The good people at ReadyMadeRC have released their response to the FAA's Notice of Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft and urge all US based model aircraft operators to submit their own thoughtful comments.
Excerpt from ReadyMadeRC's Response
In our over 26 years of combined FPV experience, along with over 75 years of combined model aircraft experience here at Ready Made RC, LLC, we have found that operating model aircraft using video glasses or “goggles” is a safe way to enjoy recreational model aircraft. FPV video glasses offer much more precise control of the model in flight and, when combined with a spotter, offer a much greater situational awareness than simply flying a model from a single operator’s perspective viewing the model aircraft directly from the ground. A line of sight operator by necessity focuses nearly all of his attention on the model as seen from the ground, as opposed to an FPV operator who is focused on the airspace ahead in the direction of the model’s flight. For this and other reasons, in our opinion, FPV operations are as safe as, if not safer than, traditional model aircraft operations, which are themselves extraordinarily safe. The FAA is unfortunately confusing the choice of where someone might fly a model aircraft with the method of control, and in the process is misreading the 2012 statute which concerned only the location of model aircraft operations. We also cannot believe that the FAA actually has studied the way FPV works or else it would come to the same conclusions as we have about safety.
A pdf copy of this statement can be downloaded here.
Comments
Whatever I am going out in a little bit to fly my copter around with my newly built FPV system and look at a couple of tree tops around the farm that my family has owned for 3 generations. Good luck enforcing this FAA.
> They should be challenged individually and collectively in court and in media every single time they act outside the law and outside of their simple legitimate functions, which is becoming a near-daily occurrence.
Right on ... How a government official like Jim Williams, with duties of utmost public trust fiduciary duties, can openly lie is beyond me (pretending that the FAA has authority to prevent commercial uses of model aircraft when they don't have a case and know it). But as you say, seems like the AMA is the only organization with enough clout and funds to get to that point.
The only organization that stands a chance is "we the people." Not the AMA, and not any other organization. There are very entrenched, very wealthy interests that do not want to see UAS aircraft affect or get in the way of their current business models. Many companies have billions of dollars invested in aviation in its current form, and need decades of it staying the same for the investment to pay off. You think Fedex and UPS are not interested in NOT seeing UAS aircraft fly boxes around? UAS could destroy their companies overnight.
From the looks of it nothing will change until at least 2016.
If you like your doctor goggles...
Excellent response, even if the FAA bans video goggles, their legal use on ground rovers and robots is already becoming commonplace and this will ensure that thousands of them will be in use whether the FAA likes it or not.
And many of them will be in use on aerial vehicles whether the FAA "permits" it or not.
By this action, the FAA is simply declaring war on a not insubstantial portion of the American public.
They had an option to establish reasonable controls and regulations, but have chosen instead to simply ban an activity that has no actual instance of causing harm.
It is unlikely that the American public will submit to that sort of Draconian abuse of authority.