Last day for FAA registration

[Dewey H Lee]

Thank you OV10 for your post. I was expecting to be crucified by people thinking I was just takeing up for what the faa is doing. I hate that it has gotten to the point that our loved hobby has gotten to the point that now we are having to be policed. But the facts speak for themselves. I've heard it time and again from individuals saying that I played my money for this toy and no one is going to tell me what to do with it. This is a free country and I can fly anywhere and do as I please. First we had airplanes. Then helicopters. Then cameras. Then multiple rotor aircraft(drones) a completely more stable platform to be developed yet. Now everyone can fly one(they think). Put a camera on it and go video the neighbors the game, shoot it's cool lm just going to get one for my 6,7,8,9,10 year old. What can happen. See what I'm saying. A member of our club brought his 6 years old son to the club one day and had gotten him a small drone. He carried his son out go the flight line and set the drone in the runway and allowed him total control of it. He had said that the child was a competent pilot of it. Siteing that he could put it wherever he wanted to. After several drops in the pits I finally approached this gentleman and told him as a member of the club that this had to stop because his son was causeing a hazzard dropping in the Pitts and then saying look I landed. No matter who he almost hit in the process. Yea we are going to suffer. I don't know what people are thinking when they are operating rc aircraft in close proximity to people and private property especially if there skills are not good enough to do so safely. You are definitely right about the social media thing. But damn (excuse me) flying in the path of planes and helicopters in the middle of rescues and fire fighting as happened this pass summer in California. No matter airplane, helicopters, or drones people are causing our problem with the bureaucrats. I don't know if there is any other way to at least slow this down except to enforce some kind of penalties for unresponsible operation. If nothing at all is done then it will just continue. It's funny that since all this has started all I've seen is complaints(including me at first). But I have not seen or heard of anyone coming up with an alternative. Thank you OV10 for seeing things the way they really are.

[doctormike]

The FAA's rediculous attempt at safety is worthless. I suspect 80% of the drone flyers don't even know the FAA exists, much less register! Doc

[fhhuber]

Mainly it gives the FAA another charge to stack on when someone acts like an idiot

[Dewey H Lee]

Yea. Looks like they'll be stacking a lot. Crap that is on us.😠

[retiredflyer]

retired,
Sad to see that you got sucked into one of the many unscrupulous capitalistic web sites trying to make money off of this FAA over reach. Unfortunately this crap happens all the time because folks just don't take the extra moment to fully understand who/what they are looking/dealing with on the internet. I'm guessing that this bite in the wallet won't happen again with your future internet purchases. Oh......no need to be sorry, just glad it isn't true that we have to do it.
Best regards,

I just wanted to say as a follow up to my earlier posting that the website I spent my money on was NOT a fake, or ripoff. I received a photo ID card for my wallet with my FAA and AMA number, and a metallic like label for one plane today in the mail. Although I wasn't initially aware that I didn't need to go through them for anything, it was a relief to get a legitimate product after all. I got numerous periodic e-mail updates about my order from them making me feel more confident they weren't a fly by night operation. Probably wouldn't have spent the extra money, but I'm not upset.

[Grossman56]

Well, that's a relief Retired, in this day and age you never know.
I just had to replace a credit card as well, something charged to 'Fishpond" that we never put on it. Fortunately the bank caught it and warned us, at least we have that technology working for us.

Grossman56

[wvrailfan]

Folks, I have the somewhat rare position regarding the FAA registration in that I am both an RC flyer and I consider myself an advocate for the hobby, but I am also a cop of nearly 30 years and I am actually currently in a position to have to enforce the registration.

I retired from my first LEO job after 22 years. I then took a position with the Kanawha County Parks PD. Our largest park, which is where I spend most if my time is Coonskin Park, over 1000 acres wrapped around the north and northeast side of Yeager Airport in Charleston, WV. Yeager is not large by most standards, but it is the largest airport in WV and is also home to an Air Guard unit. As you might imagine, our PD often has interaction with both the airport PD and Air Guard Security Police.

It is not uncommon for people to want to fly RC aircraft in our parks. I'm happy to say we (the parks) have no rules prohibiting RC flying. However, when flying in Coonskin Park our officers will inform flyers that it is their responsibility to inform the airport that they are flying in the park and that they should make an effort to stay well below 400 feet. We won't be asking folks if we can see their FAA card unless they do damage to the park or other property or people in the park.

In talking to the airport officers, officers from other local agencies and even the Air Force SP, I can say as long as you are not doing anything stupid or obviously unsafe, local cops do not care about RC flyers having to register with the FAA. The FAA did send out a notice to every PD in the country regarding the new registration requirement, but keep in mind, we also get notices on how not to get blown up in houses with meth labs, the increase in heroin ODs and the new trend of shooting cops for sport. So for most cops, this issue, while a big deal to RC flyers, isn't on their radar (pun intended.)

I registered, even though I personally believe the registration program is contrary to the intent of the 2012 Reform Act. I also believe it is a kneejerk over-reaction to a minor problem that could have been solved by enforcement of existing laws. That said, I think everyone here realizes just how fast technology in our hobby has grown in just the last five years. So I can see where the leaders at the FAA felt they needed to get at least some control of the sUAV community. I don't agree with their method, but I understand it.

Bottom line, fly like you have some common sense and respect for others and you will likely never be asked for your FAA registration card.

Jim

[OV10]

Hello Vrail,
Thanx for sharing that info with us and giving us some perspective from the enforcement side. This is what I expected how LEO's would be handling this generally.
The FAA and LEO are not the real issue but as I mentioned in other threads on this topic it is the local governance making laws to ban RC flying due to misinformation they are led to believe. That is the main threat to our hobby now along with the fact that there are stupid characters in our ranks that bring on the negative perceptions to the news media who is also part of the misinformation creep. As a veteran, I salute your civilian public service to 'Serve and Protect'.
Best regards,