Model Aircraft Pilots Angry Over Drone Laws

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the BBC: People who fly model aircraft are angry that proposed drone rules could damage their much-loved hobby. They argue they should not be classed as drone pilots. The new laws are intended to make airspace safer amid increasing drone use. The British Model Flying Association (BMFA) met the Aviation Minister Baroness Vere this week to discuss its concerns. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is currently consulting on proposals for a drone registration scheme that is due to become law in November. It has received 6,000 responses from BMFA members. David Phipps, chief executive of BMFA, said the proposed rules, which would see all pilots of unmanned aerial vehicles required to register, pay for a license and take competency tests every three years are 'disproportionate' for model-aircraft flyers.

'We have established an excellent safety record that surpasses commercial aviation over a century of flying. European laws grant special recognition to model flying, saying it should be treated differently but the UK has not done this.' He acknowledged that while 'some' would regard the proposed registration fee of 16.50 pounds as 'not a lot of money', it still represented 'a barrier to entry' especially for young people getting involved in the hobby. He added that plans for a safety test 'which will be answering a few questions on the CAA's website' were far less rigorous than his organization's own safety tests. He worried that many of his members would simply ignore the new rules and 'go under the radar.' 'It is becoming more and more obvious that we as aero modelers are being targeted because of the commercial value of the airspace that we occupy,' said Cliff Evans, a model aircraft hobbyist who's unhappy with the new proposals. 'I and all other modelers that I know find this offensive and unnecessary.'

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