Update on FAA regulations regarding RC-VLOS aircraft

News is leaking out about an eventual easing of the restrictions on commercial Radio Control - Visual Line Of Site operations. ie. What I want to do with the Flying Monkeys project. The news is good in that rules are coming - the bad news is that it might be 2011 or 2012 before it gets released. In the mean time I will be doing some other exciting live streaming projects. Details to be released later!

The FAA is going in the direction of developing a set of standards and regulations which will ALLOW what is illegal today. >>>>>>>> This includes operating RC-VLOS platforms and generating profit. They are working toward regulatory conditions where this can be legal. <<<<<<<<

The final ARC recommendations will be factored into the overall process but the specifics of the ARC recommendations (especially sizes, weights, speeds, altitudes, etc) will not survive 100% so don't bother getting you knickers twisted with that document. The FAA will now be factoring in ICAO standards and other legal considerations into the process to produce the NPRM thing. The time-frame for the NPRM output won't be this year.

The ICAO standards and other legal considerations will rule over anybody crying "Hey, that's not fair! My xx pound heli is no more dangerous that that little xx pound heli and besides, I've been doing this for years."

Those who fly for $$ will be considered 'not model' but UAS and have the additional requirements placed on them. Even slow-stickers and Blade 400 guys.

Expect that part of the conditions for flying rc for $$ includes demonstration of required knowledge, experience and/or skill, pilot certification, pilot registration and aircraft registration. You will NOT be required to have a manned pilot certificate for at least our smaller UAS sizes.

Timeframe for this to happen: 2011 or 2012 - ugh!