WASHINGTON, D.C. – The nation’s leading unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) stakeholders, led by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), have launched a new initiative to educate the public about the existing drone laws they must follow and the consequences if they ignore or break the law.
The new advertising campaign — Even the Sky Has Limits: Learn the Drone Laws — is targeted at consumers who have recently purchased or have an interest in drones.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our nation’s airspace,” said Rich Hanson, AMA president.
“This is an exciting time as more and more people are enjoying this great recreation, but everyone needs to learn the drone laws before they take to the skies. Furthermore, any drone pilot flying without regard for the laws is unacceptable. With drones becoming more popular every day, it is critical for the UAS community, the FAA and Congress to require people to follow these laws — and hold them accountable if they don’t.”
The focus of the new initiative is to educate new and seasoned drone pilots about the two options to fly legally and the civil and criminal fines they could face if they do not follow the drone laws. These laws apply to everyone taking to the skies — for recreational, educational or commercial purposes, AMA officials note.
The first option, the default law for drone pilots, is the FAA’s Part 107 regulations, also known as the Small UAS Rule. This rule requires a drone operator to obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. Any and all drone pilots can operate under Part 107.
The second option, the only exception to Part 107, is the Special Rule for Model Aircraft, which is codified in Part 101. This requires drone pilots to be an active participate in and follow the safety programming of a community-based organization such as AMA. This option is not available to anyone flying for commercial purposes.
Importantly, all drone pilots must register with the FAA.
This effort is a new initiative of Know Before You Fly, which was created in 2014 with the goal of spreading awareness about safe and responsible use of UAS. The new campaign is funded by AMA, with support from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), the Toy Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
Advertisements for this initiative will be running on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
A Clear and Present Danger.
Caveats: I have nothing against drones or teenagers, in general.
I wanted to share a real world encounter I had recently, that highlights some of my concerns regarding the exponential proliferation of drones/UAS. It has nothing to do with “flying skills”; it’s the potentially dangerous attitude(s) and culture that are growing along with the number of machines.
I was fly fishing one afternoon on the beach at Bella Bella, a sand spit on the northwest tip of Fox Island, WA. Bella Bella is 3.6 nm from KTIW, an airport with Class D airspace near Tacoma, Washington.
Three driving-age teenagers (1 boy, 2 girls) showed up at @ 1600 with a drone; they walked out to the tip of the spit a couple hundred feet from me to set it up. It was a typical, “standard-sized” quadcopter; way bigger than .55 lbs., and way less than 55 lbs. They mounted a camera on a tripod to film the takeoff, then launched it into the vertical. I can’t tell you exactly how high it went, but it got pretty small; then they drove it, at speed, due east, directly towards KTIW. I can’t tell you exactly how far, but it exceeded my “line of sight” and was out of earshot.
About the time I though I’d better investigate further, it came speeding back. They packed it up and started down the beach toward me. I did not want to appear threatening or belligerent; I thought “I’ll use this as a teaching moment…”
As the girl carrying the drone walked by, I asked politely; “Can I ask you a question about your drone?”
Our discussion, verbatim:
“Sure”; as she kept walking.
“Do you fly your drone here very often?”
“No, I’m not from around here…”
“Are you familiar with the rules for flying drones near airports?”
“Uh, sure”
“Well I think you just broke a big one.” (I was taking a chance that they hadn’t called the tower first.)
“Oh, they don’t care as long as you fly low enough….”
“Well, that’s not what the rules say.”
They didn’t want to stop and talk; her last off-hand comment was something colorful as she looked back at me over her shoulder.
I appreciate the chance of them hitting someone taking off or landing at KTIW were pretty remote (no pun intended). The point is-you can’t assume that small UAS are not going to be operated, near airports, in violation of “the rules”. If looking for small white objects in/near the traffic pattern isn’t part of your habit pattern, you might want to make it so.
Check 6 & 12….