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FAA Drone Rules May Already Be Outlawed By Congress (hackaday.com)

szczys writes: New FAA rules about drone registration and operation are now in effect. So far the talk has centered around registering your aircraft, and about the weight restriction. But all of this may be moot since the US Congress made a law in 2012 prohibiting these types of rules: "The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft, or an aircraft being developed as a model aircraft." Even if the rules hold up under this law, it is not all doom and gloom for drones. The FAA rules could have been much more stringent, and in general they do make sense. Brian Benchoff walks through the regulation, comparing the new rules to the FAA's existing pilot rules, and juxtaposing the threat drones make to full-size aircraft in flight with those risks associated with bird strikes.

4 of 226 comments (clear)

  1. I already got a letter from my flying club by AndyKron · · Score: 4, Informative

    I already got a letter from my flying club saying to hold off on registration. Here's the AMA website report: http://amablog.modelaircraft.o...

  2. Re: We'll see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Negative, the FAA is apply their new registration rule to EVERY model aircraft whether it's a quadcopter, a helicopter, or a balsa plane. If it weighs more than 0.55 pounds, flies, and is remotely or autonomously controlled they want it registered. Flying a model aircraft out of LOS is against the rules. If the registration allowed for beyond LOS operation, less enthusiasts would be upset about it.

  3. Re: We'll see by Guspaz · · Score: 4, Informative

    The FAA rules are exactly the opposite of what you understand:

    https://www.faa.gov/regulation...

    Operational Limitations

    - Visual line-of-sight (VLOS) only; the unmanned aircraft must remain
    within VLOS of the operator or visual observer.
    - At all times the small unmanned aircraft must remain close enough to
    the operator for the operator to be capable of seeing the aircraft with
    vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses.

  4. Re:Can somebody explain to me by spire3661 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Guns are an ENUMERATED RIGHT. What part of 'shall not infringe' is unclear to you?

    --
    Good-bye