November 25th… In an online news story by Oklahoma City Channel 9 News, FAA effectively endorsed AMA’s safety guidelines for the personal use of sUAS for agricultural applications. As reported by Justin Dougherty…
“Farmers may operate an unmanned aircraft over their own property for personal use … Guidelines for the operation of model aircraft, such as those published by the Academy of Model Aeronautics, may be used by farmers as reference for safe model UAS operations.”
Comments
@Oliver
What it says to me is (besides another stab at regulation by decree) why should any person be precluded for personal or even business use. There are plenty of examples of people flying GA planes as part of their business without it being "commercial."
Again, email the FAA and tell them what you think.
As far as I am concerned "FAA Policies" and "Advisory Circulars" are all bogus unless written into the code of Federal Regulations. The FAA is notorious for trying to "regulate by memo".
The test to all this will be with Trappy: while the FAA makes a good point about a model aircraft being an aircraft and therefore able to be regulated and subject to part 91, they have also had long standing "policy" to ignore regulating them.
My opinion is that a farmer using a model aircraft for supporting their business is expressly ALLOWED by the FAR's because flying a model aircraft is merely incidental to their other business and not a major enterprise for profit in an of itself. Check FAR part 1, definition of commercial operator.
I think any news story needs to be taken with a grain of salt unless there is an independently verifiable source from the FAA. Specifically a press release, NPRM, or other official communications. Untill then I still file this under speculation and may happen.
Like I said, its a start and even though it is undoubtedly purposely ambiguous it is a good start.
The FAA is actually seeming to do something to actively promote a benign but very important use of UAS without it necessarily having to cost a fortune to participate.
I just hope that is a trend that can somehow be leveraged for other uses like photography and videography at the very least, with sensible and reasonable rules.
Farmers are an independent bunch. I was raised in the heart of cotton country in the southeast. I grew up and sprayed cotton for a few years. I found my wife on the farm. I worked with farmers on a daily basis. I know a lot of farmers. Every farmer I know will not take kindly to the FAA telling them what they can and cannot do on or above their land, especially with an absurdly benign five pound foam r/c airplane. The farm community will be our biggest ally and pro sUAS lobby when they fully realize what a sUAS with the right sensors can do for them.
The AUVSI conducted a survey of expected commercial use of UAS. Their estimate of the use of UAS in the USA commercial market is 80% agriculture. That is one huge and powerful lobby.
I attended the Kansas State UAS conference recently where I met two gentlemen who are actively building sUAS, selling to and training farmers to operate sUAS for ag operations with the full knowledge and consent of the FAA as long as the farmers are flying over their own land.
Wraith,
I was born in Georgia and raised in Alabama. I love hunting, fishing, camping, grilling, and before I stopped, drinking. What is your definition of a "redneck"? Because mine is an individual that was a member of the UMW that wore red bandannas around their necks in order to strike the West Virginian coal mines. About guns, I served 8 years in the US Army Special Operations and spent more time with firearms than most people spend reading Wikipedia, which it seems is where you like to get your information. Let's keep this about DIY UAVs and leave the derogatory slurs out of it, ok?
Yes nothing new, they have not said farmers can make commercial gain, which is what they would be doing if they used images to increase yields. Its still a medical and exams at very minimum on the table. People just don't seem willing to hear that.
Nothing new… farmers could always fly RC
The dog just doesn't care.
Most of the farmers I know would say that farming is a way of life and intensely personal. The trucks they use on the farm are the same trucks they use to go to town or out to dinner or school activities. There is no seperation between life and the farm. Seems like FAA knows this to me.
This is cool!
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