Worrying new UAV laws.

[Teckair]

Are we talking 400 feet AGL and 500 feet QNH? How does the drone operator measure its height? I would like a bit more separation.

I wouldn't get to 400 ft, you couldn't see it.

 

 

[Garfly]

This news story tells of the near miss of a UAV with a rescue chopper at night near Newcastle a few months back. I suppose this kind of operation will be most at risk if the green-laser brigade, along with hobbyists and small 'pro' operators, take to the skies in huge numbers without let or hindrance. The article also throws light on CASA's attitude as well as that of the currently legal commercial operators.

 

This thing has all happened so fast; the toothpaste is out of the tube and nobody knows how to get it back.

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/aviation/near-miss-ups-ante-over-maverick-drone-operators/story-e6frg95x-1226873913950#

 

 

[Garfly]

In case the link doesn't work:

 

Near miss ups ante over maverick drone operators

 

• THE AUSTRALIAN
   
   
  
• APRIL 04, 2014
   
   
  

 

 

Anthony Klan

 

 

Reporter-Investigations Unit

 

Sydney

 

https://plus.google.com/110790254144288601738/

 

 

Authorities have acknowledged that the ‘booming’ unmanned aircraft sector is presenting headaches over safety and privacy. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper

 

THE nation’s key body representing licenced drone operators has called for the regulator to crack down on illegal operators after a recent near miss.

 

The Australian Certified UAV Operators Association called for further funding for the safety regulator to police the sector after a Westpac rescue helicopter and a drone nearly collided at night two weeks ago above Newcastle, north of Sydney.

 

The group publicly released its submission to the federal government’s aviation safety regulation review following the incident.

 

“Under-resourcing of the regulatory and compliance management capacities of CASA is not an option, as the unmanned aircraft industry continues its rapid growth, not just in Australia, but internationally,” ACUO president Joe Urli said.

 

“Illegal unmanned aircraft operations are on the rise in Australia and the question of whether there will be a serious safety incident is no longer theoretical given last week’s reported near-miss incident involving a Westpac rescue helicopter.”

 

Last week, Westpac rescue helicopter service spokesman Glen Ramplin said the helicopter may have crashed had it collided with the drone, which was flying well above its 120m flight restriction at about 300m.

 

The crew had initially believed the lights of the drone were from an aircraft in the distance, but were forced to take evasive action when they realised it was closer.

 

Mr Urli, a former air safety inspector, said that there had been a “significant rise” in CASA-certified UAV — or unmanned aerial vehicle — aircraft over the past two years, but the number of uncertified operators was “skyrocketing”.

 

“The outlook facing the Australian unmanned aircraft industry has strong parallels with the rise of commercial aviation in Australia during the 1920s and 1930s, where a high rate of incidents included loss of human life,” Mr Urli said.

 

“CASA is internationally respected for its pioneering work in facilitating the legal operation of commercial unmanned aircraft.

 

“However, that effort is now at direct risk of being undermined if more resources are not made available to the regulator to allow for not only the continued development of a well-structured regulatory regime, but also its enforcement.”

 

While the ACUO is in part protesting against the surge in unlicensed operators for commercial reasons, authorities have acknowledged the “booming’’ sector is presenting headaches over,safety and privacy.

 

CASA director of aviation safety John McCormick told a Senate inquiry into drones in February that it was his “deepest desire” CASA not be given responsibility for policing drones.

 

“It is how the parliament decides to build the animal — so to speak — that will determine where (drone privacy regulation) goes, but we certainly do not have the resources or budget to do the sort of operation required to do it justice on the privacy side,” Mr McCormick said.

 

In its submission to the Aviation Safety Regulation Review, the group of licenced drone operators called on CASA to refocus on illegal UAV operators rather than “legal UAV operators”.

 

It also called for regulations making it illegal for an uncertified UAV operator to advertise their services, and to increase fines for unlicensed operators.

 

“There needs to be a refocus of attention by CASA on the illegal UAV operators, not he certified UAV operators as is the case,” ACUO wrote.

 

“Penalties should include increased fines representative of the sort of money they are earning from their illegal activities.’’

 

 

[RickH]

For the past fifty odd years there have been radio controlled model aircraft.

 

I have never heard of an incident of a radio controlled model endangering an aircraft, RAA, GA or RPT.

 

Suddenly we have UAV's and there is a problem, I would suggest the only problem is those people (X- Spirts) who like to bump their gums or in this case rattle their key boards because it makes them feel important and all the while helping Big brother to get even bigger. And these very same X-Spirts will turn around and whinge about their freedoms being erroded. I say the more deregulation the better.