FAA's drone regulations

Reply Subscribe

Page 5 of 5

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

06-13-2016, 05:57 AM

#41

PerfInit

Gets Weekends Off

Joined APC: Oct 2008

Position: JAFO- First Observer

Posts: 997

It has been determined by the FAA that a UAS is an "aircraft" and thus operating a UAS is subject to regulation. 14 CFR Part 107 is in the works. Currently there are existing rules that apply:

Public Law PL 112-95 and 14 CFR 91.13.

The offending pilot was operating under a "P.L. 112-95; Section 333 Exemption" which is commercial use of a UAS. The exemption required that he hold a Private Pilot Certificate.

06-13-2016, 06:36 AM

#42

rickair7777

Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined APC: Jan 2006

Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim

Posts: 39,297

Until and unless they totally carve out airspace to segregate UAS from manned aircraft, then UAS should be considered to be aircraft.

Formal training and a license should be required, although it would need not be the same training real pilots get. The main point being the knowledge to not endanger real airplanes (the kind with people on board), and a means for the FAA to track and hold accountable reckless behavior.

06-13-2016, 12:28 PM

#43

abelenky

Gets Weekends Off

Joined APC: Aug 2009

Position: C-172 PPL

Posts: 176

Unintended Consequences?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickair7777

I am concerned that an unintended consequence of formal training and licensing of drones would be that serious, real pilots would avoid drones. Who would want to fly a drone and in doing so, endanger their commercial license? The Commercial License is much more important and valuable, so few pilots would put their license at risk while flying small scale commercial drones.

The result would be that lots of drones would be flown by less skilled amateurs.

While I don't disagree with the idea of training and licensing for drone pilots, I think it should also be "firewalled" from traditional pilot cerificates. Enforcement action because of a drone-incident should have no bearing on your rights as a commercial pilot.

06-13-2016, 11:30 PM

#44

rickair7777

Prime Minister/Moderator

Joined APC: Jan 2006

Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim

Posts: 39,297

Quote:

Originally Posted by abelenky

Yes. They should get their own certs and training. Real pilots already avoid drones, and real pilot training doesn't automatically translate to drone ops anyway. I think the licensing would...

1) Ensure they have the knowledge/skills to stay out of trouble.
2) Enable the feds to nail unlicensed operators.

Drones are coming, but no need to just give up on controlled airspace. The drone crowd generally trivializes the rules (the ones they're even aware of), but that can be fixed systemically and the cowboys booted out of the NAS.

Or we can wait till we have a few fatal midairs. Or maybe just one big fatal midair.

I doubt the feds would go for a certificate firewall though, they like to throw the entire book at you whenever the opportunity arises.

06-16-2016, 04:30 PM

#45

bliddel

Line Holder

Joined APC: Nov 2012

Position: lapsed medical

Posts: 65

Except for drones less than 7.5 ounces (approximately) I'm all for a knowledge test for drone operators. This is similar to what ham radio operators have to do. Passing the knowledge test would be prerequisite for drone operator license, which you should need in order to purchase or fly a drone. I was sure I heard that drones over 7.5 ounces (approximately) now had to be serial numbered and registered, which should mean that the Feds should be able to nail any misbehaving drone operators.

https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=85264