Threat to Model Flying from European Regulation - EASA Prototype Rules for Unman

[Paul01]

Hi Guys,

This was posted by the BMFA this morning

https://bmfa.org/News/News-Page/ArticleID/2400/Threat-to-Model-Flying-from-European-Regulation-EASA-Prototype-Rules-for-Unmanned-Aircraft

[kilby]

Having had this arguments with BMFA members when I pointed out that their help or fixed wing object was as much of a drone as any of my machines.

Oh no drones are dangerous and planes and helis aren';t.

Well in the view of the law you are the same, and the reason is because they are UAVs and can be flown just as stupidly or just as sensibly as a multirotor.

In the eyes if the general public we are all weirdos and probably up to no good.

To be honest I have seen fixed wing pilots flying within 100 metres of the end of the Belfast City airport and other incredibly stupid places.

However the only real difference I see is the multirotor idiots video their illegal actions and post it on YouTube.

Welcome to the club old chap, yeah it';s unfair and we have been telling you that for ages.

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[Paul01]

Welcome to the club old chap, yeah it';s unfair and we have been telling you that for ages.

If that';s aimed at me, I';m neither old or a member of the BMFA 

My concerns are with the requirements of certain feature for hobbyist that are not a member of a club! but it nice to see BMFA members being tarnished as drone hooligans like the rest of us  ::)

[LuMan]

I had my initiation at my local model flying club last Friday. A couple of us sat through the normal safety brief, and rules and what-have-you, but the presenter kept breaking off to talk to me specifically about multi-rotor rulings.

I was glad that the club accept multi-rotor flyers, but felt a bit exposed by him making a point of addressing me directly whenever mentioning ';drones.';

I suppose the issue is that we are still a fairly new addition to the range of flyers that are about, so there will be a little bit of wariness on the part of the more established plank and chopper flyers. A bit like there was for snowboarders about 30 years ago, but we still got accepted when we proved we could behave 

[Area21]

As a long standing member of the BMFA (1976 ish) flying Fixed and Rotary Wing Aircraft and fly UAVS for a UK University and my own business. I have been promoting Multi Rotor flying for quite a long time running racing events at our UK club (Pontefract Race Course) and delivering Drone Workshops as part of the BMFA Drone Awareness campaign.  And it was an interesting reaction in April this year when speaking to a mass of Fixed Wing aeromodellers, when I stated that their aircraft was factually a Drone. It didn';t go down that well, but after moving on with my presentation I did receive a round of applause and 5 modellers are now flying 250 quads because of my presentation. I believe the CAA have sufficient controls across the UK airspace for all unmanned aircraft including LMA aircraft (very large models) and it will be a very sad day if EASA overrule all this.  However I do feel there is a need to de regulate smaller lighter aircraft say under 1/2 kg mass.   

[Cheredanine]

So using drones to smuggle drugs would already be illegal, using drones to carry stuff into prisons would already be illegal, flying near airport, planes, livestock structure and people would already be illegal, flying in no fly zones would already be illegal. Flying outside of los would already be illegal.

The people who do these things are either acting out of ignorance or prepared to flaunt the legality

Why would more legislation make the slightest bit of difference to the behaviour they are trying to stop?

[hoverfly]

Now I';m more confused than usual.

[kilby]

If that';s aimed at me, I';m neither old or a member of the BMFA 

My concerns are with the requirements of certain feature for hobbyist that are not a member of a club! but it nice to see BMFA members being tarnished as drone hooligans like the rest of us  ::)

Aimed at nobody (well perhaps three characters who resembled Biggles, Ginger and Alge from one club I visited) who thought that anybody who didn';t smell of nitro was a dangerous foe who where working for the Boche .

Nope it was simply inevitable that all flyers would be included, even those who wouldn';t allow a multirotor to fly at their clubs because the where evil or something.

There have always been idiots where flying things are concerned but the FUD mines are working overtime when it comes to anything with 4 or more props

[Hozza]

Well Melton Mowbray model club had it';s show last weekend and we flew are few times to show off different quads, plus a few of us setup a tent with loads of information about our hobby, I was amazed by public interest and answered many many questions over the weekend. Shame so many clubs won';t move forward and embrace this hobby.

[guest325]

Totally agree with you, the club I fly with tolerate multirotors but don';t encourage them. Existing members are allowed to fly them but new prospective members must fly fixed wing, anyone who flys just multirotors will not be allowed to join even though we could do with a few new members!!!
A stupid and annoying attitude which makes me think hard about whether or not to continue my membership especially when there is a multirotor friendly club not too far away.

[hoverfly]

I found older club members who regarded themselves as "experts" were intimidated by quads,  what they really dident like was someone stealing their thunder by flying something the couldn';t. When they were offered a flight it was refused!!! Lots of excuses like they are boring, non aerobatic. only good for photography, unstable/dangerous, and when flying mission mode who wants something that flies itself,what';s the point...
I could go on but you get the idea.

[LuMan]

That';s a really sad state of affairs, Darrell. Clubs need to move with the times, not try to become some monolithic old boys club. Imagine if they refused electric flight, or 3D helicopters because of the safety aspects.

Like you said, clubs need members. Blinkering yourself to new technologies will only serve to alienate the club further. Clubs should be embracing new flyers, bringing them onboard, teaching them the importance of doing it properly, and showing that RC aviation is not a crusty, old, prejudiced institution, but a dynamic, exciting thing that new flyers would want to be a part of.

Well, that';s my thoughts, anyway! 

[guest325]

Oh forgot to add, Helicopters are in the same position - not welcomed with open arms!!!
It stems from the fact that the club doesn';t really have enough space to have more than one flight line or an area where non fixed wing can fly, they see that flying Multirotors or helicopters as taking up their flight time.

[kilby]

The club I was a member of had 25 acres but if you wanted to fly a quad you where stuck in a 25*25 meter section next to the whinging farmers field, so you had to stay well back from that boundary.

I ended up leaving around some rugby posts and sticking to a 10*75 strip but got a bit tired if that idea.

Though having definite boundaries did improve my LOS flying quit a bit (lots of learning to fly backwards and stuff)

Wasn';t until some if the established embers started flying machines that the area was expanded

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[iRobot]

Doesn';t the ';ban all RC'; raise its ugly head every few years. I only rejoined bmfa again last year when I started flying again. Last time I was member (15 years ago or so) some people didn';t like planes or helis either.
Don';t think it';s worth worrying about.

[Area21]

I delivered a Drone Awareness presentation at a very large UK model flying club as part of the BMFA Drone Awareness campaign and when I started my presentation by stating that a Drone was technically any type unmanned aircraft which they all flew at their club site.  I received quite a hostile reaction.   

[miniconverter]

When we eventually come out of the EU the European parliament will no longer be able to force rules on us we can make our own again, so it only really matters what the CAA say.