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  • Author Author: Catwell
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Civilians and corporations will get to use privatized UAVs with some limitations

Catwell

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(Left) U.S. Military predator drone (Right) Civilian drone filming the riots in Poland over the ACTA signing

 

UAVs have been all over the news in recent months, with the recent acquisition of military grade surplus for both federal and law enforcement agencies. For them, it is legal to fly those in most major cities. For civilians, it’s a different story, as a California based realty company found out when the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) scolded them for using UAV’s to make promo videos for potential customers. Even hobbyists in the model airplane realm have had it rough. Federal rules dictate they can only fly them in designated areas and with a predetermined height.

 

However, this might change as the United States Senate has introduced legislature that would require the FAA to revise its rules concerning private UAVs. Included in this legislation are altitude revisions for drones that weigh up 55 pounds, that is meant to avoid collisions with commercial aircraft. That situation happens more frequently than you might think. August 2011 saw a collision of a Shadow drone and a C-130 over Afghanistan.

 

Airline pilots are voicing their concern with the revision as they have to achieve a certain amount of flight hours while drone pilots do not. They feel that UAV pilots should have to meet the same standards as human controlled aircraft. There is also the concern of crashing into residential areas as it is not uncommon for UAVs to suffer catastrophic malfunctions and plummet to the earth. Rules and at least a few test sites are already in place with full implementation of regulations coming in three years. Let the spying begin!

 

Read more about the FAA rulings after this link.

 

Also, get in on the UAV scene with DARPA's open UAVforge competition.

 

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

  • in reply to DAB

    Dab,

     

    If the UAVs are permitted, there would be a whole new market of anti-UAV technology. Automated turrets, EMD devices, and security UAVs immediately come to mind. Those sound fun to develop.

     

    Cabe

    http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

  • HI Cabe,

     

    Not only do you have FAA limitations, but you might also have FCC, noise and privacy issues for running your UAV in populated areas.  Plus, you are liable for any damage, real or imaginary caused by your UAV.

     

    So I am glad you brought these issues up.  You can play with these devices at very low levels, but if you are going to make a serious UAV, you better check your local laws.  You may find that you have many restrictions to their use in certain areas and ignorance of the law will not be a very good legal defence.  It is YOUR obligation to check.  The usual maker practice of "It is easier to get forgiveness than permission" would be inadvisable, especially with the FAA.  Restricted flight areas are very rigidly monitored.

     

    I live under the landing path of the local air force base and anything higher than 40 feet is prohibited.

     

    However, you might find your local small plane airports readily accessable for testing.  We were allowed to test an experimental radar at our local airfield to the point where they even let us launch a hot air balloon with a radar reflector and GPS reciever aboard.  The detailed flight information was invaluable for calibrating the device for further field tests.

     

    So while it may seem that the laws are against you, if you involve some of your local aviation clubs, you might find that they will "bend" the rules if you explain what you want to do.  If they get intrigued, they may even help you by clearing the sky over the local airport while you fly.

     

    So please check before you fly.  Lives are at stake.

     

    DAB