The FAA is seeking to pass legislation that will not only ban First Person View (FPV) flying in America but will effectively roadblock the development of the sport of aeromodelling and future commercial applications of remotely piloted aerial systems. How does the FAA ban on FPV affect us here in Australia?
So why should we care about it here in Australia?
Here in Australia we are actually at the forefront of FPV and RPAS/UAV technology. The frankly brave and forward thinking actions of CASA means that we already have legislation and regulations in place to govern not only hobbyists but also commercial “drone” operators. Not only this but CASA has gone even further by seeking to adopt even more open regulations to allow sub-2kg platforms with low kinetic energy to operate free from the prohibitively expensive certification applied to larger aircraft.
This responsible attitude towards remotely piloted aircraft is further supported by the Model Aeronautical Association of Australian (MAAA), who has it’s own reasonable guidelines for the operation of FPV aircraft.
Unfortunately, in all corners of the world, there are a number of pilots who seek to gain attention by flying FPV in unsafe locations or in a reckless manner. This includes (but is not limited to) flying over crowds of people, flying close to landmarks, or flying close to manned aircraft or airports.
It is incidents such as the much publicized FAA v Pirker (“Trappy” from Team Black-Sheep) case that have attracted media, and therefore public attention and added weight to the FAA’s decision to attempt to ban FPV flying.
Australia is regularly labelled as a “nanny state” and more than once have I heard referred to as the 51st State of America. We should all be fearful that if this legislation is allowed to proceed in America, it may only be a matter of time before our own politicians sit up and take notice.
What can we do about it?
This video from Flite Test sums it up nicely…
There are a couple of places where you, as an Australian pilot, can add your voice in support:
Please, if you do decide to comment, do it in a thoughtful, intelligent and respectful way. Don’t hand them the rope to hang us with!
Fly Safely
For the most part I am preaching to the converted. We all know how to fly FPV safely although we sometimes forget.
- Don’t fly over populated areas or crowds
- Stay away from airports and manned aircraft
- Don’t fly long-range/out of a reasonable line of sight
- Do keep it below 400ft AGL unless in uncontrolled airspace (where higher ceilings may apply)
- Do learn how to fly first! (see below)
- Do use a spotter
- Know your gear and know its, and your limitations
A Final Word
Personally, even though I think the people who promote themselves as the “Pirates” (or even dare I say “Black-Sheep”) of the hobby are idiots. That said, they are for the most part highly skilled and experienced individuals who just happen to use technology to draw attention to their thrill-seeking lifestyle. Would they try to ban surfing if there were hundreds of videos on YouTube of people surfing inside the flags?
The real problem is the fact that for a few hundred dollars anybody can go out and by a flight ready, FPV capable multirotor to do with what they like. Not only that but these incredible pieces of technology are able to stabilise and control their own performance envelope to the point where they can advertise “no piloting experience necessary”.
Now, I’m not going to go off on a “in my day” rant (I’m not THAT old). I do however despair that I, and other experienced pilots like me, are being tarnished with the same brush as the prats in the paper who fly their DJI Phantom straight out of the box and into the side of a building.
Come on Australia – help us to stop the FAA spoiling it for the rest of us…
Yes I agree Mike. It would be such a waste to lose this massive part of the RC hobby. Fingers crossed that Australia has the smarts to make up their own mind and realise this isn’t a bad thing.
After recent communication with CASA, I was informed that it is ”illegal” to fly fpv in any form outside a MAAA club flying fields where you must be a member. ”models must be flown in line of sight” is the line i have been told by CASA.
Whereas flying with a buddy box configuration where the ”student” wears the FPV goggles, I have been informed by another source; is classified as ”line of sight” as the main ”master” transmitter is operated by an individual who can visually see the aircraft at all times. . . . . . . t hat is not classified as FPV flying. . . . . . .
I personally think that CASA need to lax these rules and reward safe FPV pilots. how many times do you want to fly the same circuit FPV, over and ove and over again
Hi Nemo, thanks for the comment!
I would be interested to know who in CASA gave you this information as it seems to be a little innacurate. Let me explain…
Flying model aircraft in Australia is governed by CASA under the policy CASR 101. Model aircraft flown for recreational purposes fall under Subpart 101.G. As this was written in 2002 there is no mention of FPV or anything like it (understandable as FPV wasn’t really around 12 years ago). There is a single comment under 101.385 that “A person may operate a model aircraft only if the visibility at the time is good enough for the person operating the model to be able to see it continuously.”
That is not FPV flying, that is the same as VFR flight in full size aviation.
The MAAA is actually nothing more than a “governing body” for the sport of model aviation in Australia. Beneath it there are state organisations such as MASNSW that govern at a local level. Whilst MAAA is regarded as the “official” body by CASA it is not the only body regulating the sport. I wonder how AMAS would react to the news that flying at any of their registered clubs is now “illegal”.
The MAAA does have a policy on FPV – MOP066. This kind of covers what you were told in that they require a second LOS pilot of Gold Wings standard to be flying via a buddy box OR the model should have a “Return to Home” function fitted (e.g. an APM flight controller).
It is important to note though that the MAAA MOP’s are not legal documents, they are guidelines/policies set out to govern flight at an MAAA approved club – basically for insurance reasons.
It is not mandatory to be a member of a club, nor is it mandatory to fly at a club field. Incidentally, I am and I do, but not all the time.
If you want to fly FPV then you can as it is not illegal (as yet). Just remember to stick to CASA laws that govern all model aircraft operations:
– Don’t fly above 400ft AGL (unless well outside of controlled airspace – our model club has a 3000ft ceiling).
– Don’t fly over populated areas and keep more than 30 meters away from uninvolved/unaware members of the public.
– Don’t fly beyond a reasonable line of sight (yes I push the boundaries sometimes on distance, espescially with the mini quad. No I do not try to fly 25km with a single UHF radio link).
…and one of my own…
– DO have fun, show other people your model, give them the goggles and take them on an adventure. Promote the sport in a positive light and don’t do something stupid and then post it on YouTube.
Australia is regarded as one of the most forward thinking countries in the world when it comes to UAVs and flying model aircraft – long may it continue!
I too contacted CASA about FPV flying and was given a very blunt “NO”, you cannot fly FPV. Then a couple of weeks latter I found a document on CASA’s website that indicated that FPV flight is possible under certain conditions, so I contact CASA again to query that and they just didn’t reply to that at all.
If you outright ban something, it just becomes an underground scene and safety and best practice are compromised as well as making criminals out of good people. Its a loose loose situation.
It is fair more sensible to allow people to fly FPV and promote best practice, common sense and safety.
I’ve been flying RC for over 20 years, I started with control line, went to RC, to park fliers, and now with multicopters. If it is done sensibly, flying FPV is safer than direct visual. I mean I’ve never lost perspective flying FPV, I’ve never had dumb thumbs flying FPV. (if i had of flown FPV that is !).
I was a couple of weeks away from getting licensed and then I heard that CASA where reviewing the rules and that the very expensive license may not be necessary, so I held off. That was near 2 years ago now and nothing has changed. Still waiting.
Thanks for the feedback Dave,
You are absolutely right and it sounds like you are in the same boat as me.
The problem with CASA is nobody really knows what they are talking about. The rules are so sketchy that there is no clear interpretation of them.
The problem is they are trying to apply 12 year old rules to new technology and certainly if you read it one way then FPV is not allowed.
However, they have released some newer information which suggests it IS allowed. Then of course we have the MAAA “rules” that state (and I paraphrase of course) that you can fly FPV at a club if someone else does the flying and you just watch and hold a buddybox. Of course, these are just guidelines for club sites and don’t apply in the outside world.
You are right about the deregulation of small UAVs (RPAS) – the “sub 2kg class”. It was supposed to come into effect in September 2014 but so far nothing.
Sably the problem here is the “experts” they have advising on the new rules. The biggest problem of course is ACUO but the list reads like a who’s who of the training providers who stand to lose money when the new rules come into effect.
Until ACUO stop trying to block or destroy the process I’m afraid we won’t see anything official.
Of course, all this is pretty irrelevant. Do a search on Google or Instagram and you’ll find plenty of “aerial photographers” who are doing just fine without certification. I asked one of the local ones (someone calling himself “Drone Guy”) how he got around the certification issue and never got a reply.
Yes, ACUO are completely self interested and biased. They represent about .1% of all of the ‘UAV’ flyers in Australia. The interest is in $$’s.
They cite a small number of incidence where drones have come close to commercial Aircraft and base their arguments on that. That makes no sense, it will always be illegal to fly in close vicinity to commercial aircraft, it is now and always has been. Punishing the vast majority of flyers for the offenses of the tiny minority will not stop the activities of the minority. The best way to reduce their number is education and support. FPV is already illegal (possibly ??) and that has not stopped these incidence from occurring.
All that creating a blanket ban will do is make the small problem worse, because you create a hidden underground, where there is no education, no community, no self regulation etc.
What we need is some definitive guide lines showing us where and how we can fly FPV as safely as possible.
If it wasn’t for us, the hobbiest the technology would not be where it is now, and we can take it further and make it safer and better in a healthy environment.
Cheers
Dave