Eastern Railroad Discussion > FAA: New drone rules proposal is here

NY Times:
The task force said that in addition to being entered in a federal database, drone owners should display a government-issued registration number on the machines. It recommended that owners submit their names and addresses, but said email addresses and phone numbers should be optional. The rules would apply to drones weighing half a pound to 55 pounds.The task force did not go as far with its recommendations as some advocates of stricter regulations had hoped. It said owners of aircraft should not have to submit any information about their aircraft, for example. It also said there should not be a requirement for drone users to be citizens or permanent residents.
Proposed rules

When drones are outlawed, only outlaws will have drones... === === = === JLH

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> NY Times:
> The task force said that in addition to being
> entered in a federal database, drone owners should
> display a government-issued registration number on
> the machines. It recommended that owners submit
> their names and addresses, but said email
> addresses and phone numbers should be optional.
> The rules would apply to drones weighing half a
> pound to 55 pounds.The task force did not go as
> far with its recommendations as some advocates of
> stricter regulations had hoped. It said owners of
> aircraft should not have to submit any information
> about their aircraft, for example. It also said
> there should not be a requirement for drone users
> to be citizens or permanent residents.
> Proposed rules

Registration, public database, I say they should also be required to go to some kind of class or training on regulations every so many years and maintain some kind of insurance policy.  Shouldn't be much different than the hoops to own and drive a car, given how much damage a drone can do if things go really bad.

null Wrote:
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>(snip)
> > Proposed rules
>
> Registration, public database, I say they should
> also be required to go to some kind of class or
> training on regulations every so many years and
> maintain some kind of insurance policy. 
> Shouldn't be much different than the hoops to own
> and drive a car, given how much damage a drone can
> do if things go really bad.


Thes suggestions were mentioned at various times, but didn't make it into these rules. At least according to the article.  I haven't read or seen the draft yet.

null Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------
>
> Registration, public database, I say they should
> also be required to go to some kind of class or
> training on regulations every so many years and
> maintain some kind of insurance policy. 
> Shouldn't be much different than the hoops to own
> and drive a car, given how much damage a drone can
> do if things go really bad.

How much damage *can* a drone do if things go as bad as they possibly could?

If this hasn't been done with guns, why should it be done for drones?
 

PatternOfFailure Wrote:
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> How much damage *can* a drone do if things go as
> bad as they possibly could?
>
> If this hasn't been done with guns, why should it
> be done for drones?

Two geese is all it took to bring an Airbus down into the Hudson River.  Fortunately, we haven't had any incdents YET ... but I imagine a drone could do quite a bit of damage to an aircraft if it is in the wrong place, at the wrong time. 

a small drone can bring down a small plane , maybe even a big one if its sucked into and engine not to mention privacy issues and military applications . But Im afraid the cat is out of the bag  because if your going to put a gun platform or explosive package on them to do danage you arent going to be obeying the law like you said anyway. Its like gun control and anything else , onlyu the law abiding citizens obey the law to begin with.

PatternOfFailure Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
(snip)
>
> How much damage *can* a drone do if things go as
> bad as they possibly could?

(snip)

two or three of them with explosives packages could probably make a noticeable impact on a refinery or power station or transformer farm.  Or if they're carrying a toxic inhalant.

There's a lot to say for vigilance. 

The original rules were really reasonable: Visual control; 400 ft altitude; not within 5 miles of an airport.   But then the dooofuses screwed the pooch.

So, get a registration number, and if you screw up .....Every car and plane has a registration, and every driver or pilot has a license.  You are required to show some minimal level of competency. Why not for drones ?