FCC regulations for FPV video transmitters

[DaveM]

So if i am flying under 250grams I don't need anything but if its over 250grams you have to pass TRUST and then you are good until you hit 55lbs(or is it 50)?

Hound pup, the short answer is no. Flying under 250 grams only relieves you of remote ID requirements. You must still comply with all other FAA regulations when you fly outside. If you think about it, this makes sense and is something we should encourage our young newcomers to embrace. The requirements to fly a sub 250 gram aircraft are not complex. They include: pass Trust, if you can read, you can pass TRUST. While it is called a test, it’s a series of safety questions with multiple choice. If you guess wrong, TRUST helps you until you select the correct answer. Next is flying below 400’ AGL. If you are flying a sub 250 above 400’ AGL the odds you will lose the aircraft are high. You must also fly VLOS and if you use FPV, you need a visual observer. Take a look at the complete list of what you need to fly legally on our home page. We are an all volunteer, FAA recognized Community Based Organization.

 

[Piotrsko]

Additional data: a sub 250 gram probably will not probably go above 400 ft agl mostly because you can't see it good enough to control it OR for the spotter to verify orientation. Wont even mention periodically annoyed hawks. Take it down to a football field, have a friend randomly put it on the ground on one goal line and you guess which way it's facing while standing under the opposite goal post even using the FPV. If you are brave, and have bunches of spare parts try flying it around the that other far away goal post

Mr @DaveM is correct you'll probably lose the craft to the crash monster.

 

[Piotrsko]

You know you're old when cogitating all day on a small thoughts takes all day.

The OTHER "official" reason for 400 ft agl is it's 100 ft below where I am legally allowed to fly in a people carrying airplane moving at 100+ knots in uncontrolled airspace additionally accounting for altimeter pressure error. And (if you care) the lowest a B52 flies is the same 500 ft agl but they're cooking along at a couple hundred knots indicated. Not sure if herkies (C130 to everyone else) normally do "low level". OTHER odd aircraft like medivac and pipeline inspection are down in the weeds too, so it's quite busy. By not going above 400 agl you aren't a hazard to someone actually doing important things.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

You know you're old when cogitating all day on a small thoughts takes all day.

The OTHER "official" reason for 400 ft agl is it's 100 ft below where I am legally allowed to fly in a people carrying airplane moving at 100+ knots in uncontrolled airspace additionally accounting for altimeter pressure error. And (if you care) the lowest a B52 flies is the same 500 ft agl but they're cooking along at a couple hundred knots indicated. Not sure if herkies (C130 to everyone else) normally do "low level". OTHER odd aircraft like medivac and pipeline inspection are down in the weeds too, so it's quite busy. By not going above 400 agl you aren't a hazard to someone actually doing important things.

Yeah, That's the conclusion that I had, they don't want people sending there drones through airplane windows ect.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Hound pup, the short answer is no. Flying under 250 grams only relieves you of remote ID requirements. You must still comply with all other FAA regulations when you fly outside. If you think about it, this makes sense and is something we should encourage our young newcomers to embrace. The requirements to fly a sub 250 gram aircraft are not complex. They include: pass Trust, if you can read, you can pass TRUST. While it is called a test, it’s a series of safety questions with multiple choice. If you guess wrong, TRUST helps you until you select the correct answer. Next is flying below 400’ AGL. If you are flying a sub 250 above 400’ AGL the odds you will lose the aircraft are high. You must also fly VLOS and if you use FPV, you need a visual observer. Take a look at the complete list of what you need to fly legally on our home page. We are an all volunteer, FAA recognized Community Based Organization.

Seems like there's a lot of regulations and things you need to do for flying anything over 250 grams! and as I understand it anyone under 16 can't fly anything over 250g. Could you let me know if I am missing anything, to fly over 250grams I need to: study part 107, pass TRUST, have remote and register my aircraft with the FAA. what if I have a number of different aircraft? what if i change motors ect.?

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Seems to me that remote ID is kinda overstepping with control.

 

[AIRFORGE]

Seems like there's a lot of regulations and things you need to do for flying anything over 250 grams! and as I understand it anyone under 16 can't fly anything over 250g. Could you let me know if I am missing anything, to fly over 250grams I need to: study part 107, pass TRUST, have remote and register my aircraft with the FAA. what if I have a number of different aircraft? what if i change motors ect.?

You need TRUST, Register and RID. You only need Part 107 if you want to use it to gain income.

 

[AIRFORGE]

Seems to me that remote ID is kinda overstepping with control.

Reduce that "control" by getting the RID that has the shortest transmission range.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

Reduce that "control" by getting the RID that has the shortest transmission range.

Thanks!!!

 

[Houndpup Rc]

You need TRUST, Register and RID. You only need Part 107 if you want to use it to gain income.

What's gain?

 

[AIRFORGE]

What's gain?

If you want to use it as part of a business to make money.

 

[DaveM]

Additional data: a sub 250 gram probably will not probably go above 400 ft agl mostly because you can't see it good enough to control it OR for the spotter to verify orientation. Wont even mention periodically annoyed hawks. Take it down to a football field, have a friend randomly put it on the ground on one goal line and you guess which way it's facing while standing under the opposite goal post even using the FPV. If you are brave, and have bunches of spare parts try flying it around the that other far away goal post

Mr @DaveM is correct you'll probably lose the craft to the crash monster.

Of interest, in the UK, visual line of sight requires the pilot (or visual observer if using FPV) to be able to determine orientation and direction of flight. In the USA, VLOS is approximately 2.3 miles. It is likely the FAA will adopt the UK definition in the future As there is a lot of global harmonization in UAS rules.

 

[Houndpup Rc]

If you want to use it as part of a business to make money.

Thanks

 

[DaveM]

What's gain?

The last part is not fully correct. We need a part 107 unless the flight is for personal enjoyment. That means if I VOLUNTEER my time to fly to instruct kids at a school, I need a part 107. If I fly to take pictures of my own home for a real estate sale, I need a part 107. If I volunteer to take video of a high school soccer practice to assist the coach, I need a part 107. The recreation exception is called 44809 and this topic has been discussed broadly since this rule came into effect in 2016.

 

[AIRFORGE]

The last part is not fully correct. We need a part 107 unless the flight is for personal enjoyment. That means if I VOLUNTEER my time to fly to instruct kids at a school, I need a part 107. If I fly to take pictures of my own home for a real estate sale, I need a part 107. If I volunteer to take video of a high school soccer practice to assist the coach, I need a part 107. The recreation exception is called 44809 and this topic has been discussed broadly since this rule came into effect in 2016.

Thanks, Dave!

 

[JasonK]

Of interest, in the UK, visual line of sight requires the pilot (or visual observer if using FPV) to be able to determine orientation and direction of flight. In the USA, VLOS is approximately 2.3 miles. It is likely the FAA will adopt the UK definition in the future As there is a lot of global harmonization in UAS rules.

so multi rotors will be limited to something like 50 ft from the pilot/spotter?

[without fingers on the controls, it would be hard to determine orientation on many quads at any meaningful distance as the antenna/cameras are about the only things that give any sort of directionality to the object. One might be able to get some more distance by using different colored props for front/back, but that still will have a limitation - my experience is that the blades tend to mostly vanish once spun up.

 

[LitterBug]

so multi rotors will be limited to something like 50 ft from the pilot/spotter?

[without fingers on the controls, it would be hard to determine orientation on many quads at any meaningful distance as the antenna/cameras are about the only things that give any sort of directionality to the object. One might be able to get some more distance by using different colored props for front/back, but that still will have a limitation - my experience is that the blades tend to mostly vanish once spun up.

Lights, and paint can make orientation MUCH easier.

 

[Piotrsko]

I found orientation improves with a reference light on steady and a another light some distance away, could even flash. Doesn't have to be really bright, like a position light on full size aircraft. Just have to remember which color is where: hmmm was the red light on the left or right......OOPS. you also could use a streamer out the back.

Of course I also paint or cover half the aircraft in garish 2 color schemes typically light and dark