I don't think anyone has said there should be no rules. My concern is the rule that a UAV flier have a manned aircraft license, and no apparent rule about making UAV's more visible to other fliers.

VFR flight rules = you are responsible for see-and-avoid. Even under IFR you're still responsible as the pilot if you're not in hard IMC.

Below a certain altitude, not near any airports (no class D, C or B) would be logical - similar to the rules followed by ultralight pilots.

I really suspect a lot of the reason they want a real pilot is he or she will really understand what is expected and what is just not a safe activity. The FAA can and will pull a pilots license if he does something stupid or dangerous. Just like losing a driving license it is a big burden and makes people think twice about loosing it.

Of course lots of people drive with no license and only get a small fine. I really wonder what the FAA does if when they catch a pilot flying an aircraft with a revoked license.

I'm sure it will be covered by homeowners, or by a special rider on the operators auto insurance policy.
I think they get a fine. Or nothing.
Nothing is the easy thing for the FAA to do, and they have a lot of practice.

Thats not true. I dont have numbers, but a significant portion of UPT grads go to UAVs. You may be thinking of when UAVs started with the AF 10-20 years ago and they took senior guys to start the programs.

You didnt read what I said. My intent was- A pilot license is not what will make a good UAV operator.


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I suspect someone flying a UAV commercially would have more respect for safety than an amateur who is just playing around. But the FAA wants the commercial flyer to have a pilot's license while leaving the amateur free to play in the same air space with nothing to lose.

No doubt the age of drones or UAVs is here. Much like cell phones soon everyone will have one. ;)

St. Louis police seek owner of drone that crashed into high-rise | Reuters

Drone crashes onto NY sidewalk narrowly missing businessman | Daily Mail Online

These are the idiots that are causing problems.

I have no inside information from the FAA but I can see them wanting a registration number or N number on any UAV. Register that number to a commercial pilot that will loose his license if he does something stupid. Require insurance and make it something the operator has real interest in keeping safe for everyone.

Any UAV operating without a tail number is confiscated. Some of those suckers are EXPENSIVE.

What will happen when some yo-yo crashes a UAV into your car or house? The first homeowners policy that gets hit for mega thousands in loss will cause every policy to have a clause that operating a UAV is NOT covered unless you have a policy for that.

When the next person is killed the feces will hit the rotary air moving device.

I am not suggesting UAS fly commercially without rules, quite the opposite: I have recommended and provided to the FAA our training regime, our Standard Operating Procedures (Which spell out qualifications, training, maintenance requirements, log books, etc...just like a commercial aircraft enterprise) that details all facets of commercial UAS ops.

I have recommended that we ease into the airspace and fly only over rural areas or confined areas for building inspections, surveying, etc.

I have recommended they use the procedures established by DHS in their RAPS program.

Gather the data, establish tailored, pertinent rules for the different classes of UAS. My biggest success so far was to help get the FAA to treat small electric powered UAS differently hat a frickin' Global Hawk.

Commercial UAS operators must be treated differently than hobbyists, just like commercial aircraft operators are treated differently than Joe Cessna.

BTW, I have done exhaustive research using FAA data on where, how and why mid-airs happen. I can guarantee that a small UAS operating off airport below 300ft agl (which is the sweet spot for precision ag and other aps) on auto-pilot with an operator and an observer is far less of a threat than a manned aircraft.

Paul, that is the voice of reason I know you have. The UAVs need to be shown to be safe in a rural areas. It is crazy that only the USA have them blocked from commercial use. Several web site every year pop up selling drone photos of houses for real estate purposes. They are flying right now over housing editions and schools (illegally). The FAA is about as fast moving and efficient as a Congress. They have the red tape of the VA, Postal Service, IRS and Medicare to keep up with.