I wish all these rules just said: does not apply when flying below 200’ AGL.
Very frustrating to see that this industry is likely going to get stopped before it even gets started.
Very frustrating to see that this industry is likely going to get stopped before it even gets started.
That's why they are creating regulations because the current softball rules are simply being ignored and the law enforcement and regulators have no means to catch the violators nor to prove their guilt.
The result is this heavy-handed nonsense, but the drone owners have only themselves to blame here. E.g. RC plane/heli pilots were never this kind of nuisance requiring such heavy handed regulation.
The other aspect is that this regulation isn't being made just for hobby pilots. It is likely meant to cover the upcoming commercial services (e.g. goods delivery by a drone, TV crew drone usage, etc.) that are impossible today without waivers issued on a case by case basis. A transponder on a large 10-20kg drone is nothing.
Aircraft typically need to stay above 500, and toys below 400. We could move aircraft up to a minimum of 2000, move the toys up to a maximum of 1000, and let the serious fancy big drones have 1200 to 1800.
See: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.119
You'd also need to amend right of way rules:
See: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.113
This would make it very hard for anyone operating smaller aircraft under busy charlie or bravo shelves. Also, would there be exclusions around airports for pattern work?
How would folks operating the toys even know about these altitudes? Really, if the toy can enter echo airspace, it should require some sort of license to operate.
Moving aircraft to a minimum of 2000 might mean not being able to stay below the clouds. I randomly looked up the METAR for the nearest airport, and at the moment, it has clouds at 1500.
Once an emergency develops, violating altitude rules is quite alright.
Changes to the rules could be an incentive for many pilots to become instrument rated. That isn't a bad thing.
Rotary wing aircraft are flying even lower than that fairly frequently.
https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators/become_a_drone_...