Andy Symons - BMFA

Made it out for a few hours today to a local spot. A bit chilly but calm conditions. Castle Hill, near Huddersfield. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VkbwcegsPmHoPar4A

They aren't going after the FPVs, they aren't particularly going after anyone. The government have tasked them with modernising the airspace so they have come up with some proposals to do so, proposals within which they acknowledge the long record of safe and responsible model aircraft flying and have included provision within the proposals to exempt most model aircraft flying activity from the proposals. Of course the devil will be in the details, details that do not exist yet. However the BMFA will continue to fight to minimise the effect of any new regulations on our activities.

yes, very wrong. Your 'I'm alright Jack' approach that throws other perfectly acceptable and lawful elements of the same sport/hobby under the bus because its not what you do is shameful. It would dilute the collective voice we have massively and make model aircraft flying pretty much an irrelevence with no voice. BTW, the BMFA doesnt bundle any flying that doesnt take place within visual line of site of the remote pilot in as model flying. Model flying is the flying of any small unmanned aircraft within visual line of site of the pilot for sporting and recreational purposes.

The BMFA position on Remote ID is as stated in the suggested answers. The whole premise of remote ID is an unnecessary imposition and burden on all UAS operators.

That is the hope and plan. Assuming the CAA proposals come in which isn't a foregone conclusion. At the moment we just need as many model flyers as possible to respond to the consultation.

They don't have a list yet. Very early days in the process yet. All just proposals at the moment.

It really really isn't. The CAA have been given a task by Government to enable BVLOS drone operations, there fore they are making proposals to integrate them into the airspace, which happens to be in the bit we are going to have to share with them. If it was a CAA aim (or Govt) we would be out of the airspace. It really is that simple. Our challenge, and I don't just mean the BMFA’s I mean the BMFA/LMA etc and all of us as individuals is to do all we can to ensure whatever proposals are implemented are proportional and pragmatic so we can carry on our activities with as little impact as possible.

I do believe that could be a first. I find myself in complete agreement! Must be Christmas!!! Happy Christmas Steve.

Happy Christmas to all model aircraft and drone flyers everywhere from the team and myself. Hope everyone has a most excellent festive period and a Happy and Prosperous New Year with plenty of flying opportunities.

It's worth remembering that we don't live in the US.

Precisely.

As a counter to the above the site permits to fly above 400ft with over 7.5kg aircraft dont cost anything. As yet we have no idea what the process will be if one is needed.

🤗

It's always gratifying to hear I have a fan. I will see if I can arrange you an autographed copy.

It really really really isn't coming.

You won't need a spreadsheet, the portal holds all the info in a secure GDPR compliant manner.

Andy, I have ran a couple of club admin training sessions this past week and will be doing a few more too. Next one will be after Christmas though, now on annual leave for 2 weeks. I have also made a start on some short videos about using the portal. See https://bmfa.org/justgo-bitesize-club Will be more added on my return. You will find it very straight forward though, certainly makes the job easy. Would have loved it back when I was membership secretary of 2 clubs with a combined membership of approaching 300.

No it isn't. Doesn't cost a penny.

Hi Martin It was emailed to club secretaries 3 times, on the website as a newsflash and emailed to every member. Not really sure there is much more we could do. edit - Just checked the stats, it was sent to every member we have an email address for, over 28000, 94% deliverability rate, 60% opening rate.

That's not true. There is no cost for sitting in the comfort of your own home and joining the AGM using Zoom which has been available as an option for at least the last 4 years. It was all very clearly explained in the information that was sent to all club secretaries and indeed all members by email.

Not many I suspect. I wouldn't sit on the committee of a club that wasn't affiliated, nothing to do with Article 16 though, purely because of all the extra protections, insurance s and benefits. Its a real no-brainer. Still ultimately a choice for the club though.

This is entirely wrong. the Article 16 authorisation applies to all individual members of the BMFA and not the club. Whether the site is legally flyable is absolutely nothing to do with whether the club is affiliated.

Yes

It is rare to read something so far removed from reality. We actually have more freedoms now when it comes to heights we can fly at than we did before. i suppose sometimes the blinkers just won't come off. Oh well.

As a BMFA member with an aircraft below 7.5kg there is no stated maximum height other than maintaining visual line of sight. For over 7.5kg it's either 400ft, or higher if the site has a BMFA Permit to fly over 7.5kg aircarft above 400ft. So the same as 10 years for under 7.5kg, same as 10 years ago for over 7.5kg without a permit, but higher if a BMFA site permit is issued, in effect we have more freedoms now than 10 years ago.