This week, Greg discusses the AMA’s request for help to fight the upcoming FAA restrictions, the Anduril kamikaze Drone Interceptor, the DRL RacerAI drone, and the FAA TFR over the Balloon Festival.
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Script/Links
AMA asking FAA to review altitude restrictions
The AMA is reaching out to the community for support of some new guidance from the FAA.
Currently, hobbyists operating at AMA sites can fly under the Letter of Agreement (no LAANC request required). These letters include altitudes above 400 feet.
New guidance from the FAA would limit the altitude to 400 feet in controlled airspace, and 700 to 1200 feet in Class G uncontrolled airspace.
No possibility to apply for waivers.
This would limit certain types of model aircraft such as turbine powered and thermal gliders (which require up to 2000 feet altitude).
The AMA argues it would actually make these model less safe since they need to operate at much higher altitude and flying them lower would increase risk.
The AMA has a long history of safety and no accidents so there’s no reason for this sudden change.
https://dronelife.com/2019/10/08/the-urgent-new-issue-facing-recreational-flyers-a-conversation-with-the-amas-tyler-dobbs/
Drone Interceptor that crashes into rogue drones
Anduril, a silicon valley startup, has released a drone intercepter (“The Interceptor”) that slams into rogue drone to disable them.
It is designed as a reusable platform.
The drone is capable of reaching 100 mph and using vision to lock onto targets.
While certain counter methods use jamming as a method, this is a different approach.
https://dronelife.com/2019/10/08/anduril-interceptor-counter-uas-system/
AI vs Pilot, who’s faster?
The Drone Racing League (DRL) is introducing the first ever autonomous racing drone.
The DRL RacerAI will debut on October 8 for a 4-race series.
The series will feature 9 identical RacerAI drones, no GPS, no data relay, no human intervention.
More than 400 teams from 80 countries fought for the coveted 9 seats.
The drone has 4 stereoscopic cameras that allows the AI to detect objects (twice the FOV of human pilots)
The end goal is to compete against human pilots
Stay away from balloons
The Balloon Fiesta is NOT a drone friendly location.
A TFR has been issued for the big balloon gathering in Albuquerque, NM. The event takes place from October 4th to 13th.
More detail about the TFR can be found under NOTAM number FDC 9/8221. https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_9_8221.html
Flights are prohibited within 4NM up to 2700 feet from 5:30am to 12pm.
You can face civil penalties that exceed $30,000 and criminal prosecution.
https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=94673
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The AMA is worthless. They don’t fight anything.
I have flown model aircraft for 30 years only in the last 3 year have I started to fly a DJI drone. The fixed AMA rc club sites have had worked out LOA’s with local airports for years which worked great. Washington seems to think they know best local tower managers tell us their hands are tied now. There is a couple of reasons for this the law passed in 2018 which removed 336 exemption from allowing the FAA to control non commercial UAS flight has a section in it called 349 spells out 400 feet is the maximum you can fly. There is no exemption to go any higher the CBO clause does not allow the FAA to let non part 107 pilots fly higher then 400 feet. When the AMA says 700 and 1200 I can’t find where that allows this I have reached out to them I have had no response. The FAA is chosen to interpret the law this way that is why the AMA is asking people to write to congress which is going to be useless because congress only cares about fighting over impeachment for the next year. They are not going to go back and re-write the law until after the 2020 election. What’s going to happen is RC clubs in class G will just ignore the 400 feet and keep flying the way they want as long as there isn’t any incidents with full size aircraft should not be a problem. Years down the road with drone delivery starts to fill the sky’s could be an issues as airspace becomes a problem.
Hey Greg.. Unrelated, I’ve been wanting to fly in Sedona for some time.. I see that Sedona airport is now on LAANC, but google maps is a a bit vague and claims the entire area as national forest. Any suggestions on how to find places to fly? Or perhaps you would like to meet up for joint flying experience? Thanks!
Of course quads will be weaponized, all new tech is, that’s what governments do
I’d rather see them just say less than 100 feet is unregulated
That kamikaze drone is a little bit dangerous. I imagine it would be useful for enforcing NFZ areas but the result would be a falling projectile basically.
They should be not limited. I fly all types of model aircraft, powered giant scale, glider and have turbine with a waver and know we have no issues flying even at airports as we do as shows 3 or 4 times a year. I’ve been doing this and teaching for 30 years. Yes we fly at airports in controlled airspace for demos with local permission. The FAA has tried a one size fits all approach and hasnt worked with us on the rule. Congress tasked this dept to work with the AMA and has not. Folks who work in other FAA departments have no issues with us, heck we fly with FAA guys all the time but this one dept called ATS has not even shown up when we invite them to see what souring, IMAC, and turbines do and how we fly safe LOS.
for the record, I’m not knocking drones because I fly them as well and hold a 107 USA certificate. It’s just the one size fits all isn’t what was promised and fair when the 336 law was abolished. I also know lots of 107 guys who cant fly well and claim the test makes the safer. well to be honest there is no practical exam for 107 UAS pilot. It like taking a test to become a Dr and never performing surgery or a written drivers test and then sent on the road. 90% of UAS pilots cant fly fixed wing but it considers them safe.. not you know that’s a joke.
Hobbyist need the ability to request a waiver for a individual or group that is not so much different the a single user waiver request for 107 drone operator. The waivers must be granted and have a live person and open dialog to keep the request of clubs functioning as always, sending request to some dept with not recourse is bologna. for example the 107 process for say a daylight waiver is ridiculous and the FAA has proved they are hard to follow and submit. Request almost require you to be corporate lawyer. The old 333 requests were a big law office money maker but it shouldn’t be that way.
Interceptor, jejeje crazy thing there, it’ll be better if they put some type of net and a parachute…lol