AMA official response to NYC FPV video

New York City First Person View Video

A recent video posted to YouTube depicts a First Person View (FPV) video flight of an unmanned aircraft over New York Bay; Long Island; the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges; Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty; over and in close proximity to buildings, occupied vehicles and water vessels; and directly over unprotected people. The nature of the flight was outside the realm of recreational aeromodeling activity as defined by the AMA Safety Code and posed a significant threat to people and property.

Although AMA recognizes the ingenuity and creativity of this activity, it does not condone the manner in which this flight was conducted and the threat it posed to the public.

AMA has provided specific guidelines for FPV activity for its members. These guidelines and related safety considerations can be found in the AMA Safety Code and in AMA document #550, “First Person View (FPV) Operations.”

– Rich Hanson, AMA Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Representative

First Person View (FPV) Operations

1. An FPV-equipped model must be flown by two AMA members utilizing a buddy-box system. The pilot in command must be on the primary transmitter, maintain visual contact, and be prepared to assume control in the event of a problem.
2. The operational range of the model is limited to the pilot in command’s visual line of sight as defined in the Official AMA National Model Aircraft Safety Code (see Radio Control, item 9).
3. The flight path of model operations shall be limited to the designated flying site and approved overfly area.
4. The model weight and speed shall be limited to a maximum of 10 pounds and 60 miles per hour.


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Comments

  • Moderator
    I think I asked the Aeronautical Mobile question before and the answer was So long as you are flying VFR, or Visual Flight Rules, and have permission from the pilot. Now as there is no licenced pilot in charge who would an FPV person ask?
  • In the future, they will still do this, just never post it.. that is what is so funny about it all.
  • Moderator
    Is it not 100mw at 433mhz and is aeronautical mobile allowed on that frequency?
  • That would be a more enforceable issue than his flying.
  • Unknown
  • Does Trappy have a valid USA Ham License?
  • Trappy is using EZuhf which uses 433mhz. I plan on using this for tx/rc as well. This is legal in the USA but does require you to get your HAM license.
  • The TX/RX hardware he uses is ilegal in most countries he fly.
  • Just a correction about the german pc pilot Stefan Wurm, who happens to be a friend of mine. He was held while the investigation was done but the conclusion was not pilot error but a local radio station who started transmitting on the same freqency a very unfortunate accident and not the last i would image but the debate on safety as shows im affraid is another topic completely.
    Tony
  • agreed. th_facebook-like-button.jpg
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