[NSRCA-discussion] Fwd: Altitude limits

[James Oddino]

Where can we see the clarification of policy letter?

Jim


On Jan 23, 2008, at 10:05 AM, chris moon wrote:

> 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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>>>
>>
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