Government bureaucrats - destroying innovation and joy since the dawn of man. These people seem to exist for the sole purpose of finding meaningless excuses to make criminals out of regular people...all so they can keep their stupid government jobs. The things people will do for a paycheck....

Order is important but it has to be balanced out by chaos, otherwise you end up in a totalitarian world, eating bugs and begging for the right to breathe (while the bureaucrats laugh and do as they please).

(19-Feb-2023, 03:09 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: Which came first the chicken or the egg?

Which came first, the shameless bureaucrat or the freethinking innovator?  Who knows...all it takes is a bit of propaganda to sway the masses and they see good as evil and evil as good.  Most people go along with the narrative and are too selfish or cowardly to stand up for their fellow man, especially if their fellow man has different views about things. If there is one trait most bureaucrats share it's that they are full of envy. They are envious of people who don't follow the herd. The bureaucrat is nothing without the herd and lacks the fortitude to break free. That's been my experience in this life at least.

I feel so bad for Wezley. He has been such an inspiration to me with LR (and without a doubt everyone else here). So much of what I do in the hobby is from knowledge that he had shared! From Wings, to walksnail Antennas and using ELRS for everything.

That 100KM video was ground breaking for ELRS Tech. I'm still shocked this that happed. I'm just so shocked! Such an important person in the FPV community that now is effectively been silenced.

Quote:The Australian UAS laws do seem to be one of the most restrictive in the world and to even be able to fly FPV legally it seems that you need to apply for explicit approval at each location you want to fly (the FPV rules are HERE).

FWIW, this is not true. In Australia, you can legally fly FPV outdoors as long as you:

• join an MAAA flying club (the first point in that link)
  
• follow the MAAA club rules, which include:
  
• a) have a spotter who is also an MAAA club member
  
• b) fly within LOS of the spotter
  
• and observe the usual rules about flying any sort of drone (don't fly over people, stay under 120m AGL, etc)
  

There are currently no remote ID laws in Australia, nor any need to register recreational drones.

Obviously if you fly way beyond LOS, that's going outside the rules and I guess Wezley knew what he was getting into. But otherwise, if you're an Aussie, know the rules and know your rights and don't give up flying because of misinformation.

(02-Mar-2023, 08:55 AM)chasingshadows Wrote: FWIW, this is not true. In Australia, you can legally fly FPV outdoors as long as you:

• join an MAAA flying club (the first point in that link)
  
• follow the MAAA club rules, which include:
  
• a) have a spotter who is also an MAAA club member
  
• b) fly within LOS of the spotter
  
• and observe the usual rules about flying any sort of drone (don't fly over people, stay under 120m AGL, etc)
  

There are currently no remote ID laws in Australia, nor any need to register recreational drones.

Obviously if you fly way beyond LOS, that's going outside the rules and I guess Wezley knew what he was getting into. But otherwise, if you're an Aussie, know the rules and know your rights and don't give up flying because of misinformation.

Hi Chasingshadows,

You know, I think the thing that bothers folks is the staying with Visual Line Of Sight part
which really limits the flight distance, but it can be done especially with the smaller drones.
Quads with larger props tend to cover ground (or air) pretty fast which makes it a bit more
challenging to keep them within the LOS of the spotter. Yep, no long range stuff.

Another "bite" is that drones over 250 grams do not qualify for the recreational exemption
so they must be registered and have remote ID. This is still all workable if one likes to fly
the larger drones. 

One more irritation is that the FAA considers posting videos of a flight a Part 107 activity. 
Actually, almost everything is a Part 107 activity whether money is involved or not if anyone, 
anywhere, derives any benefit even if that is only a "like" or observing one's own gutter; 
yep that is a benefit to the property owner. So, don't post videos.
 
Here's my perception of the current FAA regulations in the USA to use the recreational
exemption where the drone does Not have to registered and is Not required to have a
remote ID device:

1) Get a TRUST certificate
2) Find the CBO rules that you like whether or not you actually follow them.
3) Fly sub-250 AUW craft.
4) If FPV flight, then have a spotter.
5) Keep craft within visual line of sight.
6) Fly purely and solely for the benefit of the pilot - PURE Recreational.
7) Don't post videos.

Is this not workable?  Well, I think it is.  

The potential danger of a passenger plane is much greater than that of a 700 gram drone. This means that visual spotters must also be placed along the lines of air routes at a distance of 500 meters from each other. Ocean? Boat spotters. Spaceship? Balloon spotters. Passenger flights need to be made safer. I think 500,000,000 spotters will be enough for this planet. (sarcasm)

(02-Mar-2023, 08:55 AM)chasingshadows Wrote: FWIW, this is not true. In Australia, you can legally fly FPV outdoors as long as you:

• join an MAAA flying club (the first point in that link)
  
• follow the MAAA club rules, which include:
  
• a) have a spotter who is also an MAAA club member
  
• b) fly within LOS of the spotter
  
• and observe the usual rules about flying any sort of drone (don't fly over people, stay under 120m AGL, etc)
  

There are currently no remote ID laws in Australia, nor any need to register recreational drones.

Obviously if you fly way beyond LOS, that's going outside the rules and I guess Wezley knew what he was getting into. But otherwise, if you're an Aussie, know the rules and know your rights and don't give up flying because of misinformation.

Lol, "as long as you"...all that's missing is requiring a minimum social credit score and proof of COVID vaccination.  Oh and wear a mask if your spotter is less than 6 feet away from you.  Mask the quad too.

(03-Mar-2023, 07:54 AM)cali_quad Wrote: Lol, "as long as you"...all that's missing is requiring a minimum social credit score and proof of COVID vaccination.  Oh and wear a mask if your spotter is less than 6 feet away from you.  Mask the quad too.

Think what you like, but we don't legally have to register our quads (even above 250g) or attach transponders to them.

Not sure why folks in the FPV community are so keen to act like FPV is illegal in Australia when it really isn't. Surely we want more people to understand that it's okay to fly?

(02-Mar-2023, 07:10 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: You know, I think the thing that bothers folks is the staying with Visual Line Of Sight part
which really limits the flight distance, but it can be done especially with the smaller drones.

Yah, the VLOS rule and the need for a spotter are probably the rules people break the most. It also seems ridiculous that a tinywhoop weighing less than a fraction of a baseball is regulated like an aircraft. I would also argue that a Mavic in LOS at 400m distance is much harder to control precisely than a quad in FPV.

Quote:Another "bite" is that drones over 250 grams do not qualify for the recreational exemption so they must be registered and have remote ID.

In Australia, the limit is much higher (I think 2kg?) before it falls outside the recreational exemption, so your typical 5 inch is perfectly fine.

the amount of shit talk about bureaucrats or stupip lawmakers and stuff, shows the amount of disinformation and political apathy is in the society. And it's just dumb and childish

People dont want any drones flying over their heads filming them or their kids or whatever. Which is totally understandable. The public does not understand drones, fpv and all the differences. And neither lawmakers. But lawmakers make laws for the public or lets say the majority in a democracy.
But you all can feel quite comfortable living in a democracy because the will of minorities is taken into account. Thats why so many laws are so fucking complicated or take longer to write: BECAUSE THEY TRY TO BALANCE THE BURDEN FOR EVERYONE
Talk to people in Russia, Iran, North Corea, China about what is happening to them when they are a minority or the "lawmakers" have the feeling you do smth against their will.... You all have no idea how good you live !!!!

Is it unfortunate what happend to Wezley->yes
Are all laws dumb -> no. If you feel like this, go live in North Alaska, Siberia or go on a fucking boat on the pacific or go to North Corea
Do we need to try to convince the FAAs, CAAs, CASAs whatever that we are different and its totally safe to give us more freedom -> 10000000000% !!!!
But stop complaining in your cozy little rooms, far away from real life some people on this planet have to live. And I feel very lucky living in a country with democrazy. Is it messy and sometimes slow, of course

So stop your dick contest who has the most hate for lawmakers or organizations and get your ass up and support Flitetest, FPV Freedom Coalition whatever in their effort to change things

my 2 cents.
Hope its understandable, I'm from Germany so English is a foreign language for me

+1

You know, lawmakers are just people and they are influenced by other people and, YES, 
the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few even if it is all a matter of perception.
There are approximately 330 million people in the USA. How many drone pilots are there??
1 million, even 2 million, not even 1 percent of the population. This small of a minority will
very likely have little effect on legislation. 

Whether we like it or not, potential is also a factor. Potential to be a threat, potential to harm,
potential to damage. Am I not correct that the regulations that we are talking about include
drones up to 55 pounds. In reality, ALL aspects, all sides, everything needs to be taken into
account for all or at least most possibilities; just to be safe. Am I wrong here??

It is fortunate that here in the USA, we at least have the Recreational Exemption for the 
sub-250 gram, FAA category 1, drones. 

Even for drones over 250 grams, just register them, install a remote ID device, and maybe
get a Part 107 pilot's license; not really a big deal, but rather just stuff to complete. Yes,
it is just more to do, but it is workable. 

Now, keeping the drone within Visual Line Of Sight, well yeah, that might be a bit challenging,
but still workable. 

(03-Mar-2023, 02:17 PM)iFly4rotors Wrote: +1

You know, lawmakers are just people and they are influenced by other people and, YES, 
the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few even if it is all a matter of perception.
There are approximately 330 million people in the USA. How many drone pilots are there??
1 million, even 2 million, not even 1 percent of the population. This small of a minority will
very likely have little effect on legislation. 

Whether we like it or not, potential is also a factor. Potential to be a threat, potential to harm,
potential to damage. Am I not correct that the regulations that we are talking about include
drones up to 55 pounds. In reality, ALL aspects, all sides, everything needs to be taken into
account for all or at least most possibilities; just to be safe. Am I wrong here??

It is fortunate that here in the USA, we at least have the Recreational Exemption for the 
sub-250 gram, FAA category 1, drones. 

Even for drones over 250 grams, just register them, install a remote ID device, and maybe
get a Part 107 pilot's license; not really a big deal, but rather just stuff to complete. Yes,
it is just more to do, but it is workable. 

Now, keeping the drone within Visual Line Of Sight, well yeah, that might be a bit challenging,
but still workable. 

In a libetarian sense I'd say you're wrong because there isn't precedent for it. There are an infinite number of things people can and have harmed/killed themselves with that you can still go out and purchase today. Do we even need to look past an automobile let alone simple household gadgets? On the flip side where are all the cases of drones harming/killing? Sure we have idiots flying over a sportsball event but where are the time's they've impacted a player or fan? Sure the world is filled with idiots, but not let's govern ourselves down to the level of the common dolt. Otherwise we can always make an arguement for more laws and restrictions. Look at the 1A and 2A in the US, both are actual RIGHTS but are being chipped away. 

As for Pols, they're not the only issue. These type of things are handled by what you might as well call the deep state side of government. These are the political hacks that are implanted into positions of power and that power gets abused. Speaking of the FAA specifically, going on right now with a nominee: https://thecurrentreport.com/senator-ted...stigation/

Now I've not read into that, just skimmed the headline and it is likely much ado about nothing but there is a history of bad people getting government positions of power that are outside the reach of the dopey elected Pols. Or they become corrupt by special interests with bottomless pockets. 

Otherwise, no you're not "wrong" with your general assessment here and elsewhere in posts. But while you're content at sub 250g what about all the guys flying winged craft for decades now without issue. As you also said, FPV for the vast majority of us are in violation of existing rules so this is all moot anyway.

This is what they are worried about.

https://www.wthitv.com/news/fbi-warns-dr...cd216.html


https://dronedj.com/2022/11/18/fbi-cites...ne-action/

Bruce making some of my same points and some others I was thinking of when I wrote that post earlier.

When it comes to breaking the law, any law, it first boils down to whether 
or not you get caught. So, if one breaks the law, then just don't get caught.
Right?

So, how do you not get caught?

1) Do NOT fly where there are people.
    The more rural, the better.

2) Do NOT post videos that clearly show
    that the flight is in violation of the regulations.

As long as one does not get caught and there is NO evidence, 
then no harm done. Right?

Well, just be aware of the consequences and be prepared to pay.

Each of us has our own path. Some of us want to be legal and some don't.