[NSRCA-discussion] Altitude limits

[Ed White]

Arch,

I also work with UAV projects.  Up until recently it was a grey area and different FAA field offices offered their own interpretation of this AC with regard to UAV's.  In the last year or so we were told was a more formal interpretation from FAA headquarters that said this AC covers only model airplanes flown by hobbyists and it can not be applied to UAV's or model aircraft flown for commercial purposes.  The commercial purposes was key.

You are correct that the FAA is developing rules for UAV's flown for commercial purposes (and have been developing such rules for at least 4-5 years that I know of, probably longer).  The AC has existed for over 25 years and has had little effect on us.  Very few flyers know it even exists.  I think you are right on the money that it is up to us to be smart and careful so that when the new rules finally do come out, they won't restrict us excessively.

Ed

Archie Stafford <rcpattern at swtexas.net> wrote:        v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}       st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) }           Ed,
   
  My info came directly from one of the guys who write the rules from Oklahoma City.  He was in Del Rio working with us on a UAV project involving training and compliances.  As I said in my post, it is in the gray area, that there is a lot of room to interpret.  I think as long as we are smart and careful this wont become a problem.  I’m sure that when the new UAV rules come out over the next couple of years, we will be mentioned in there.  
   
  Arch
   
   
      
---------------------------------
  
  From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ed White
 Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 3:14 PM
 To: NSRCA  Mailing List
 Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Altitude limits
  
   
  It is written in FAA Advisory Circular AC 91-57, dated June 9, 1981.  You can download it from the the FAA website (www.faa.gov and then type AC 91-57 into the search box).
 
 It says "Do not fly model aircraft higher than 400 feet above the surface."  This applies to any location.  But because the next sentence says "When flying aircraft within 3 miles of an airport, notify the airport operator ..."  some people misinterpret the requirement as 400 feet only when within 3 miles of an airport.
 
 The key point is that it is an ADVISORY Circular.  It outlines the FAA's preferred model aircraft operating standards, but compliance with the AC is voluntary.  An AC is not the same as a FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation). 
 
 Ed
 
 Mark Atwood <atwoodm at paragon-inc.com> wrote:
  It was always my understanding that we were never supposed to exceed 400 ft
 and that full scale aircraft were to stay above 500ft. But I'm not sure
 where that's written...
 
 -M
 
 
 On 1/21/08 2:35 PM, "James Oddino" wrote:
 
 > I'm getting some breaking news that there is some type of advisory
 > that says we shouldn't be flying above 400 feet at our field in
 > Camarillo. Are there any general rules about altitude limits that we
 > should be aware of? We are pretty far from the Camarillo airport and
 > never get close to any full size stuff so I don't understand why there
 > would be a local restriction. More to follow I'm sure.
 > 
 > Jim O
 > _______________________________________________
 > NSRCA-discussion mailing list
 > NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
 > http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
 
 _______________________________________________
 NSRCA-discussion mailing list
 NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
 http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
 
 
     
  
  _______________________________________________
NSRCA-discussion mailing list
NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.nsrca.org/pipermail/nsrca-discussion/attachments/20080121/8e5803d7/attachment.html