RC Drones versus RC Helicopters

On Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 12:33:52 PM UTC+13, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
Hmmmm....... I wonder if having a private pilot certificate (any class/type) covers the need to fly a drone?

Yes.

There's nothing in the law about it, but in a practical sense a licensed pilot standing on the ground and monitoring the appropriate local radio frequency for other traffic (and announcing their model's/drone's position & intentions) should do a pretty defensable job of ensuring everyone's safety.

Time for another JJ story.............I was on tow passing 1500 feet when I spotted another sailplane. It looked to be about a mile away, shortly thereafter the tow pilot kicked right rudder because the 'sailplane' I saw was headed right for us and was going to hit my left wing! I rolled 90 degrees left and just missed it. The 'sailplane' was an 8 foot model glider, the AMA was holding their sailplane nationals from the Siskiyou County Airport. The rules have changed since then and they should not be flying within 5 miles of an airport and not above 400 feet. These guys are serious cross country people. They set a task with maybe 3 turn-points and something like 15 miles total distance. The pilot follows along seated in the back of a pickup with a driver and a spotter. Who believes any pilot engaged in competition is going to stop climbing at 400 feet? I'm a modeler myself and enjoy our local clubs sailplane competition. Thirty second timed climb, looking for a 10 minute flight with a spot landing back at the field. Some rigs even have audio varios and altitude sent back to the pilot via telemetry.................no stopping the march of technology even in our hobbies.
Maybe the FAA should require all models, drones an helicopters to get a transponder squawking 1203 !
:) JJ