A drone registration system is to be launched

[Rammylad]

A drone registration system is to be launched in a bid to reduce the increasing problem of their misuse, the Government has announced.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/drones-private-owned-registration-government-security-scheme-home-office-terrorism-prisons-a7854011.html

Ah well it was expected.

[Wyntrblue]

I think in this case reading the actual parliament debate would be advantageous

Long winded parliament speak but worth a read

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2017-07-18/debates/BD2C811C-B29F-43D6-A2F4-E9D457C25EEB/DronesRiskToAviation

[Gaza07]

Honourable Gentlemen   
Most of them cant honour their wedding vows never mind any of the other utter rubbish that comes out of their mouths,
How do you know when a politician is lying ?  His mouth is open 

I';m ok now the pills are working 

[shawdreamer]

again......no way to viably enforce it apart from over the counter rtf models which is fine by me because its mostly the dick';ed';s buying phantoms and syma';s at Argos that are causing the problems and seem happy to broadcast their idiotic behaviour all over youtube anyway

[apollo7]

again......no way to viably enforce it apart from over the counter rtf models which is fine by me because its mostly the dick';ed';s buying phantoms and syma';s at Argos that are causing the problems and seem happy to broadcast their idiotic behaviour all over youtube anyway

Dont include me in the broad sweeping statement, i did not get my Phantom from Argos  ::)
As said this is going to be pretty tricky to enforce, and will only apply to the RTF models, and the way the Gov work it could take months to phase in then years to get it right 
I am not against this as an idea, so long as the Gov dont use it as a way of milking people for large sums of cash

[hoverfly]

I am not against this as an idea, so long as the Gov dont use it as a way of milking people for large sums of cash

Errr what colour is the sky on your planet.
I caught this on radio 4 news this morning, thankfully they had an "expert" to explain things he is a commercial  operator. After going over the proposed new rules he admitted it was unenforceable and idiots would still be idiots.
One point was a drone could damage a heli windscreen, i';m wondering what the effect the downdraught from the rotors would have on a drone,there is a sod of a lot of air going south holding up a heli.
It was mentioned that geo fencing would have to be included in the firmware, then said this was not an answer as it was already in use and was being "jailbreaked",, i think he meant hacked, who knows he was the expert.
Lets hope model helis will be included as the are more or less the same as multirotors  and can fly in the same manner, ie drop drugs into prisons ,fly into aircraft , the B.M.F.A.  and a few more people might then pull their heads out of their rectums  and take a more  proactive attitude in protecting the hobby.
Rant over ,meds cutting in... 

[nate80]

It was bound to happen so it';s not unexpected, but whether a largely multi-rotor ignorant government can get the registration scheme right is of real concern.  They';ll obviously rely on advice from ';experts'; and ';professionals';, but I';d wager they';ll largely be CAA officials and commercial and emergency service aircraft pilots, all of whom are biased and the vast majority of which will have no interest or experience in the multi-rotor hobby or industry.

Any legally enforced registration scheme will have an effect on the purchase and use of ';drones'; but, proportionally speaking, the positive improvements in the use of multi-rotors will be slim whereas the negative feeling toward multi-rotors will be encouraged to grow due to ever more amplified and distorted press reporting feeding the public with unwarranted fear and hate.  Which is very bad for our hobby.

Concerning the parliament debate the mention of an increase in the use of Geo-Fencing is of particular interest.  It';s as daft as it is concerning.  Geo-fencing only works on GPS enabled multi-rotors, so any criminals intent on benefiting from the possibilities a drone can offer will just purchase a GPS-less device (or remove the GPS sensor etc).  The only users you';re really affecting with Geo-fencing is hobby users.  I';ve got little issue if the Geo-fencing is sensible but, since the DJI firmware and App update a few weeks ago, I';ve already encountered 2 problems where my Phantom was restricted for no good reason (a ';grass airfield'; in Whitstable that doesn';t exist was one such error).  If a more rigid Geo-fencing system was employed I';d imagine it will only get worse.

[hoverfly]

Further to you point on D.J.I. Geo- fencing in a long Email exchange i had with them regarding the new firmware, i mentioned  that some of their no-fly zones were in locations  that no longer had airfields, they replied they were updating their data bases, they didn';t say by when..

[Skeeve666]

Hi all, i have been a lurker here for a while but this has got my goat up.

I generally fly 250 and 90 to 120 quads and my 250 all up is 359g so thats stuffed, i also play around with the hk';s copy collective pitch quad thats well over 250g. I also have a phantom clone... Hate it its too easy to fly.  I live over 80miles from any airport, so why the f do i need to register.. plus i only fly los even with fpv.  This will ground half my fleet, i am yorkshire and i will be f';d if i am going to pay each year to fly on my own land. 

Near all of the issues are the window licking retards.  But yet again us responsible pilots get stuffed.  I bloody knee jurk wankwears. 

I was also working with a local youth club to setup a flying club for those poor fixed wings and quadcopters...... Maybe even.. blurgh helicopters... To help introduce youngsters into the hobby in a safe and supervised way... But i would be using my collecton of 15x250s  for that.  If i have to pay for rfid for each of then.... Not going to happen.  Shame

Fyi anyone wanna buy a slightly used collective pitch quad with a sheet ton of spares? Lol

Hope its not going to happen tbh and endup like our american friends.  As i cannot see it helping "drones" in any form.  As it bern said no hobby pilot will be asked about this.  Just professionals who already pay.

[shawdreamer]

iirc the yanks tried to bring in almost the exact same regulation themselves a while ago and it got chucked out....

If the super paranoid yanks who scream "bio-terrorism" when someone squeezes out a cheeky fart in a subway train cant make it stick what makes the UK beuroprats think it';ll work out?

[Two-Six]

Drugs into prisons!

So what?

How much "Drugs" can you carry on a Phantom?  Crap all really.  An ounce of something or other?  I guess if its a class A substance 28 grams of it might be quite lucrative.  If it was Coke or Heroine the criminal smuggler might just about make a profit of about £200-£300!
Woo!  Big league stuff....

There would be much better ways of flying drugs into a prison than using a DJI anyway. 

A custom build stealth drugs drone would be the way to go.  Fly it FPV, no need for GPS, so geo-fencing wouldn';t stop it, no lights and specially selected motors and props for heavy lifting and near silent operation....Perfect.  It could even be flown with an infar-red command link so no radio transmissions to block.

They should give prisoners cannabis products in prison anyway if they want it to keep them off the evil poison that is "Spice". 

It is prohibition that has caused the widespread uses of these horrible artificial cannabinnoids in the first place.  Which are INFINITELY worse than real cannabis.

In fact they should legalise the growing of cannabis for everybody who wants to do it and train prisoners if they are interested in Hydroponics and indoor growing.  Then they could get proper jobs when they get out selling and managing grow gear to people which could be a HUGE market if weed growing was legal.

However we aren';t going to ever see anything sensible from these Toss-pots that make the rules. 

Just more authoritarian mum';s net/school marm ish type finger-wagging scaremongering bullsh*t.

I will do my very best not to comply with any of this crap they seek to impose on me.

F&*K them.  Hatefully bunch of muppets.

Right I am off to kill a kitten.

[The.Quadfather]

regarding the US, IIRC, their airspace is controlled by FAA who were given a particular mandate/rules for doing this

by introducing their registration, they overstepped this and hence was over-turned in the courts

sadly, I can';t see this happening in the UK ...

I can understand why they have taken the decision, but it really won';t stop the idiots or criminals doing what they do

Looking on the good side (if there is one!) maybe this will promote more serious flyers rather than seen on other (car) forums:

I fancy some cool photo/videos on holiday - what copter should I buy to take with me?

attitude   

[nate80]

iirc the yanks tried to bring in almost the exact same regulation themselves a while ago and it got chucked out....

If the super paranoid yanks who scream "bio-terrorism" when someone squeezes out a cheeky fart in a subway train cant make it stick what makes the UK beuroprats think it';ll work out?

In 2015 the yank government brought in a one off $5 per UAV registration scheme that was overturned in the courts this year for failing to comply with one of the FAA modern reform acts.  I seem to remember anyone who';d paid the registration fee was entitled to claim the money back.  But the ****** up isn';t stopping another scheme being put in place and many multi-rotor owners will have to register again when the revised system is put in place.

To be honest I can see the requirement for registering some drones.  But the proposed 250g and up rule is stupid.  There';s a whole load of stuff that should be considered, not just weight.  And if (as ';experts'; have suggested) a 400g drone can damage a helicopter windscreen when the UAV is in fast flight, why not introduce a 350g or even 300g lower limit instead?

I';ve already seen an article in the Guardian this morning that has twisted the facts and is saying that a small 400g drone that comes into contact with a helicopter windscreen could critically damage it.  When in fact the ';experts'; have said a 400g drone flown as FULL SPEED (whatever that is?!?) COULD damage a helicopter windscreen.  What, chip it?  Leave a small crack, or a scuff mark?  Nowhere does any expert say it will critically damage a windscreen, and the speed the drone is flying when impacting the helicopter windscreen may have too be 80-100mph for all we know.  That';s the nonsensical rubbish that puts fear and hatred into the minds of many uneducated readers.

In order to protect our hobby I';m willing to please the public and its elected representatives by introducing a fee free (or very small fee) registration system, but only if it';s sensible.

[Jimmeh]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfrhIwp1L8w

Some good points from Bruce!


Not sure how this will effect us as we fly multi-rotors  ::)

[DarkButterfly]

The underground drone scene, looks like it will become a reality 

[shawdreamer]

The underground drone scene, looks like it will become a reality 

5yrs from now... can already see it.

"JUST WHEN HE THOUGHT HIS LIFE FINALLY CALM AND HE COULD LIVE OUT HIS RETIREMENT YEARS, HE';S DRAGGED BACK IN...."

vin diesel.... with fatsharks on.... fast&furious 15

[Reman]

Geofencing, Yeah, It stops muppets flying near airports. But then, When it';s compulsory, the government says "Well, Actually, you';re not ment to be flying over built up areas either, So they';ll get added..... Oh, and within 50 meters of roads....... And private property, Can';t have you flying over someone else';s fields can we". Before you know it we get to take off and fly in a 20 meter square box in the middle of a half kilometer square of land you own...... But it';s alright, You can still go 120 meters straight up........... Well, as long as you don';t stray outside of your "Flight approved" box (Or the new fancy geofencing electrickery will land your quad for you and probabbly phone up the fuzz to report you for your infringement).

They want RFID on multirotors too, so when one goes crashing into someones parked car the rozzers know who to go finger for it.

My old MX5 had battle scars all along the sides from people in carparks slamming their cars doors into it and scuffing the sides with their bumpers while failing to get into a space I could easily get my van into. Invariably, after knocking hundreds of pounds off the value of someone elses property they just drive off.......

Maybe if the government sorted out some kind of regulatory scheme where you';d need to prove that you were a competent driver before you were allowed to take a car on the roads? And for the ones who damage other property and scarper, They could have some kind of "Registration number" somewhere visible on the cars so others could tell which car, And subsequently identify the owner who was responsible for the damaged to your property...... Yeah, A test for drivers and a prominent "Registration number" to link the car to the owner, That would solve EVERYTHING, wouldn';t it.

[Cheredanine]

The underground drone scene, looks like it will become a reality 

Surely that is a remote control drill?

I don';t have a problem registering my drones, I don';t have a problem taking an online test.

I do have a problem putting gps/geofencing/altitude limiting on my racing quads

I do not think this legislation shows one iota of common sense

Will it stop idiots buying rtf drones and flying them irresponsibly? After all they are mostly breaking the existing legislation so NO, not a one

Will it stop those intending on illegality? These people smuggling class A substances into prisons? They probably thought it was all legal right, but this will stop them! Even a 5 year old can spot the futility there

The practical approach would be register the radio and its signal

[Skeeve666]

I would love to see somthing i already do with my quads, incase i lose it and the failsafe dosent kick in.  I have a dog tag, the ones you can roll up a note in, with my telephone number and a offer of a reward.  If they made somthing like that mandatory, you would not have anyone complaining, its easy and cheap. I must admit i would agree.

The free registering of pilots the usa did, with a numberplate for ya vehicles. Twas a good idea tbh. And FREE.  Could be worse we could live in canada lol.

it should be 1lb and up seriously, and how are they measuring that weight, all up flying or before you add a gopro and battery, I bet you will also be checked to see if your fpv tx is 25mw ;D. Like all mine are, cough.

[shawdreamer]

christ sake people....you all need to stop thinking in terms of whats good for the public

now in terms of whats good for the bureaucratic wallet.... thats a different thing entirely

[nub]

I bet you will also be checked to see if your fpv tx is 25mw ;D. Like all mine are, cough.

lucky you mine are limited to 25mw and must say it sucks!

either way i say bring it on! ::)

[Skeeve666]

Mine are, but i may have accidentally on the odd occasions, and i did right it immediately! Pressed the little button that alters the output.... ^_^

[nate80]

The free registering of pilots the usa did, with a numberplate for ya vehicles. Twas a good idea tbh. And FREE.  Could be worse we could live in canada lol.

Unless I';m getting my wires crossed, in the states the normal registration fee was $5. In an effort to encourage as many people as possible to register quickly, the FAA waived that fee for the first 30 days (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016). After that it was $5 again.

[iRobot]

I';m in  where do I sign 
And a reg sticker for my drone 

[Andy7]

I';m in  where do I sign 
And a reg sticker for my drone 

Me too! And hey, something fun to add you our profiles :)

[Andy7]

Some really interesting stuff in this report too:

Findings by the Department for Transport (DfT), British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) and the Military Aviation Authority (MAA) published today in a summary report, reveal drones weighing 400 grams could damage the windscreens of helicopters in particular. However, airliner windscreens were found to be much more resistant. It would take a heavier drone of around 2 kilograms to critically damage an airliner windscreen, and only if the airliner is flying at a high speed; not during take-off and landing.

... sticks tongue out at Daily Mail types.

[LuMan]

Some really interesting stuff in this report too:

... sticks tongue out at Daily Mail types.

WHOA!! Hang on there, Andy... Don';t you go letting common sense get in the way of a good story... Or the chance of the government taxing honest folk for the loutish behaviour of The Few!! We may end up with a viable solution!! 

[Bajadre]

I';m in  where do I sign 
And a reg sticker for my drone 

How much is the reg sticker gonna weight?     it might tip me over 400grams 

[ched]

A funny view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfrhIwp1L8w

[atomiclama]

Ah ****** I';m stuffed. Where can I get rid of me fruit bat.