JamesNoBrakes

I found a "classic RC aircraft" at my traffic pattern altitude on one of the segments a few years ago, it was absolutely a hazard. Economy of scale has made these much easier to purchase.

The regs are being carved out right now, my hope is that they protect the public adequately from things like Amazon boxes and some guy that decides to film over sporting events and crowds. In an airplane, there are moving control surfaces and a human to guide it to a safe landing or at least a landing that won't present a hazard to other people on the ground. During a loss of power to a quad-copter...it's going straight down.

PerfInit

If you have not yet checked out the FAA's UAS web site (AFS-80) it is public information on PL 112-95, Section 333 Exemptions granted to UAS operators. Notice that they do not exempt UAS operators from compliance with 14 CFR Part 91, Section 91.119(a) Minimum Safe Altitude Rules... These quad and hex copters could easily become uncontrolled falling objects and have the potential to hurt or kill someone...

cardiomd

Have you guys been getting all of the UAS NOTAMS? I've been away on several long trips recently, and they are now everywhere - very common... so many, in fact, they cease to be useful. I mean, knowing that a drone is around doesn't really change operations at controlled airfields or flying IFR. And, most drones are not registered to create the NOTAM. Or am I missing something?

Wonder if FAA plans to include the UAS with ADS-B output. We will need a "declutter" function.

flugtek

Pilots need to discourage the " long range FPV" (pilots they call themselves) that are flying at several thousand feet up to 20 miles from where they sit on the ground. They fly some fairly large 10 lb airplanes and quadcopters at high altitude so they can get longer video range and they are darn proud of themselves for it.

The guy who just bought a Phantom and doesn't know any better is one thing, but these LRFPV people know better and do it anyway.

If you would rather not die from a drone to the face at 200 mph, search LR FPV, Long range FPV flight ect on Youtube and let them know it's chicken **** to endanger other people while sitting safely on the ground.

All these people are getting is encouraging comments at the moment. A guy XJET on you tube needs to hear it too, he thinks until someone dies from it, it's perfectly fine.

cardiomd

Tell me about it. Rotorcraft would be the most vulnerable but a lot of them could easily take down a light craft (or possibly even a jet). And before people think of "giving the bad guys ideas," yeah, I'm sure they have thought of that. It is a lot more worrisome than laser pointers.

Almost all of the videos I've seen in the past are overseas, this is not legal in class echo here obviously.

iceman49

Drone comes within 200 feet of airliner near LA airport
Associated Press
Friday, March 18, 2016 | 22 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES — Officials say a drone came within about 200 feet of a commercial airliner as it approached Los Angeles International Airport.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says the pilot of the Lufthansa A380 reported that the drone had flown closely over it at about 1:30 p.m. Friday when the plane was about 5,000 feet up.

The FAA immediately notified Los Angeles police, who are looking for the drone's owner.

rickair7777

I tend to slow to 250 below about 12,000 if I can get away with it.

I got in the habit flying to coastal airports (pelicans) and high-altitude airports in water-fowl country. The high altitudes airports were more of a risk IMO because there are a lot more geese than pelicans in the world, and at some airports you can legally cruise at 300+ kts at 10K MSL but that might be only 4K or less AGL.

I'm not at all confidant that my windscreen can take a goose at 250, but I'm absolutely certain it won't take a pelican at 320.

iceman49

The FAA Doubles the Drone FlZone from 200 to 40 Feet






And aircraft pilots shouldn’t worry. Most accidents happen above 400 feet anyways.

• Lauren J. Young
• March 29, 2016

Today, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it’s doubling the sky in which drones can fly.
An extra 200 vertical feet have been added to drone fly-zones, and officials announced that the “blanket” altitude authorization for drones used by the government, industry, the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization, and some commercial companies that have exemption is now 400 feet.
“This is another milestone in our effort to change the traditional speed of government,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta in the announcement. “Expanding the authorized airspace for these operations means government and industry can carry out unmanned aircraft missions more quickly and with less red tape.”
Four hundred feet is about as high as a 30 to 40-story building, or as the FAA puts it: “If you lose sight of your unmanned aircraft, it is probably above 400 feet.”
Doubling the altitude shouldn’t interfere or raise the number of drone encounters (“close calls,” if you will) with helicopters, planes, or other larger manned aircraft, either: The FAA’s decision comes just after a report released on Friday that proved that there are actually very few accidents that happen below 400 feet. Researchers at Bard College analyzed 582 drone incidents across the United States from August 2015 to January 2016 and found that every 10 incidents happen lower than 400 feet. On top of that, the median altitude of dangerous close encounters (which only makes up a third of all incidents reported to the FAA) was about 2,000 feet.
However, the FAA says that the elevated altitude explicitly excludes model aircrafts, including those for commercial use. So it sounds like companies hoping to launch a campaign of delivery drones still have to ask the FAA for permission to fly and test drones. The FAA has already approved Amazon’s Prime Air program for testing in April 2015, capping altitudes at 400 feet and speeds at 100 mph.
Amazon’s Vice President for Global Public Policy, Paul Misener, has expressed his frustrations towards strict drone regulations, telling Yahoo Tech in January that the FFA must begin “planning for the rules that are more sophisticated, that go to the kinds of operations that Amazon Prime Air will encompass.”
Delivery men and women don’t have to worry just yet, but the lifted baseline altitude is a step forward in giving agencies and companies a little more wiggle room with their drone flying.

iceman49

Detailing Drone Dilemma I was the pilot in charge of a recent U.S.-based airline Boeing 777 Hong Kong-U.S. flight. On reaching 31,000-ft. initial cruising altitude, Hong Kong informed us of an unidentified aircraft. The controller was seeing a “primary radar image” aimed at us. (Our route was to overfly Taiwan and Japan and arc over the Pacific.) This unknown aircraft was not broadcasting a transponder signal, so the controller was unable to provide accurate altitude information; he passed along an estimate that it was in the “high 30s” with an estimated speed of 350 kt.
Luckily the weather was clear, because the aircraft was not displayed on our Traffic Collision Avoidance System. We visually sighted its single exhaust contrail ahead and determined that a collision was not imminent because of our lower altitude.
I had a clear view of a small non-swept-wing, single-jet-engine military drone. Had we been at the same altitude, our minimal lateral separation would have led to a near miss measured in tens of feet or have resulted in an outright collision.
When I queried the controller as to the drone’s country of origin, he theorized its mission was to photograph the Spratly Islands south of Hong Kong—an island group with disputed ownership claimed by many nations. Based on my visual observation and research, Taiwan likely was the origin of the drone because the Spratlys are at the end of a straight course from Taiwan, and we were on that course.
The drone’s controllers made no attempt to avoid civilian airways. I am grateful that the Hong Kong controller was so vigilant.
Strangely, my much more detailed official report on the incident has fallen on deaf ears. Whether due to political ramifications or the fact that, even if noted, there is little pilot organizations can do about it, neither my airline, the FAA nor the Air Line Pilots Association has responded to my report.
The incident demonstrated a flagrant disregard for human life and International Civil Aviation Organization rules. It is my hope that publishing this information will somehow end unacceptable military drone flight operations on or close to civilian airways—before a disaster occurs.
Name withheld by request
Location Withheld by Request

abelenky

Earlier I asked:

Now we know that the FAA can take action against a pilot for what he does with a drone.

Details Here

The FAA Revoked an Airplane Pilot?s License for Flying a Drone | Motherboard