Local Operators Must Comply With New Rules to Fly Drones

Bugsy’s Pizza Owner Jeff Bowser started small and is now up to three drone he flies for fun. Watch for one to land by accident in your back yard!

by David Croyle

Rules for operating personal and commercial drones officially went into effect August 29 from regulations adopted last June.

According to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta, the rules were established to “minimize risks to other aircraft and people or property on the ground.”

The main part of the rules grants drone operators the ability to fly their aircraft in “uncontrolled air space” which typically means areas not governed by traffic control towers. For instance, if you live in Moon Township, Allegheny County, the restriction is greater because of the flight paths of jets going in and out of Greater Pittsburgh International Airport.

However, in Armstrong County, because there are no public airports, it is considered Class G, uncontrolled airspace.

Bugsy’s Pizza Store Owner Jeff Bowser has been operating drones for the past six months for recreational fun.

Bowser, who has purchased three different ones, said they are difficult to control.

“(The hard thing is) learning how to control them. You get 90 feet in the air, your depth perception goes off. Most of the ones I have now has video screens on them – you can see where you are going. Until you learn how to fly them, you can’t depend on the controls to manually fly it.”

“When I got the first one six months ago, it ended up in Sedwick Heights. An ex-school teacher found it in his back yard. It got up so high that the wind took it. As you go up, it gets a lot windier. Those variables come into play.”

Drones start at several hundred dollars and are as much as $5,000 for the serious enthusiast.

“I’m actually looking at another one (to purchase) in the next couple of weeks,” Bowser said. “It will be twice the size as the ones I have now. I have a couple of friends that have bigger ones. They fly them over in Butler.”

While Bowser has operated his drones from his downtown Kittanning business location on South Jefferson Street, he agreed with North Buffalo Township resident Jack Bennett that there needs to be a place established where drone operators can practice flying techniques, far away from the electrical wires and trees – two common obstacles.

Bennett, a director at the Pony Farm Trap and Gun Club, said he would like to see the Club cater more to drone hobby enthusiasts.

“I got it for Christmas. I took it south when we went on vacation and I flew it in Bluffton, South Carolina in an enclosed area. I got it caught in the pine trees.”

Despite his mishap, Bennett said he didn’t feel drone operation is difficult.

“You have to watch to not make any quick moves on the joy sticks. But it went up easily, but sometimes you have a little right-left control problems. But I was running really slow too. Unfortunately, there were too many trees. When I got away from them, people were out with dogs and I didn’t want to fly it around them. Sometimes when it starts down, you can’t get it stopped.”

It is this need for open space that Bennett felt could be accommodated by the Pony Farm.

“We’re looking to form a club, or at least they can stop in and fly there on one of the ranges providing it isn’t in use. On Friday evening, it’s open to the public. We are looking for people who are interested in forming a club or just people interesting in flying their aircraft. The more usage we get, the better we will be.”

Still, some owners may desire to operate their drones closer to places like McVille Airport, which has airplanes taking off and landing throughout the day. Although not considered controlled airspace, it is the responsibility of drone operators to not interfere with flight operations.

Operators wishing to use unmanned aircraft in controlled airspace must request access via the electronic portal at www.faa.gov/UAS. The FAA will evaluate airspace authorization requests and render decisions using a phased approach, beginning on October 3, October 31, and December 5, 2016 depending on the type of request.

Testing is also now available to receive a remote pilot certificate for unmanned aircraft. Testing centers administer the Aeronautical Knowledge Test required under Part 107. After the operator passes the test, he/she must complete an FAA Airman Certificate and/or a Rating Application to receive their remote pilot certificate, which can take up to 120 days to receive.

Foxx said that Part 107 does not apply to model aircraft. Model aircraft operators must continue to obey the regulations set forth in Sec. 336 of Public Law 112-95 including the stipulation they must be operated only for hobby or recreational purposes.

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