So my guess as to why we are not allowed to fly drones commercially is because like everything else we would try to do as "Free American Citizens" that is highly regulated, we stand to make $$$ and that threatens the powers that be.
Simple solution, if someone causes damage or disrupts any sort of business, military, federal or state function...they are responsible for said damage/disruption. Fine them THEN, not when they are trying to make a life for themselves or feed their families. When threatened with fines and jail time, good people usually stay away from actions that end in those results.
The options for us as entrepreneurs and explorers are dwindling by the day and here is this new and exciting technology that is about to be taken away from us before we even understand it. Where does it stop from here? Flying cars, teleporting devices, new toasters and microwaves will all be owned and regulated only by the wealthy policy makers. We are talking about the same government that is making it illegal to feed the homeless in cities and taking the religious values that built this country out of everyday life. I am not preaching here..but if you did not notice, this country was built on the concept of being free. Free from religion, banks, monarchies, tyrants, corporations pretty much FREE! Not hard to understand...
Do not stifle the rest of our hopes and dreams and hobbies and FREEDOMS because it threatens the system. I think we can all agree the system is flawed right now anyway. Please do not tell me that is because we have too many freedoms. Go to Russia or Cuba or somewhere away from my beautiful country so we can get back to what made us the USA.
What the FAA and federal government are doing here is flat out wrong. Along with multiple other instances going on in the world right now that are just plain wrong. For the sake of argument I am trying to stay on topic and just express my feelings that I should be allowed to try and create a new business for myself devoid of an oppressive government or federal agency.
I am causing harm or damage by taking a video of my house that a want to sell...give me a break.
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Operating illegally is another choice. It's certainly not a good choice for any serious business, and it's definitely not recommended. But it is a choice.
So now we've identified 3 choices:
1) Get an FAA exemption and operate commercially, legally.
2) Just complain. Don't operate commercially.
3) Operate commercially, illegally (i.e., without getting an FAA exemption).
Which choice would you advise to someone serious about operating a business?
Interesting example. I suspect that business owners that are flying a small UAV within LOS and less than 400' AGL are not violating 14 CFR part 91. Even flying a manned aircraft in furtherance of a business where flying is not the main endeavor does not require a commercial certificate. Where any pilot, UAV or manned aircraft needs the certificate is to be compensated for flying. Part 91, and part 119 of title 14 CFR list specific activities that are not considered commercial operations, aerial photography, surveys, game management, etc are examples. A real estate agent using a UAV to photograph a property for advertising is probably OK, where a person he might hire to do the same thing for him would need the certificate and exemptions. This is the same situation as a small company that buys a small plane so the people can save travel time. The principles can fly themselves to a meeting with private pilot certificates, but if they hire a pilot to fly them he must be commercially rated.
my 2 cents on that one. (a 40 year commercial pilot and CFII)
Business owners such as you refer to should already be used to abiding by all kinds of regs that affect their businesses already, so this should not be anything new.
In fact, most unboxing videos I've seen, show that drone manufacturers include some kind of warning about checking into applicable laws governing the operation of this equipment.
To say that "Most businesses know nothing of the regulations" is no justification for anyone to assume that regulations do not exist.
I am causing harm or damage by taking a video of my house that a want to sell...give me a break.I am causing harm or damage by taking a video of my house that a want to sell...give me a break.
Recreational and hobby use of drones is free.
Commercial use of drones is regulated by law since you can make real money
and stakeholders try to clos market to not let third parties to join in.
Be thankful you don't live in my area. I have been happily flying for years when suddenly I can be arrested for flying in my back yard of my 1 acre lot. I live just outside of the Washington DC area in the suburbs. I am about 8.5 miles from the center of the new "no fly" circle imposed by the FAA. The center of the circle is not the White House or even the Capitol, it is Washington DC's Reagan National Airport's control tower.
Ask yourself, why is it an airport center? The intent is to protect our countries most valuable and important real estate. But why is the center at the airport? Why not the Capitol?
I would NEVER fly my UAV anywhere near anything important to our government or secured in any way. I am simply a hobbiest who wants to fly. I now have to drive several miles to find a safe place away from home. I will do it because the law requires it, I am a responsible citizen and I have never violated anyone's privacy or damaged any property and I will not do so.
The move to make the airport tower the center I believe is a move that the FAA will release soon where they will close down the airspace anywhere within 10 miles of ANY class "C" airport (the big) airports.
I am a private pilot and understand most of the rules, I have always done what the FAA has told us to do.
Where I live we have a major hospital a mile away and we have helicopters going to and from (at their standard altitude, 400 feet above ground), knowing this I have always stayed low and out of everybody's way. Now the dear leaders have gone the next step and pushed us out further.
The proposed rules by the FAA Concerning UAVs will be released in the next 2 months or so. I hope that I am wrong but I'll bet they will say "No flying anywhere within 10 miles of ANY major (Class C) airport". This is my wild guess, nothing is certain....
Being a licensed Pilot using FPV when flying I should be a low risk. Being a responsible citizen who loves his country I recognize the need for safety and security. I would just like to tinker with my toy without having to drive way out away from populated areas. I sure do hope that the FAA will help us who want to enjoy this new hobby without putting undue burdens on us.
God Bless the USA!
Hi Christopher,
Keep in mind that the vast majority of us do not live in close proximity to some of the most sensitive airspace in the world, so your flying conditions are way out on the end of the bell curve. Conflating these unique UAS restrictions and your personal inconvenience with life under a North Korean dictatorship did give me a laugh though.
You should check the FAA website and see that over 1000 small businesses, companies, persons, have been issued an exemption to fly commercially. And I would guess a very small percentage of these are large corporations or companies. Why are google and amazon making such public statements and offering ideas? Money has a part to play, but it is because they are operating with forethought and are attempting to have a rule structure in place so they can reliably make money with drones. If the hobby community or small business community were to band together and do they same, they would have the opportunity to shape the rules and regulations so they too could make money and or enjoy flying for pleasure. The USA has the busiest NAS in the world, the safest NAS in the world, and an accident rate for commercial aviation that has become the safest mode of transportation in the world. Anything that has potential to change that for the worse is going to be scrutinized. One large commercial carrier accident cost BILLIONS of dollars. I have not seen any forecasts for the drone industry that comes close to that number per year. Drone operators cannot even use common sense and police themselves. California wild fires, how many close encounters over the last week that have been made public? Instead of bashing the government and the process, why don't you spend some time educating operators of said aerial vehicles to stop showing they are a safety risk?
Amen to that, Hal.
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