In the FAA's Part 107 NPRM there was no reference to an operator's flight test, only a written one. The language use in the NPRM was suggestive of a new written test more appropriate to the tasks a line of sight sUAS operator would be involved with. There was no reference to aircraft certification, only aircraft registrations. The estimated cost for operators to conform to new commercial operator certifications was roughly $260.00 or so. Test fee, aircraft registration, operator background check. There was no mention of anything other than medical self certification by the operator.
What Jfro posted is clearly something new, created by someone that appears to be functioning outside of the FAA structure. If at the legislative level as it appears there could be some significant hurdles in front of us yet again that go above and beyond what was referenced in the NPRM. The average operator out there will not be able to afford aircraft certification as it was referenced the Jfro's link. The center mentioned is a major test and certification lab that uses ASTM and other standards for certification. There is no one single part that is marketed at our level that has been certified to those levels. In reality, there is not one thing that has been certified as meeting some international or nationally recognized mechanical, structural, or electrical engineering or FAA-PMA standard at all.
Some of this stuff were things I was aware of being promoted by the big league players for their aerospace/military grade BLOS operations, with most of that extremely long distance. There's no possible way we can afford that playground. If all the rules are designed to meet those levels of equipment and operator certification we are dead in the water. We absolutely must have a tiered system that defines size, distance, equipment, and operator classifications that leaves room for the small guy.
I thought the original article I linked made it clear that Sen Booker (sp) was one of two senators launching this.
Ol M an, thank your for your post. Your post of the initial FAA proposals what I understood when I read the FAA document. While I didn't understand some of Bookers proposed legislation, I had the gut feeling it was big boy promoted and this legislation would most likely put the cost of doing business out of the reach of most businesses or at least more time consuming & more expensive.
I started getting worried that big money was pushing back HARD when I saw Amazon was getting an exemption to test their delivery system. Then this article really bothered me.
There's a very interesting video I saw this week that EVERYBODY should watch, spred, and discuss with their friends. It was based on a Princeton study I just found and quickly skimmed & believe this is the study the video links to. The article link is here.
http://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/...testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf
And the video link is here.
It's more depressing than I thought and I'm already pretty pessimistic about our politicians in regards to them doing any thing for the people as opposed to special interests groups that are backed by big money.
This video puts into 2 graphs which should be absolutely clear what the Princeton article found in it's research. Proposed legislation like Cory Booker's vs what the FAA has proposed will be an interesting effort to watch and potentially pretty devastating to not just us as a group of multirotor flyers, but also possibly just another of a long continuing policy of monied interests setting the table for their own benefit at the expense of us, the American people.
I recommend you all watch this, like all 10 people that are reading this thread. I'm retired so not sure how much this effects me, but for those who want to get into business with their multirotors, if this goes through, 95% of the people flying today will more than likely be shut out. As an old duo signing team said, and the beat goes on, la di da di da.
