Isn’t today THE day, March 16, when we’re REALLY supposed to have RID transponders on our stuff ?  No more exceptions.  Delayed from last September cuz part shortages or something ?

How are you celebrating ???  I thought there’d be more uplifting discussions on this glorious day

I'm building a sub250 drone.

Nice!  I see more of those in my future as well.

I received a 98" Curtiss JN-4D "Jenny", a WWI bi-plane from my wife's Godfather:



14 lbs. 16" prop. Enya R-120 4-cycle engine.  Just needs some tender loving care, and a BIG ASS field !

I’m sure there’s a pre-installed RID module in there, somewhere …

Oh Shoot!  Today's only the 14th  At least I’m celebrating pi day on time …

Sorry, the anticipation of RID is just killing me 

I found the RID, it's on the port side upper wing ;-)

Personally, I have always believed that the "drone" community is making a bigger deal 
out of remote ID than it really is or even needs to be.  

I fly purely, solely, and only for my own recreational purposes and I don't post any video 
to a monetized platform especially YouTube. My flights do legitimately qualify for the 
Recreational Exemption. All of my craft are sub-250 gram except for one, my 7-inch 
Rescue Quad. So, if I want to fly this one, I need to register as Recreational and add 
at least one Remote ID module which can be shared between many different craft.
Just for fun and testing, I have purchased 3 different RID modules. 

So, let's compare this to speeding. Is it illegal, well yes. Do people do it, obviously. Do most 
get caught? Most definitely not. However, the laws are on the books and officers can set up 
pretty much anywhere they like, however, laws can not be enforced all of the time, but are 
there when needed or when technology becomes available. So, let's just go with that. 
This is step No . 1.

This version of Remote ID is just the starting point, but they have got to start somewhere. 
There is a grand endeavor brewing. Yeah, the illicit drone pilots really will not like what is 
coming. The times, they are a changing.

Plus, I think that we put too much emphasis on the pilot's location. IF the flight is truly within 
Visual Line Of Sight, anyone who can see the drone, can likely also see the pilot. I used to fly 
at local parks and no one ever approached me except the deputy sheriff from the drone division. 
All of the pilot concerns are basically hype. Yes, FPV pilots should have a visual observer, if they 
don't, well, don't blame that on the pilot position in the RID information. If the quad is not obnoxious
and disturbing people, then no one will care. Yes, my quads are all very quiet. If you fly a buzzsaw 
in the sky, that will definitely disturb folks. Ok, if you fly over their property at lower altitudes that 
might also disturb them. (there is a story here).

I have read where some pilots believe that they will get robbed. Now, think about this. The crook 
wants an easy snatch & grab for something that they can easily convert to cash. Plus, take your 
fancy quad to a pawn shop and see how much the dealer will give you for it. Yeah, that will be a real 
eye opener. It will be pennies on the dollar if they take it at all. The crook gives less than a "hoot" 
about actually using your gear. Plus, crooks generally try to avoid physical confrontations especially 
when the reward is so minimal.

Anyone who flies in a rural area where there are little or no people will likely be fine. Those that want 
to fly where there are people might not be so much. One time, I was approached by a deputy sheriff 
with the drone division and questioned about my flight. Well, my ducks were in a row, so it was only a 
conversation. You see, it is a misconception that local law enforcement will not be involved. In some 
cases yes, in others, not so much. But, if you are approached by a sheriff, what are you going to do? 
Yeah, right.

Folks who are NOT legit might also need to be careful about posting flight videos, especially to a 
monetized platform such as YouTube. Right off the bat, the flight is now a Part 107 activity. So, if
the pilot has a Part 107 license, no problem. Plus, long range flights have always been a violation. 
This is nothing new and has been in effect since at lease 2018. So, someone gets nipped for a long 
range flight and then they also don't have Remote ID. Yeah, it sort of looks like that person doesn't 
care about the regulations. So, maybe don't post the flight videos unless the flight is truly legit and
the pilot has a Part 107 license.

For the TRUE hobbyist who flies in rural locations, I don't see much difference. The FAA is not 
going to come raining down on you, Karen and others won't even know the craft is in the air, I
don't believe that you will get robbed, and no one will see any incriminating video. 

Happy Remote ID day (tomorrow). 

...

I visited a major city last summer.. and thought about flying my whoop … didn’t have anyone else with me.. didn’t feel comfortable putting goggles on..
One person told me ..”goggles down.. hands up”.. it may not be your quads they want.. but your phone, back pack or anything of value

(15-Mar-2024, 04:54 PM)Rob Axel Wrote: I visited a major city last summer.. and thought about flying my whoop … didn’t have anyone else with me.. didn’t feel comfortable putting goggles on..
 One person told me ..”goggles down.. hands up”.. it may not be your quads they want.. but your phone, back pack or anything of value

Hi Rob,

Good Point. 

Yet, consider that this could happen to anyone on the street whether flying a drone
or not. That situation looks like a chance opportunity rather than seeking out a drone
pilot who might have just looked like an easy target. 

So, if someone sees a drone in the air, how long does it take them to get their phone
out, fire up the app, snag the RID data, determine the pilot's location, and then get
to that location. If the drone is moving, it will likely be gone before the RID data can
even be acquired. 

But then and for some time, I have viewed major cities to be hazardous just to be in, 
especially in today's world. Some friends of ours was in Miami and when they stopped 
at a stoplight, some thugs tried to pull the woman passenger out of the car (yeah, she
had the window down). The driver hit the gas, went through the light, and they did get 
away pretty much unscathed. Sometimes, it is not even safe to drive. There are thugs 
and crooks everywhere. The big cities are dangerous. They just are. 

Personally, I would not think of flying a drone in a big city, not even with a spotter.

I always put some thought into where I fly and try to choose my locations wisely.

Later, iFly  

I kinda forgot it was even a thing. No dead weight allowed on my aircraft.

Here’s a nice site for info, with a menu of topics, in case there is interest:

https://uavcoach.com/remote-id/

… another big fuel plane on the way … I’m hoping that by the time I get these planes, and myself, ready to fly them there will be a few more FRIAs on the planet. We’ll see …

Here is what I’m (personally) discovering.. Fixed wing aircraft pretty much is required to have large open areas to fly (LOS).. hence the FRIA push.. easy to allow designated areas .. FPV (quads) started in the same respect, with 5” rigs as the standard…
Things have changed.. fpv quads are smaller, lighter, and just as “nimble”.. giving pilots their sticktime “fix”.. and can be flown pretty much anywhere..
Fly a 5” in a business park and security may swing, do it with a 2-3.5” sub 250 rig.. and the (danger) perception becomes less and less..
Fly a tinywhoop in a public playground and I’m willing to bet you hear “oh, isn’t that cute” from someone..
I fly around my house, the local “fields”.. and even with some local fixed wing guys…99% are not going to stop flying.. and knowing most local law enforcement officers .. they couldn’t be bothered.. they have more pressing issues to deal with..
So… have we heard anything “New” from the FAA brain trust ? I think the RID shinny is wearing off .They we’re given a task to create and implement RID.. and they did(sorta)…. people today have other things to focus on rather than some adult kid playing with his “toys”…

Hi Rob,

Speaking of fixed wing "airplanes" and even now model RC aircraft are 
being fitted with FPV gear and off they go into the Wild Blue Yonder. 
Yep, no longer need that LOS style location. That said, have you seen 
the dogfights? Yeah, heads up targeting "scope" and they fire some 
type of "light" weapon or something; nothing dangerous. Still, those 
are very cool to watch. It is almost like watching a WWII dogfight.

For now, this will be a lot like speed limits. There will be a lot doing it 
and most won't get caught, but some will. Most, local LE likely will
not pursue, but some will. Those rural will likely not be bothered.
Those who want to strut their stuff on front street, well, maybe.

Actually, the FAA was given the task to create "some" type of ID
system which ended up being called RID, it can be found in the 
Public Law that Congress passed in 2018. Also, I did read that the 
House version of the 2023 FAA Reauthorization Act did pass. It is 
the Senate that is kicking this down the road. Plus, their version 
is over 700 pages long. I don't know what they are waiting for. 
Yes, there are some changes coming. If I recall correctly there
are some changes for educational purposes, implementation of 
a network remote ID option which will be required for the 
proposed BVLOS "scheduled" flights, no carte blanche stuff. 
There was a bunch of other stuff, but I decided to just wait until 
the Senate does their thing. It seems that the two versions 
will be somehow melded together in committee, then sent to 
POTUS for final signing into LAW. 

I will say that this is just getting started. There are bigger things
at hand; multiple agency involvement, automated drone air taxis
for humans (yeah in the drone space), and the control features
that the DHS is "pushing". Congress has a lot of influencers. IF
we even think that the FAA is pushing this, then we are WRONG.
There is a push for much grander "control" of the sub 400 foot 
airspace and all UAS (drones). For now, let's enjoy what we have.

Later, iFly  

… well, I can say since Bardwell got his place listed as a Fria.. MAYBE there is still a chance my wife’s school can be listed so the kids can actually fly outside…

(17-Mar-2024, 12:23 AM)Rob Axel Wrote: … well, I can say since Bardwell got his place listed as a Fria.. MAYBE there is still a chance my wife’s school can be listed so the kids can actually fly outside…

Yes, I don't remember where I saw it, but someone else was trying to get "his" 
school listed as a FRIA, he was denied du to proximity to residential house or a 
road or something. So, he re-mapped the FRIA boundaries, resubmitted it, and 
got approved. So, yeah, I think you got a shot at it. Watch the boundaries and
make sure that they are pulled away a bit from things. Go for it. 

I imagine the FAA and Congress are very busy and very focused these days on trying to get Boeing under control 
 
Boeing, the 117 billion dollar de-regulated corporation (thank you Congress) responsible for ACTUALLY crashing planes and ACTUALLY killing hundreds, if not thousands, of people, repeatedly, over many many years.

Boeing, who's planes are literally falling apart in mid-air as we celebrate our FAA/RID holiday.

To put it all in perspective, that is.  Really makes RID and "UAS/Drone Safety" laughable.