CAA Update - Registration Scheme

[DarkButterfly]

I'm just going to keep flying until they say I can't anymore. 

[hoverfly]

Just keep going until your arms ache.   The field is well drained despite the soaking it's had recently, but the track to it is a swamp and I can't see plod getting his nice clean car stuck in it  just to check if my drug delivering 4 mtr glider has a number on it.

[UrbanFPV]

Saw a post on rotorriot just now, that no drone laws have actually been passed or gained royal assent.  Since this wont happen till after gen election, there wont be anything illegal about flying without registering.
Hope this is true haven't actually fact checked it, but there is a strong possibility that it's  correct.

[ched]

Saw a post on rotorriot just now, that no drone laws have actually been passed or gained royal assent.  Since this wont happen till after gen election, there wont be anything illegal about flying without registering.
Hope this is true haven't actually fact checked it, but there is a strong possibility that it's  correct.

Looks interesting.
I had a very quick look:

Is this the bill? https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/droneregulationno2.html
It does say No2 (2017-2019)?
Looks like the first version https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/droneregulation.html
didn't progress through parliament either!!!

[UrbanFPV]

Looks interesting.
I had a very quick look:

Is this the bill? https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2017-19/droneregulationno2.html
It does say No2 (2017-2019)?
Looks like the first version https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/droneregulation.html
didn't progress through parliament either!!!

Not sure about those.  Here is the post on RR group (if you're a member)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rotorriot/search/?query=royal%20assent&epa=SEARCH_BOX

The Bill appears to be here:
https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2019-20/airtrafficmanagementandunmannedaircraft.html

The original poster is quite correct.  It will not be illegal to fly without registration on 30th Nov.  Or rather, it is unenforceable as the police will not have been granted powers.

[Dickw]

My understanding is that it will be illegal to fly without registration or competence certificate (or a relevant exemption) after 30th Nov, but that the additional police powers have not yet been granted and won't be for some time.
The police probably have sufficient powers at present to arrest/prosecute in the event of an accident/incident, so I wouldn't get too complacent just yet.

I am OK with the "association" exemptions until end of Jan so have no problem either way.

Dick

[UrbanFPV]

The situation will be, that they basically can't demand that you show registration or stop and search you, or issue on the spot fines.  You can simply refuse to provide that information quite legally.  If you are not being detained, you can simply walk away and they won't be able to investigate you very easily.  There will be much more paperwork to do so.

[Lamaule]

The situation will be, that they basically can't demand that you show registration or stop and search you, or issue on the spot fines.  You can simply refuse to provide that information quite legally.  If you are not being detained, you can simply walk away and they won't be able to investigate you very easily.  There will be much more paperwork to do so.

I think this is correct, but you should expect prompt follow up when they do! [emoji1787][emoji23]

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[Andy7]

I'd say that because we all here fly safely and responsibly, the only real interaction with the law that would make me 'worried' at all is that of complaints of trespass when flying bandos and the like.

[UrbanFPV]

I'd say that because we all here fly safely and responsibly, the only real interaction with the law that would make me 'worried' at all is that of complaints of trespass when flying bandos and the like.

Well if you're flying bandos, you're flying indoors and therefore don't need to register. 

[Andy7]

... good point!

[DarkButterfly]

That would go for car park racing too, practically what started the mini quad thing, anything undercover / indoor wouldn't need registration, the council could fine you for some other offence though, like public nuisance or trespass.

[Two-Six]

The rules say: "This article applies to a flight by a small unmanned aircraft only if it has a mass of 250 grams or more without its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight.

Does this mean that the battery is included in the weight threshold or not. The battery is fuel isn't it?

If the battery is included as equipment like cameras or hand grenades this is another example of the off-the-charts stupidity of the new regulations.

I am not registering this year and I probably won't re-join the BMFA either.  My local club lost its field last spring and the prospect of finding another one is slim.

Lets hope nobody registers, nobody re-joins the BFMA and they have to drop the whole ludicrous project.

[ched]

The rules say: "This article applies to a flight by a small unmanned aircraft only if it has a mass of 250 grams or more without its fuel but including any articles or equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight.

Does this mean that the battery is included in the weight threshold or not. The battery is fuel isn't it?

If the battery is included as equipment like cameras or hand grenades this is another example of the off-the-charts stupidity of the new regulations.

I am not registering this year and I probably won't re-join the BMFA either.  My local club lost its field last spring and the prospect of finding another one is slim.

Lets hope nobody registers, nobody re-joins the BFMA and they have to drop the whole ludicrous project.

The battery is considered the fuel tank as it 'stores' the charge!! So battery weight has to be included in the sub 250 gms limit!!!

It is a stupid system that won't solve the problem at all.

Just wait till June next year when the EU committee created set of rules come in!!! It seems so complex no one will understand. So even those law abiding citizens who want to follow the rules will need a degree in double dutch to have a chance to understand the complexities of the EU rules........

[Dickw]

....................Lets hope nobody registers, nobody re-joins the BFMA and they have to drop the whole ludicrous project.

Sorry to dissapoint your hopes, but I will be registering and joining the BMFA (none of this is their fault).
I have no intention of risking prosecution, or having invalid insurance, by flying illegally.
Registration/competence is such a trivial process.

Dick

[Andy7]

I'll be registering next week. It's really not a massive deal for me to be honest. I'm going to fly with or without it and although I begrudge any amount of money spent, I can live with the registration fee to just make all the drama go away. The whole process has inspired me to move from BMFA to FPVUK when I come to register, becsue they're cheaper - so financially, I won't be any worse off.
I never get any trouble with folk on the field, but having a bit of paper to wave about if I do is of some comfort.  And of course it'll be all over the news again at the end of the month, so it'll be a great opportunity for haters and busybodies to walk up and ask if I'm doing what I'm doing legally.

[Two-Six]

I think I was a bit harsh with the BMFA.  It's not their fault.  However I do feel like they should have been much more vociferous and perhaps militant about resisting these regulations in their entirety from the start. 

However if nobody renewed their fees next year then perhaps they would be like "hey guys (to the CAA) we have just lost all our members because of your stupid regulations" which might have given them a bit more of a stick to hit them with.

As for mass not registering, I think that might well work to demonstrate how unpopular these rules are.

I haven't got a club or a field now anyway so that's why I probably won't re-new or sign up for next year. 

[Andy7]

Who needs a club when you've got MRUK! 

[hoverfly]

I'll be registering next week. It's really not a massive deal for me to be honest. I'm going to fly with or without it and although I begrudge any amount of money spent, I can live with the registration fee to just make all the drama go away. The whole process has inspired me to move from BMFA to FPVUK when I come to register, becsue they're cheaper - so financially, I won't be any worse off.
I never get any trouble with folk on the field, but having a bit of paper to wave about if I do is of some comfort.  And of course it'll be all over the news again at the end of the month, so it'll be a great opportunity for haters and busybodies to walk up and ask if I'm doing what I'm doing legally.

Toady....

[Andy7]

Ratty! 

[DarkButterfly]

I'll probably register just to avoid a massive ballache from people thinking I'm doing something illegal, personally I think the whole thing is convoluted, it should be done like the HAM ticket, three classes, foundation, intermediate and full with different weight restrictions for each, also make it a one off payment, requirement to log in to CAA every 5 years to keep it active, like you have to do with OFCOM to keep your HAM ticket active.

[DarkButterfly]

Well that was .--. .. ... ... easy, didn't even have to read the manual, 20 questions only one wrong.

[shawdreamer]

The battery is considered the fuel tank as it 'stores' the charge!! So battery weight has to be included in the sub 250 gms limit!!!

hold on...... when did that get switched?

hasnt it always been 250g AUW till now?

If thats correct and its 250g WITHOUT battery then pretty much all my frames are still safely under the weight req., would save me doing the mass swap out to lighter designs Ive had on the cards till now if its right

[Andy7]

Pretty sure it's 250g with battery from what I've heard. Though who wants to put bets on that changing in June next year so that anyone that's got a mavic mini or built a smaller quad still has to register?
 

[ched]

hold on...... when did that get switched?

hasnt it always been 250g AUW till now?

If thats correct and its 250g WITHOUT battery then pretty much all my frames are still safely under the weight req., would save me doing the mass swap out to lighter designs Ive had on the cards till now if its right

Sorry to badly phrase that. The battery weight is included. i.e. put battery on quad then weigh. Total must be under 250 gms to not have to register. Obviously if you fly anything over 250 gms they you have to register. I don't know if reg number has to be on sub250 if you have registered to fly over 250?

[Dickw]

Latest version of the CAA Registration Exemption here.

Validity date extended to 23rd Feb.
Who knows what will change tomorrow!

Dick

[ched]

Latest version of the CAA Registration Exemption here.

Validity date extended to 23rd Feb.
Who knows what will change tomorrow!

Dick

I wonder what is going on? Why extend the deadline?
At this rate the exemption will be extended till the nasty EU rules come in in July 2020!

[Dickw]

The original plan was for a bulk upload from organisations like the BMFA to the CAA database on 31st Jan. The previous exemption therefore expired on 31st Jan. This obvioualy would not give time for the CAA to process the data, issue the Operator IDs, and for people to put them on their machines.
I think there has been an outbreak of common sense as the new date gives time for this to happen.
We can but hope!

Dick

[Big A]

The original plan was for a bulk upload from organisations like the BMFA to the CAA database on 31st Jan. The previous exemption therefore expired on 31st Jan. This obvioualy would not give time for the CAA to process the data, issue the Operator IDs, and for people to put them on their machines.
I think there has been an outbreak of common sense as the new date gives time for this to happen.
We can but hope!

Dick

Thats exactly the reason. Those wishing to do registration through the national associations will still need to have done so by 31st January though.