Hey Guys,
Here is what I heard, and what I shared with Bart. I will refer to the company that recieved the cease-and-desist, along with the phone calls as "My Friend". I only do this because I am sure he doenst want his information blasted all over the internet. I imagine that in the following Days/weeks/months that there will be a huge development of news regarding this subject. Until then, lets not get to worked up. Here is what I was told......
Two days ago, I was contacted by a friend. He runs an Aerial Filming Company. Approx 1 week ago, he was contacted directly by the FAA. and this is what he wrote to me,,,,,,,,,,,,,
"""Just as a note, I received a phone call yesterday from the FAA. Seems one of our competitors called the FAA, in a round about way, a nice form of flattery.
That said, I do know about the pending FAA reg's, been pending now for all most 5 years !!! and we are in contact with them at this moment about the new "Final" directive coming in December 2011, a few month away.
I will tell all to everyone when I get the full details in writing from FAA in a few days, but as outlined to me on the phone yesterday by Dennis @ the FAA, it appears to be aimed more at drone aircraft flying with a FPV camera long range, not our RC Heli's flying 50 to 60 feet off the ground never close to an airport, and more important fact was we are NOT UAV's , as we are in direct line of sight of the RC at all times, normally less then 100 feet away. SO,. to sum up, quick, the person on the other end of the phone call yesterday from the FAA, did not really know all the fact's himself, in fact kept changing his story, as the conversation continued, one more note he told me at first that ALL RC Helicopters not matter hobby use or commercial are under the new pending laws, which again is not true, as the draft in January 2011, in fact excludes hobby use.
AS Said, I do have direct communications with the FAA right now with this persons superiors in Washington DC FAA, whom is in control of the new regs' we shall see what they have to say or send me an advance copy of the new reg.
Till then, Google FAA RC Helicopters, see the results you get, a few are worth reading as current information. """
That was about a week ago. Now Just 2 Days ago, He recieved another phone call.
This time He was told by the FAA that " ALL RADIO CONTROLLED AIRCRAFT HAVE BEEN GROUNDED. IF YOU WISH TO FLY FOR HOBBY USE, YOU MAY ONLY DO SO AT A MANDATED FIELD". He was told that this serves as his VERBAL cease-and-desist, and that the OFFICIAL cease-and-desist is being sent out to him (along to 100+ other) from the Courts as we speak.
My friend has ran his business for a cpl of years now, and was very bummed to say the least. This phone call Litterally put him out of Business. I asked. " Are you sure, Is there any way around it", He replied " UHHHH NO, WE ARE F#*&% OUT OF BUSINESS".
He went on to explain the phone call that he recieved from the FAA. They were telling him that this has been coming down the pipe for a while. But the last few months it was really pushed forward due to the (RC AIRPLANE BOMBER INCIDENT). He was told that they are grounding all such aircraft until the final ruling/curriclum comes out in 2013.
So, thats what has been shared with me. My friend was pretty upset and seemed to be pretty convinced that he was "OFFICIALLY" grounded. He didnt seem to think this was just some sort of scare tactic by the FAA guy on the other end of the call. I am waiting to see something in writing, or to see some sort of published info on FAA website.
Bart,
Let me know how your visit to the Field Office goes. I am hoping that being Full scale pilots, will be able to help us in this matter. At the same time, I do not want to risk out Pilots Licence, because we unlawfully flew a toy helicopter.
Anyway guys. i am not trying to start rumors or be the bearer of bad news. This is simply what I was told, and I am sharing it with you guys. I will be patiently waiting to see something in writing. Until then, it is just hear say, Although it was pretty convincing.
) RC sites don't have any mention of it.
