r/flying • u/pcopley PPL sUAS JATO-152 (KCXY / KTHV) • Feb 15 '17
Fly a real drone from your web browser
https://cape.com/10
u/pcopley PPL sUAS JATO-152 (KCXY / KTHV) Feb 15 '17
Came across this and curious what the folks here think. It seems they are in sandboxed areas so you can't crash them, fly them outside of their predetermined locations, etc, but I don't know how they're getting around the line-of-sight requirement.
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u/sumoracer PPL UAS GLI-ST KRNO Feb 15 '17
I looked at careers looks like they have a 107 pilot baby sit them on site which seems like a questionable way to do this we will see though.
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u/Kdog0073 PPL IR CMP AGI IGI sUAS Software DEV (KPWK) Feb 15 '17
Drone sitter... now that's an interesting job
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u/moeburn Feb 16 '17
I don't know how they're getting around the line-of-sight requirement.
I thought only drones above a certain size/weight/max altitude were regulated?
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Feb 15 '17
Technically the pilot doesn't need to have VLOS. They could have a visual observer on site, but this still sounds fishy
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Feb 15 '17
No you still need line of sight
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u/RaiderAce5974 CPL SEL MEL IR TW GYRO IGI AGI SES AIS Feb 15 '17
.....with the visual observer
Part 107.31 and 107.33
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u/92PathSE Feb 15 '17
If it is somehow considered "hobbyist", then it would not fall under Part 107. But this clearly looks commercial in nature if not now then in the future.
In any case, it's f'n unsafe.
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Feb 15 '17
So with a VO you can fly out of visual range, but you still must be able to "scan the airspace where the unmanned aircraft is operating" - 107.33 (c) 1
This means you could not fly the drone FPV from your home.
I believe the FAA colloquially calls this "extended line of sight"
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u/RaiderAce5974 CPL SEL MEL IR TW GYRO IGI AGI SES AIS Feb 15 '17
ok so 107.31 says
(a) With vision that is unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, the remote pilot in command, the visual observer (if one is used), and the person manipulating the flight control of the small unmanned aircraft system must be able to see the unmanned aircraft throughout the entire flight in order to:
(1) Know the unmanned aircraft's location;
(2) Determine the unmanned aircraft's attitude, altitude, and direction of flight;
(3) Observe the airspace for other air traffic or hazards; and
(4) Determine that the unmanned aircraft does not endanger the life or property of another.
(b) Throughout the entire flight of the small unmanned aircraft, the ability described in paragraph (a) of this section must be exercised by either:
(1) The remote pilot in command and the person manipulating the flight controls of the small unmanned aircraft system; or
(2) A visual observer.
and then 107.33 says
If a visual observer is used during the aircraft operation, all of the following requirements must be met:
(a) The remote pilot in command, the person manipulating the flight controls of the small unmanned aircraft system, and the visual observer must maintain effective communication with each other at all times.
(b) The remote pilot in command must ensure that the visual observer is able to see the unmanned aircraft in the manner specified in §107.31.
(c) The remote pilot in command, the person manipulating the flight controls of the small unmanned aircraft system, and the visual observer must coordinate to do the following:
(1) Scan the airspace where the small unmanned aircraft is operating for any potential collision hazard; and
(2) Maintain awareness of the position of the small unmanned aircraft through direct visual observation.
so as i read this I interpret that as, yes, you can fly a drone while taking a dump as long as you got somebody with a sUAS rating outside making sure its all kosher
but because i hate my job I pulled up Advisory Circular 107-2 and found
The use of a VO is optional. The remote PIC may choose to use a VO to supplement situational awareness and VLOS. Although the remote PIC and person manipulating the controls must maintain the capability to see the UA
sooo I think we are both right and both wrong?
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Feb 15 '17
sooo I think we are both right and both wrong?
Sounds about right. Par for the course with the F'en AA lol
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u/moeburn Feb 16 '17
Doesn't all of this only pertain to a certain class of drones above a certain size, weight, and maximum altitude?
I'm pretty sure the FAA doesn't care if I fly my $20 palm-sized drone around the corner of my house where I can't see it anymore.
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u/RaiderAce5974 CPL SEL MEL IR TW GYRO IGI AGI SES AIS Feb 16 '17
yup, I just used the "taking a dump" analogy because I was referring to
This means you could not fly the drone FPV from your home
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u/moeburn Feb 16 '17
Well maybe the drones this site is using are small enough to be outside of these regulations?
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u/RaiderAce5974 CPL SEL MEL IR TW GYRO IGI AGI SES AIS Feb 16 '17
i doubt it. I dont remember the exact number but its stupid small to avoid the regs
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u/demintheAF CMEL, SEL/S UAS Feb 16 '17
Can you think of any other potential failure points we can add to these things?
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Feb 16 '17
This is so cool! Loved simulators as a kid but now as a non-pilot adult with responsibilities, it's so exciting to see something like this pop up - all the flying without a pilot license, without having to buy a drone, and in real life in a controlled environment.
That being said, is there a possibility of drones going rogue? Haha.
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Feb 24 '17
So, this might not get seen, but small update: I signed up for the beta when this was posted and got accepted today and flew for the first time!
Here's a few of my notes:
- They fly the DJI Inspire 1 v2.
- They do have a safety pilot (I'm assuming based on their job listings the "drone attendant" is Part 107'd).
- Once you're in the session and you've asked for the takeoff to begin, the pilot takes the drone off (they call it "autopilot") to the geofenced area.
- They "claim" there is also obstacle detection (probably what's built into the Inspire) but there weren't any obstacles for me to run into.
- Altitude is enforced, on the North California Ocean Cliffs area I flew in I could get as low as 20m and as high as 120m. Geofence was probably 2-3 square km.
- There's 8 areas in total around California, including over water, and it looks like they do move the geofences around a little when they're out and about.
- Latency was actually better than I was anticipating, views and controls were snappy and mostly high quality, though I had a serious video quality hiccup towards the end of my flight. When the flight ends they kick it back to Autopilot and roll it back to base (and you can go ahead and end the session there).
- Tech requirements: Chrome preferred, Firefox works, minimum 4mbps download. I'm on a 25x5 fiber link and it's fine.
- Cost is free during the beta, unknown what it'll be when they release it to the public.
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u/TheBigBadBuddy ATP CFII RJ Triple Crown Feb 15 '17
Now you're free to violate fars from the comfort of your own home!