[NSRCA-discussion] Fwd: Altitude limits

[James Oddino]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Bryan Hudson <gbflyer at sbcglobal.net>
> Date: January 22, 2008 10:00:42 PM PST
> To: James Oddino <joddino at socal.rr.com>
> Subject: Re: Fwd: [NSRCA-discussion] Altitude limits
>
> Jim,
>
> That used to be correct up till Feburary last year.  Long story  
> short.  FAA (Advisory Circular) AC 91-57 for model airplanes has  
> been around since 1981.  It "advises" fly models below 400 feet AGL  
> (above ground level).  Because of the growing unmanned aircraft  
> industry, last February the NTSB / FAA issued a "Policy Statement"  
> in the Federal Register officially making AC 91-57 the "Authority"  
> under which models will be flown.  So as of last Feb. fly below 400  
> AGL is federal law.  This information has recently been added to the  
> FAA's own web site, and now it looks like the new policy is being  
> enforced.
>
> New regulation on FAA's web site www.faa.gov
>
> To fly a UAS you must have an (Experimental Airworthiness  
> Certificate) EAC, unless you are a hobbyist and intend to fly your  
> model aircraft in accordance with the guidance in AC 91-57 "Model  
> Aircraft Operating Standards.”
>
> In other words, if you want to fly higher than AC 91-57 allows  
> (above 400 AGL) then you must have an EAC.  EACs are not being  
> issued to modelers so don't even think about that.
>
> You can find the Federal Register Policy Statement that lays this  
> out on this site also.
>
> Go to
> www.faa.gov
>
> then click on:
> Aircraft Tab
> Aircraft Topics - Aircraft Certification
> Design Approvals
> Types of Aircraft - Unmanned Aircraft
>
> At this point click on Regulations and Policies for links to::
> Advisory Circulars - AC 91-57 Model Aircraft Operating Standards
> Policies - Federal Register Notice – Clarification of FAA Policy
> Or after Unmanned Aircraft click on FAQ for statement on FAA's web  
> site.
>
> Bryan
>
>
>
>
> James Oddino <joddino at socal.rr.com> wrote:
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
>> From: Ed White <edvwhite at sbcglobal.net>
>> Date: January 21, 2008 1:13:55 PM PST
>> To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Altitude limits
>> Reply-To: NSRCA Mailing List <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
>>
>> 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
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> > NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org
>> > http://lists.nsrca.org/mailman/listinfo/nsrca-discussion
>>
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>

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