Lost Or Checking Us Out

[Guest]

I wonder if Canada will follow suit?

Press Release – FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

For Immediate Release

December 14, 2015
Contact: Les Dorr or Alison Duquette
Phone: (202) 267-3883

Registration will be free for the first 30 days

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras.

The Registration Task Force delivered recommendations to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on November 21. The rule incorporates many of the task force recommendations.

“Make no mistake: unmanned aircraft enthusiast are aviators, and with that title comes a great deal of responsibility,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Registration gives us an opportunity to work with these users to operate their unmanned aircraft safely. I’m excited to welcome these new aviators into the culture of safety and responsibility that defines American innovation.”

Registration is a statutory requirement that applies to all aircraft. Under this rule, any owner of a small UAS who has previously operated an unmanned aircraft exclusively as a model aircraft prior to December 21, 2015, must register no later than February 19, 2016. Owners of any other UAS purchased for use as a model aircraft after December 21, 2015 must register before the first flight outdoors. Owners may use either the paper-based process or the new streamlined, web-based system. Owners using the new streamlined web-based system must be at least 13 years old to register.

Owners may register through a web-based system at www.faa.gov/uas/registration

Registrants will need to provide their name, home address and e-mail address. Upon completion of the registration process, the web application will generate a Certificate of Aircraft Registration/Proof of Ownership that will include a unique identification number for the UAS owner, which must be marked on the aircraft.

Owners using the model aircraft for hobby or recreation will only have to register once and may use the same identification number for all of their model UAS. The registration is valid for three years.

The normal registration fee is $5, but in an effort to encourage as many people as possible to register quickly, the FAA is waiving this fee for the first 30 days (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016).

“We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be purchased this holiday season,” said FAA Administrator Huerta. “Registration gives us the opportunity to educate these new airspace users before they fly so they know the airspace rules and understand they are accountable to the public for flying responsibly.”

The online registration system does not yet support registration of small UAS used for any purpose other than hobby or recreation – for example, using an unmanned aircraft in connection with a business. The FAA is developing enhancements that will allow such online registrations by spring of 2016.

The full rule can be viewed here: www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf

[J.O.]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/skier-narrowly-escapes-drone-crashing-into-hill-1.3378094

[DEFCON]

Incredibly close! You can bet there'll be new rules coming soon to ski hills.

[Kip Powick]

Incredibly close! You can bet there'll be new rules coming soon to ski hills.

VIENNA—The international ski federation is banning camera drones from its World Cup races after one of the flying objects crashed and nearly hit Austrian skier Marcel Hirscher during a slalom in Italy.

FIS will prohibit drones “as long as I am responsible . . . because they are a bad thing for safety,” men’s race director Markus Waldner told The Associated Press on Wednesday, a day after the night’s race in Madonna di Campiglio.

“It was huge luck that Marcel was not hurt,” Waldner said.........................................................

http://www.thestar.com/sports/2015/12/23/drone-falls-from-sky-narrowly-missing-downhill-skier.html

[Guest]

And here is one that took on a car, just imagine if it had hit the driver side windshield instead of the grill.

New

Belleville drone vs. vehicle crash 'probably won't be the last': police No charges laid, as police express puzzlement over what might apply

CBC News Posted: Dec 29, 2015 3:13 PM ET Last Updated: Dec 29, 2015 4:11 PM ET

As drones become more popular and affordable, Canada and other jurisdictions are working on developing stricter regulations to fill legal gaps surrounding safety and privacy. (Associated Press)

Police in Belleville, Ont., are warning drivers that drones could become a growing hazard on the road after one of the airborne devices crashed into the grille of a moving vehicle on Monday morning, causing $1,000 in damage to it.

Sgt. Kosta Brindakis told CBC News the privately owned drone crashed head-on into a westbound vehicle on Old Madoc Road around 10:30 a.m. No one was injured.

"It's the first [drone vs. vehicle crash] I've heard of — and it probably won't be the last," Brindakis said.

"It's not a specific big problem right now, but there's all kinds of scenarios that could come up."

Police found the owner of the drone, but do not plan to lay any charges, in part because the scenario is so novel, Brindakis said.

"Quite honestly, we're not sure what may apply," he said.

Police ruled out a charge under the Highway Traffic Act, and decided a criminal mischief charge did not apply in this case because the crash was not intentional, Brindakis said.

"From my understanding, it was an accident — that's why no charges were laid," he said, adding that the owner of the drone could face civil action.

More regulations coming

As drones become more popular and affordable, Canada and other jurisdictions are working on developing stricter regulations to fill legal gaps surrounding safety and privacy.

"The whole drone issue opens up a whole slew of various scenarios," Brindakis said. "I think, in the future, you'll see more issues arising with drones, for sure."

With CFB Trenton on the border of Belleville, Brindakis said, residents have to be especially careful about avoiding the flight paths of military planes.

Transport Canada, which regulates recreational drone use, recommends flying drones at least nine kilometres away from airports, no higher than 90 metres above the ground and at least 150 metres away from people, buildings and vehicles.

Users must apply for a special certificate to fly drones that weigh more than 35 kilograms.

[Guest]

Good to see, I wonder what he will get?

New Calgary man criminally charged for flying drone near airport

Police arrest 25-year-old after spotting him flying a remote-controlled quadcopter just south of major runway

CBC News Posted: Jan 21, 2016 11:50 AM MT Last Updated: Jan 21, 2016 11:51 AM MT

Police have criminally charged a Calgary man for flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) — commonly known as a drone — in the flight path of aircraft near the airport.

"This is believed to be the first charge of its kind in Calgary, in terms of the illegal use of a UAV," said Sgt. Colin Foster.

Police saw the man operating the remote-controlled quadcopter from Airways Park, just south of the airport, at 6:45 p.m. on Sunday.

"The UAV was seen to be flying under the flight path for Calgary International Airport, which obviously caused some concern," Foster said.

"The concern was that the particular device he was using has the potential to go up to 500 feet."

Police approached the man, who made his way on foot to a nearby vehicle, but officers intercepted him before he could drive away.

Following a conversation with the man, officers decided to arrest him.

Foster said the 25-year-old Calgary resident was charged under the Criminal Code of Canada for interfering with a navigation facility in a manner likely to endanger the safety of aircraft.

He's set to appear in court on Jan. 28.