Episode Idea: AMA and FAA conformance

[nwnugget]

Could you do a video detailing how to make yourself and your UAV (plane, multirotor, heli) compliant with AMA Park Flyer and AMA full member regulations as well as the new FAA requirements?

I am sure Josh B. is an old pro and long time member. Josh Scott and some of the new flyers on the ever expanding staff could lend some insight to those of us just breaking into the hobby as well as updating some of the old hats for the new FAA rules and regulations.

Thanks.

 

[Craftydan]

As far as AMA compliant . . .

Park flyer, you use a scale to keep it under 2lbs and don't fly it blindingly fast.

For Regular, Use a scale (or you hand) and keep it under 55 lbs.

Not hard to do or hard to understand.


As for FAA compliant . . .

You mean this weeks rules or the next? I know they *THINK* they have some rules, but a court challenge at any time could make them invalid and Congress is working on a new set to change that regulation. Only thing for certain with them is change.

What we had a year ago looks nothing like what we have now, and what we have now, VERY likely won't be what we have a year from now.

IMO, No sense making an episode that will become wrong due to age this quickly.

 

[nwnugget]

I suppose you are correct, in a sense. A short conversation about joining and supporting the AMA, and in what capacity (Park Flyer or Full) and what info and where to place it on your UAV when you fly would be useful to new flyers. Speaking as a new flyer.

Having read a lot of posts about the FAA registration and feeling the general ire the RC community has for the new "rules" I'd like to see a round table type discussion with Josh B., Josh S., Chad, David (via Skype if hes not on US soil), Peter, Alex, Austin, etc. Just a brief skim of what the FAA says is required and how the FliteTest crew feels about it.

And then they go have epic Sparrow combat with streamers and balloons and hoops and flames and a bomb drop for Josh S.

 

[cranialrectosis]

And then they go have epic Sparrow combat with streamers and balloons and hoops and flames and a bomb drop for Josh S.

Just please wait until the government employees leave before you do any of this.

 

[makattack]

I know I've already listened to such a round-table discussion among the FT on air crew and with the FT AfterHours podcast crew:

http://flitetest.com/podcasts#/types=podcasts&textSearch=faa

Seems a video episode won't be too useful, but I believe some of those podcasts have a recorded video element.

 

[Churro]

I'd like to see an episode with some build tips and designs that keep the weight under 250 grams.

I think it is telling that the FAA makes no distinction between mass and weight. Raises some interesting questions about dirigibles... I remember reading somewhere that 250 grams was deemed some sort of magic number beyond which the craft is potentially lethal. Seems like anyone with a basic high school education could do a better job crafting regulations than they have.

 

[Craftydan]

There is no science behind the magical 250g. It was likely picked from either a "this one looks safe and this one doesn't -- 250g is between them, so that's the limit."

I've got some pretty energetic airframes under this limit that can produce some lasting damage on impact. I've got some big and fluffy airframes that are over the limit that at full force wouldn't do much of anything but bounce (well, perhaps bruise, but I've got rubber bands that can do that -- that's not "Dangerous").

There's a reason DJI walked out of that meeting and switched their geo-fencing from mandatory to optional.