[NSRCA-discussion] Fwd: Altitude limits

[chris moon]

Here is the important excerpt from the clarification of policy letter:



"Model aircraft should be flown below 400 feet above the

surface to avoid other aircraft in flight."



There is a BIG difference as far as the feds are concerned between the
words "should" "shall" and "must".  We are not regularly above 400 feet
throughout a flight and frankly have no means of determining our
altitude accurately, so I don't see how this is any big change for us. 
The intent was of course to regulate the big UAV craft and they had to
mention our models so that the big UAV guys could not claim their
planes were just hobbyist models.



Chris



James Oddino wrote:


  

  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 mailing list

> NSRCA-discussion at lists.nsrca.org

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