So I've been strapping my GoPro to my R/C plane and getting some pretty sweet footage of skylines/sunsets. Right next to my work is a big open park which is perfect for flying planes. It's also in downtown Tampa and I don't exactly want to be shot at by authorities as a terrorist suspect. A quick google seems to say it's ok, but it depends. Any suggestions?
You selling the video?
FAA says no commercial uses.
I am pretty sure that would be a city related ordinance (if any).
Main issue would be insurance. If you plane starts a brush fire, crashes into a house etc.
IIRC, membership in AMA includes insurance, but there are probably stipulations and exceptions.
Do your own research, I haven't been near an RC plane since the '80's.
If you join the AMA your insurance worries are taken care of. I personally would look into finding a local club. Even if you don't fly with them they can fill you in as to were to fly.
Many larger cities have ordinances about flying rc outside of designated areas. For example, Houston has an ordinance that says you can't fly in city or county parks except where a flying field has been laid out, which limits legal flying to the park with a field.
AMA recommend 400' max alt and iirc under 100 within a certain distance from a live airport
The AMA liability insurance is nice to have but might not cover you if you operate outside of their parameters.
My son has some RC planes and an AR Drone. I'd say lots of the problems you can encounter are public perceptions. People don't spook over something that looks like a toy airplane. People do spook over scary looking "drones".
I've heard of the The Fuzz showing up sometimes in the US but never of anyone getting shot, tackled or even arrested.
GameboyRMH wrote: I've heard of the The Fuzz showing up sometimes in the US but never of anyone getting shot, tackled or even arrested.
Take an AR Drone and buzz the White House. Let us know what happens.
I'm not selling video, it's purely for my enjoyment or maybe I'll put it on youtube. I'll look into the AMA or city ordinances.
Read the AMA fine print. I haven't been a member in over a decade but I seem to recall their insurance only applying if you're at an AMA flying field.
Provided ordinances or laws don't prohibit it, what you're flying is what matters. You'd be irresponsible to fly a 40 sized gas model in a public park but a small park flyer is small and slow enough to be safe.
Sounds good,the plane is electric, made of foam and relatively small.
I had a friend in Pittsburgh that had his R/C plane get away from him. Levelled off out of radio range headed torwards downtown. We always imagined it made somebody in one of the skyscrapers fall out of their chair.
Anybody else remember the Man for Uncle episode that had the RC control plane/bomb?
. Try asking on rcgroups.com
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