FPV Legality

[Mslater]

There's another thread active at the moment regarding the legality of FPV, so I've researched what is actually legal - This isn't a 'Dont do That thread' so please don't take it as such. Its intended to be informative - nothing else. Perhaps one of the Mods can make this a sticky in a proper forum thread for future reference.

The easy way to determine legality is from the CAA Docs - reproduced here after a phone call to the CAA who obviously don't mind me pasting in their document.

Aside from any local by laws that prevent you flying the following applies (The local council office can advise on park flying in specific regions but even if they say its ok the following still applies)

Note: where article 166(3) is mentioned - that article states you must be able to see your model at all times - this is an exemption from that rule for FPV.

Air Navigation Order 2009 Publication date: 23 April 2014
General Exemption E 3780

1) The Civil Aviation Authority, in exercise of its powers under article 242 of the Air Navigation
Order 2009 (‘the Order’), exempts any person in charge of a Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA)
from the requirement at article 166(3) of the Order to ensure that direct unaided visual contact
is maintained with the aircraft sufficient to monitor its flight path in relation to other aircraft,
persons, vehicles, vessels and structures for the purpose of avoiding collisions.


2) This exemption only applies if the conditions at paragraphs 3 to 7 are met.


3)

a) The person in charge is the person piloting the SUA (see Note 2).

b) The person in charge is accompanied by a competent observer who maintains direct

unaided visual contact with the SUA sufficient to monitor its flight path in relation to

other aircraft, persons, vehicles, vessels and structures for the purpose of avoiding

collisions and advises the person in charge accordingly.

c) The maximum take-off mass of the SUA does not exceed 3.5 kg, including any

batteries or fuel.

4) The person in charge must not fly the SUA:

a) in Class A, C, D or E airspace unless permission of the appropriate air traffic control

unit has been obtained;

b) within an aerodrome traffic zone during the notified hours of watch of the air traffic

control unit (if any) at that aerodrome unless permission of any such air traffic control

unit has been obtained;

c) at a height of more than 1,000 feet above the surface (see Note 3);

d) over or within 150 metres of any congested area;

e) over or within 150 metres of an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000

persons;

f) within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the

person in charge of the aircraft;

g) within 50 metres of any other person, apart from the competent observer, except when

taking off or landing in accordance with paragraph (h);

h) within 30 metres of any other person, apart from the competent observer, other

adjacent model operators, or any model flying club members, during take-off or

landing; or

i) for the purposes of aerial work.

5) For the purposes of this exemption, a ‘competent observer’ means someone whom the person
in charge of the SUA has designated as the competent observer.

6) Before designating someone as the competent observer, the person in charge of the SUA
must be satisfied that he or she:

a) has been briefed in accordance with paragraph 7;

b) is competent to perform the tasks which he or she may be called upon to perform in

accordance with paragraph 7; and

c) is competent, by direct unaided visual observation of the SUA, to assist and advise the

person in charge with the safe conduct of the flight.

7) The person in charge must ensure that:

a) the competent observer is fully briefed on the planned flight and what is expected of

him/her taking into account the prevailing conditions;

b) the competent observer understands that he/she must stay directly adjacent to the

person in charge and maintain direct unaided visual contact with the SUA at all times,

to visually and aurally monitor the airspace for other aircraft and the take-off and

landing area for any persons;

c) the competent observer has been instructed on the actions to take in the event of

another aircraft being spotted and a risk of collision is assessed; and

d) the competent observer understands that he/she must advise if the SUA is proceeding

beyond the point at which he/she is able to monitor its flight path sufficiently to identify

a risk of collision.

8) This exemption supersedes Official Record Series 4 No. 1009, which is hereby revoked.

9) This exemption has effect from the date hereof until 30 April 2015, unless previously revoked.

Ok so most of that is fairly straight forward - but what about airspace and class A,C,D and E. Well the chances of you getting into Class A airspace are fairly small but you'll be surprised at class D. Class D airspace is from ground level to 2500 feet and there's a lot more class D airspace than you think. - Take a look at Manchester - NO FPV there for certain

fpv.jpg

The grey areas are Class D airspace. So how do you know where this airspace is. Well...

1. Download Google Earth (if you don't already have it)
2. Now get the Airspace places file (KML file) from 3dairspace.org.uk
3. Open the file on Google Earth (its easier to see if you Untick the classes you're not interested in in the Places Tab



Now I bet you can't get that information from the BMFA ! - no you can't, I already tried so rather than moan about it I decided to be positive and get myself invited to the next regional meeting.


Notes


1) First Person View flying is the ability to control a radio controlled aircraft from a “pilot’s eye”
perspective through the use of an on-board camera and ground-based receiving and viewing
equipment. The viewing equipment is normally a set of video goggles.

2) The person in charge remains responsible for the safety of the operation and may only fly the
SUA if reasonably satisfied that the flight can safely be made.

3) This does not remove the requirement (in paragraph 3(b)) for the competent observer to
maintain direct unaided visual contact with the SUA throughout the flight. Therefore, the SUA
can only be flown up to 1,000 ft if it can still be seen sufficiently for collision avoidance
purposes.

4) This exempts only from article 166(3). The other provisions of article 166 and the whole of
article 167 continue to apply, so far as may be applicable. In particular, article 166(5) prohibits
flight for the purposes of aerial work except in accordance with a permission granted by the
CAA

[Nick B]

Thanks for posting this Mark,i will get google earth downloaded but i fear i cannot go that high as our field nr stonehenge is very much on the border of boscombe down air space and the choppers can be very low at times.

[moyesboy]

As well as the normal published airspace that is active all the time, there is also temporary airspace for air shows, royal flights, red arrows displays, big public meetings.
you can check these up to a week in advance here:Flight Planning Map: UK | NOTAM Info
Just zoom in to the area where you are and click on any symbols in it.
For example:


You should see NOTAMs for the larger model flying meetings on this, but I don't often see them - O know Stuart had one for the RCHA meet last year though. There are always loads of kite flying meets on there - they are more of a hazard as the string extends to the ground!

If you are flying in Scotland this summer you should take into account the heavy extra restrictions for the commonwealth games


If anyone wants any help understanding what any controlled airspace means near their flying field I'd be glad to try and help you out.

[moyesboy]

Another airspace visualisation aid is XCsoar which is actually an open source flight instrument software. But you can install it for free on your android phone or PC and see and click on the airspace to find out details for where you are, or pan anywhere else as well, using only files you downloaded and installed - so not using any mobile data.