would need a full PPL to start with.
Unfortunately most of the liasing between the NZ CAA and existing operators - the existing operators are flying large gps guided mapping or military surveilence type machines. They have had no thought for the little guy...
My spies tell me one of the TV news programs will (this week) be covering the NZ Police and "Drones" and a certain activity like a recent octo vs building situation in Auckland.
I am finishing off my current work bookings and retiring from commercial work. I have been there... and done ok over the last 6 years but my full-time job is busy (and I enjoy it) and the idea of sitting exams and paying to be assessed doesn't thrill me... I need a break.
Pete
Whether I am flying LOS under 400' (within our current model aircraft / CAA rules) or a gps waypoint controlled jet-motor powered surveilence beast, the same criteria will apply.
For an existing company like me, where I have flown LOS and under 400' for the last 6 years, I am required at minimum to sit PPL (private pilot licence) exams in met and law as well as get a radio cert and radio. I need to give then my operations manual (I wrote one 6 years ago so not a big deal) and they want to monitor at least two jobs to assess my practices.
If I was starting from scratch and trying to get a UAS Cert, I would need a full PPL to start with.
Unfortunately most of the liasing between the NZ CAA and existing operators - the existing operators are flying large gps guided mapping or military surveilence type machines. They have had no thought for the little guy...
My spies tell me one of the TV news programs will (this week) be covering the NZ Police and "Drones" and a certain activity like a recent octo vs building situation in Auckland.
I am finishing off my current work bookings and retiring from commercial work. I have been there... and done ok over the last 6 years but my full-time job is busy (and I enjoy it) and the idea of sitting exams and paying to be assessed doesn't thrill me... I need a break.
Pete
I think the first step in keeping civil UAV's out of trouble is to put a lower limit on the height that they can be operated around any built up area. Say 200 feet. AGL
To venture above that height the operator should be qualified to at least the Private Pilots License standard (if you want to fly amongst qualified full size pilots you should have the same training and knowledge of air law and communication etc.) and come under the control of a subdivision of the relevant Civil Aviation Authority who will allow only commercially built craft that have been approved to be used. The approval of such craft would not allow any modifications to be made from the original product. Such approvals would be an intense procedure conducted by the manufacturer. Just the way it is done with full size aircraft. Currently I don't know of any MR craft that would meet the standards of reliability needed to ensure a safety standard that would be acceptable. However that day is probably not far off. Current legislation is like the blind leading the blind.
To operate a aerial photography business you need to submit an ops. manual and have it approved. That procedure needs to be very tight and expensive.
If you had spent around 50K of your own money to obtain a full size commercial chopper license it would be pretty stupid to bust controlled airspace as it's one strike and your out and a heavy fine. That is what is needed to stop the likes of TBS from screwing it up for everyone. With the best will in the world the average hobby modeler will only cause havoc.
To venture above that height the operator should be qualified to at least the Private Pilots License standard (if you want to fly amongst qualified full size pilots you should have the same training and knowledge of air law and communication etc.) and come under the control of a subdivision of the relevant Civil Aviation Authority who will allow only commercially built craft that have been approved to be used. The approval of such craft would not allow any modifications to be made from the original product. Such approvals would be an intense procedure conducted by the manufacturer. Just the way it is done with full size aircraft. Currently I don't know of any MR craft that would meet the standards of reliability needed to ensure a safety standard that would be acceptable. However that day is probably not far off. Current legislation is like the blind leading the blind.
To operate a aerial photography business you need to submit an ops. manual and have it approved. That procedure needs to be very tight and expensive.
If you had spent around 50K of your own money to obtain a full size commercial chopper license it would be pretty stupid to bust controlled airspace as it's one strike and your out and a heavy fine. That is what is needed to stop the likes of TBS from screwing it up for everyone. With the best will in the world the average hobby modeler will only cause havoc.
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SMP
Member
If everyone has a gun there will be uncontrolled violence everywhere. If everyone has a camera we'll peek into all our neighbors windows. If every police dept has a red light camera or street level cctv, you will be dragged from your bedrooms at night. There will always be sensationalist reporting. That cannot be changed. We know that the truth is... your phone has GPS, your email can be subpoenaed, google streetview knows where you live, police depts troll facebook. Search and seizure rules already dictate what can and cannot be used. CCTV on police drones is nothing more than a change in altitude. We live in a digital age and it IS good. I don't want to give up my smartphone, my tablet, my micro pc or my Latte. This is no different.
Now, with that said, TBS (despite their products) probably hurt our cause more than anything with stunts which were quite accurately portrayed in this video and then confirmed by TBS themselves. Whether his statements were taken out or in context, flying through the Golden Gate bridge and buzzing Lady Liberty??? Really? REALLY??? Cmon TBS, you're not helping...
Every youtube video of an idiot in Australia flying his rig into a skyscraper or TBS buzzing NY, needs to be countered with a flight like the Realtor in the video above. We need to constantly advocate, over digital media ala youtube/facebook etc, that the VAST majority of us fly, not just responsibly but well under 400 feet, away from commercial airspace and we're not buzzing the proverbial tower or peeking into windows.
Now, with that said, TBS (despite their products) probably hurt our cause more than anything with stunts which were quite accurately portrayed in this video and then confirmed by TBS themselves. Whether his statements were taken out or in context, flying through the Golden Gate bridge and buzzing Lady Liberty??? Really? REALLY??? Cmon TBS, you're not helping...
Every youtube video of an idiot in Australia flying his rig into a skyscraper or TBS buzzing NY, needs to be countered with a flight like the Realtor in the video above. We need to constantly advocate, over digital media ala youtube/facebook etc, that the VAST majority of us fly, not just responsibly but well under 400 feet, away from commercial airspace and we're not buzzing the proverbial tower or peeking into windows.
Droider
Drone Enthusiast
The TBS London shoot was even more scary as they hovered in front of Big Ben and flew round the houses of parliament. The end of the vidoe showed the police with the quad in one hand the TBS mebmers in the other. I am not sure what happened to them but they deserved what they got. I have to say they have shown the authorities how exposed places like the HOP are which may be good on one hand but a real pain in the arse in the other.
Dave
Dave