Another Police Helicopter

[Red Arrow]

FAA actually doesnt allow that. Instead UAV are required to broadcast their serial number and position from takeoff to landing using Remote ID, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-89

Interesting.  Almost like ADS-B Out. I presume it's on an different frequency but couldn't readily see the requirements and probably wouldn't understand the government gobbledy-gook anyway.
 

Quote from: Red Arrow on May 07, 2024, 02:18:24 pm
As I understand it, recreational drones are limited to 400 ft AGL.  Most general aviation isn't that low.

Yes, but it happens.

Helicopters and crop dusters are generally obvious to someone keeping their UAV in sight.  Someone buzzing their house will probably put their transponder in standby, assuming they have one to begin with.  From your link above, it looks like the recreational UAV will report itself as being over 400 ft AGL using the Remote ID and drones operating under Part 91 will have ADS-B Out.


This looks interesting:
https://www.unmannedairspace.info/latest-news-and-information/dronetag-releases-drone-scanner-app-to-track-nearby-drone-flights-using-remote-id-data/

[patric]

 
Helicopters and crop dusters are generally obvious to someone keeping their UAV in sight.

(medical) Helicopters and crop dusters arent usually trying to move undetected.
"We are trying to make the aircraft a little more stealthy," Barnhart said."

How fast can you land a drone at 400 AGL? 

Descend too fast and you fly into your own prop wash and you are in freefall.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex_ring_state

Descend too slow and someone flies into you faster than you had the ability to respond.

[Hoss]

Interesting.  Almost like ADS-B Out. I presume it's on an different frequency but couldn't readily see the requirements and probably wouldn't understand the government gobbledy-gook anyway.
 
Helicopters and crop dusters are generally obvious to someone keeping their UAV in sight.  Someone buzzing their house will probably put their transponder in standby, assuming they have one to begin with.  From your link above, it looks like the recreational UAV will report itself as being over 400 ft AGL using the Remote ID and drones operating under Part 91 will have ADS-B Out.


This looks interesting:
https://www.unmannedairspace.info/latest-news-and-information/dronetag-releases-drone-scanner-app-to-track-nearby-drone-flights-using-remote-id-data/

I'm looking at getting a new drone that gets around this by not requiring remote id.  It's based on weight I believe.  The one I'm looking at is far too small.

[whoatown]

I'm looking at getting a new drone that gets around this by not requiring remote id.  It's based on weight I believe.  The one I'm looking at is far too small.

It depends on whether you are operating in a limited definition of recreational.  If it ain't recreational, or (some people think this is actually and) in a FRIA, and under 250g, you get to play the registration, and remote ID game.

It still isn't practical for avoidance with manned aircraft, but since the ARC decided that manned aircraft should yield to a delivery drone below 400 feet, dependent on whether the manned aircraft has an ADS-B beacon that the drone can pick up, there goes the whole idea of keeping us all safe.  Everybody, manned and unmanned clear the air for the yet to be feasible drone delivery operations. 

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/media/UAS_BVLOS_ARC_FINAL_REPORT_03102022.pdf

And before most of the drone regulations came along, the law enforcement were doing all sorts of violating people's right to search and seizure.  It's nice to know that the local law enforcement with some ex parte communication from the FAA will be doing most of the enforcement of the drone regulations. 

https://www.racedayquads.com/pages/faa-legal-battle-to-save-fpv

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/09/eff-michigan-court-governments-shouldnt-be-allowed-use-drone-spy-you-without

Law enforcement in Canada interfered with a plane landing while using a drone looking for a suspect.

https://dronedj.com/2023/01/23/canada-issues-report-on-2021-police-drones-collision/

[patric]

And before most of the drone regulations came along, the law enforcement were doing all sorts of violating people's right to search and seizure.  It's nice to know that the local law enforcement with some ex parte communication from the FAA will be doing most of the enforcement of the drone regulations. 

Still a long ways to go, as there are pockets of LE exercising authority that only the FAA has.
But even then, the Feds leave themselves open to abuse. I recall a small department in Wisconsin that convinced the FAA that they needed a 5-mile Temporary Flight Restriction around a building fire exclusively to keep media away. Looking into that, the FAA hands out TFR's like candy.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/02/ferguson-police-no-fly-restrictions-missouri-news-helicopters-michael-brown-shooting

[whoatown]

Still a long ways to go, as there are pockets of LE exercising authority that only the FAA has.
But even then, the Feds leave themselves open to abuse. I recall a small department in Wisconsin that convinced the FAA that they needed a 5-mile Temporary Flight Restriction around a building fire exclusively to keep media away. Looking into that, the FAA hands out TFR's like candy.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/02/ferguson-police-no-fly-restrictions-missouri-news-helicopters-michael-brown-shooting

Look into the ones regarding Disney.  That's a real eye opener.  There have been attempts at legitimately getting those removed, but no luck so far.  And that's where the TFRs for sporting events comes from (for drones as well), is from the Disney TFR fiasco. 

[patric]

Stumbled across the fine print, so posting it here. It looks like were in a grey area.

Code Select Expand

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
PART 91—GENERAL OPERATING AND FLIGHT RULES
§ 91.215 ATC transponder and altitude
reporting equipment and use.
* * * * *
(c) Transponder-on operation. While
in the airspace as specified in paragraph
(b) of this section or in all controlled
airspace, each person operating an
aircraft equipped with an operable ATC
transponder maintained in accordance
with § 91.413 of this part shall operate
the transponder, including Mode C
equipment if installed, and shall reply
on the appropriate code or as assigned
by ATC, unless otherwise directed by
ATC when transmitting would
jeopardize the safe execution of air
traffic control functions.
* * * * *
(f) Each person operating an aircraft
equipped with ADS–B Out must operate
this equipment in the transmit mode at
all times unless—
(1) Otherwise authorized by the FAA
when the aircraft is performing a
sensitive government mission for
national defense, homeland security,
intelligence or law enforcement
purposes and transmitting would
compromise the operations security of
the mission or pose a safety risk to the
aircraft, crew, or people and property in
the air or on the ground; or
(2) Otherwise directed by ATC when
transmitting would jeopardize the safe
execution of air traffic control functions.



The purpose of the rule is to allow law
enforcement and other security agencies
to take appropriate measures to protect
operational security and the safety of
their operators. The FAA expects that
each agency will establish its own
policies and conduct its own assessment
to determine whether the mission
should be excepted from the
transmitting requirement. Because this
relief is being granted to support
sensitive security operations, however,
the FAA anticipates that non-
transmission of ADS–B Out will not be
routinely used by agencies that have
been granted this relief.

As in the case of the other provisions of this
rule, FAA does not believe that the use
of such exemptions should become
routine, and should be limited to areas
in which such relief represents and
integral mission need of the requestor.

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-07-18/pdf/2019-15248.pdf