Beoz

So with the new CASA rules it doesn't look like you can fly with 5km of an airfield - does this include Helicopter landing pads?

Found this site which seems to map the restricted zones. If I look at Sydney, options are pretty thin.

http://www.wickedcopters.com.au/page/apps/

GarryP

It's pretty obvious that these aren't viable rules going forward and that CASA are going to have to be dragged in the direction of sanity eventually. In particular those helicopter landing pad exclusion zone are going to have to go. The problem with a bureaucratic mindset is the idea that just because you had a committee and defined some (usually regressive/conservative) view of the world, everyone is going to follow you. Bad rules are worse than no rules since people just ignore they whole thing - as they have been.

The place it could get really interesting is at the intersection of drone heights, flight paths, and noise envelopes. The aviation community has conventionally ignored the complaints of those they overfly at a low height causing noise disturbance. Now those same people are going to get told "because of the aviation noise you suffer from, no delivery drones for you". I get the feeling they are going to tell the aviation industry in no uncertain terms to take a running jump and that they can no longer fly so low or determine that airspace - invalidating many airports.

Of course, we could take a good free market view of it and say that air users have to pay for access, and for disturbance caused - with the money winning out (as it usually does).

Beoz

So back to the present, there seems to be some vagueness around the rules. The helipad thing discounts most urban places but the rules seem to suggest its ok, below a certain height, with care.

OzTennis

I agree, you couldn't possibly get a drone off the ground with 5 km of an airfield (attached).

Happy New Year.

Beoz

https://www.suasnews.com/2017/01/virginia-tech-assessing-injury-risk-unmanned-aircraft/

Here you go Garry. Keep an eye on these studies. When the results are through you can send them to CASA.

Amazulu

That rule has been around for all model aircraft for a while

It's a bit OTT but CASA are a bit more switched on to recreational drone use compared to the FAA

Beoz

So where do you fly your drones to keep within the rules?

Amazulu

At the park, out in the bush, at the beach

Don't stress too much about the 5km rule - just be sensible. Don't fly too high, near people, keep the drone in sight etc - unlike this asshole:

Beoz

I had it flying in a pretty quiet section of a park the other evening. Dog walkers kept coming through, a few of them stopped for a chat (within 30m). Their dogs wanted to get the chops on the drone. Time to leave.

Amazulu

Flying in a busy park can be tricky - everyone wants a look. But I've seen people flying them in Kings Park without any bother. Someone was flying a Phantom 3 around the campsite at Hamelin Bay a few weeks ago - nobody minded too much as he kept his flights short and didn't hover it near people

Hutch

I started making drone films for fun and to promote my photography business early last year and am going to get licensed very soon. The laws around where you can and can't fly a drone are incredibly restrictive and, like so many things in Australia, every organisation/government body wants to have a say in it. That said, people do fly them stupidly - right over the top of extremely busy beaches, around Sydney Harbour, off hotel balconies at night - I've seen 'em all. Sooner or later someone's going to hurt someone with a drone and the suddenly thousands of recreational flyers will be left with expensive paperweights.

There's a senate review coming towards the middle of this year when, hopefully, a lot of it will resolved.

Beoz

The current laws say that commercial use needs approval / license. So it looks like your photography business falls into that category. Even posting you droned video on youtube needs a license as the video can be for commercial use.

I was on a Christmas cruise on Sydney Harbour where they were flying a drone and capturing snaps of people on the boat. The pilot swore he new all the rules and was complying.

Yep needs some clear guidelines

Hutch

I'm well aware of the laws mate, sounds like you aren't. There was a change to CASA regs in September 2016, whereby any drone under 2kg (which mine is) can be flown commercially when abiding by standard drone operating procedures - 120m height, 30m from people, boats, vehicles and buildings, never over populous areas, 5.5km from airfields etc etc. You need to get an ARN (which I have) and notify CASA five days prior to first flight (which I did).

Beoz

Touchy ......... Apologies, I didn't mean to tread on your drone expertise.

You mean these laws for the under 2kg commercial flights?

https://www.casa.gov.au/standard-pag...raft-under-2kg

Still requires time consuming actions. Can't just get up in the morning and say "hey I want to take some stunning images of that beautiful sunset" and post them on Facebook.

Hutch

Absolutely correct. There is a clear disconnect between the sale of consumer grade drones in high street electronics stores to customers of any age ... and the stringent flight regulations attached to the use of same. And that's before you even get into subjects like controlled and restricted airspace, the complete ban on drones in Commonwealth parks, the complete ban on drones in Marine parks, the written permission required to fly in National Parks and the touchy subject of privacy.