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- Oct 28, 2013
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Nice mild mannered rant but there's the flaws in the arguments.
University of Virginia did not hire trappy to do the video. It was Lewis Communications. Not sure if any UVA people knew about the flight or when where and how it was to be conducted. So all the argument in that direction is kaput.
He ignores the fact that at least 4 times he flew right over the heliport at the UVA hospital. That can be a busy heliport. Plenty of emergency flight in and out of that pad. The heliport is continuously attended and the unicom frequency 123.05. Did he notify them he would be conducting his diving operation or over filghts? (I've flown critically injured into hospital heliports. Usually a high speed approach, you don't need to be hitting of dodging a RC airplane on final)
Once trappy entered the realm of part 91 airspace .... he's in the game. He's flying for hire in controlled environment. That's where they nailed him. His flight path and proximity to people and vehicles FPV with no line of sight puts him into something other than hobby guy having fun.
In an effort to NOT regulate hobby RC flight the FAA issued advisory circular 91-57 way back in 1981. In that they acknowledged that model aricraft can at times pose a hazard to full scale aircraft in flight and persons and property on the surface. and basically the advisory says hey, if you guys follow certain standards, there will be no problems from us (government) go have fun.
Operate away from populated areas. away from noise sensitive areas. Stay away from spectators until the model is flight tested and airworthy. Stay below 400 feet. if within 3 miles of an airport, notify the operator or air traffic facility . Give right of way to full scale aircraft.
Simple ... worked for over 30 years. Now we're in a new paradigm, fresh technology and price bring more operators and apparently a healthy lack of good sense. If he was wanting good video for commercial purpose why not use one of his quads, hover through line of sight get quality video and speed it up if he wanted? Were the high speed passes needed? did he need to pass pedestrians high speed within a few feet? Pass in front of an in sight of vehicles I think not. He wanted to show off what a hot dog he is, put it on you tube and sell products and elevated his status. He screwed up in so many ways, the only way to describe it is piss poor judgement. The guy is making a living off of this business. It is his business to promote sales do the videos and pick up a contract or two where he can. By putting people and property at risk other than his own to advance his own self interest he crossed a line and that brings in the FEDS.
I like the video guy xjets he's been around. But he's in error about several things which are the basis of his opinion and I'm sure if explained to him he'd change his opinion a bit.
University of Virginia did not hire trappy to do the video. It was Lewis Communications. Not sure if any UVA people knew about the flight or when where and how it was to be conducted. So all the argument in that direction is kaput.
He ignores the fact that at least 4 times he flew right over the heliport at the UVA hospital. That can be a busy heliport. Plenty of emergency flight in and out of that pad. The heliport is continuously attended and the unicom frequency 123.05. Did he notify them he would be conducting his diving operation or over filghts? (I've flown critically injured into hospital heliports. Usually a high speed approach, you don't need to be hitting of dodging a RC airplane on final)
Once trappy entered the realm of part 91 airspace .... he's in the game. He's flying for hire in controlled environment. That's where they nailed him. His flight path and proximity to people and vehicles FPV with no line of sight puts him into something other than hobby guy having fun.
In an effort to NOT regulate hobby RC flight the FAA issued advisory circular 91-57 way back in 1981. In that they acknowledged that model aricraft can at times pose a hazard to full scale aircraft in flight and persons and property on the surface. and basically the advisory says hey, if you guys follow certain standards, there will be no problems from us (government) go have fun.
Operate away from populated areas. away from noise sensitive areas. Stay away from spectators until the model is flight tested and airworthy. Stay below 400 feet. if within 3 miles of an airport, notify the operator or air traffic facility . Give right of way to full scale aircraft.
Simple ... worked for over 30 years. Now we're in a new paradigm, fresh technology and price bring more operators and apparently a healthy lack of good sense. If he was wanting good video for commercial purpose why not use one of his quads, hover through line of sight get quality video and speed it up if he wanted? Were the high speed passes needed? did he need to pass pedestrians high speed within a few feet? Pass in front of an in sight of vehicles I think not. He wanted to show off what a hot dog he is, put it on you tube and sell products and elevated his status. He screwed up in so many ways, the only way to describe it is piss poor judgement. The guy is making a living off of this business. It is his business to promote sales do the videos and pick up a contract or two where he can. By putting people and property at risk other than his own to advance his own self interest he crossed a line and that brings in the FEDS.
I like the video guy xjets he's been around. But he's in error about several things which are the basis of his opinion and I'm sure if explained to him he'd change his opinion a bit.