The Gov't, CAA, BMFA & UAV legislation thread

[Andy Symons - BMFA]

Posted by Kevin 216 on 19/11/2019 07:38:58:

I must have missed something! What is the point of doing the BMFA competency test for either model aircraft or drone when the CAA test covers both?

BMFA test covers both

[Kevin 216]

Posted by Andy Symons - BMFA on 19/11/2019 08:52:10:

Posted by Kevin 216 on 19/11/2019 07:38:58:

I must have missed something! What is the point of doing the BMFA competency test for either model aircraft or drone when the CAA test covers both?

BMFA test covers both

Andy - I really meant to post that I am struggling to understand why the BMFA are running a separate competency registration.

[Frank Skilbeck]

Posted by Kevin 216 on 19/11/2019 07:38:58:

I must have missed something! What is the point of doing the BMFA competency test for either model aircraft or drone when the CAA test covers both?

I suspect they've done this as many traditional fliers have complained that the CAA test asks them "drone" questions which are not applicable to them.

I fly conventional models LOS >95% of the time but do fly fixed wing FPV now and again so I did the camera equipped RCC out of interest.

One of our new members who is still on a buddy box turned up at our AGM yesterday with his RCC certificate and noted how easy it was to take.

[SIMON CRAGG]

Posted by Frank Skilbeck on 19/11/2019 09:09:51:

Posted by Kevin 216 on 19/11/2019 07:38:58:

I must have missed something! What is the point of doing the BMFA competency test for either model aircraft or drone when the CAA test covers both?

I suspect they've done this as many traditional fliers have complained that the CAA test asks them "drone" questions which are not applicable to them.

I fly conventional models LOS >95% of the time but do fly fixed wing FPV now and again so I did the camera equipped RCC out of interest.

One of our new members who is still on a buddy box turned up at our AGM yesterday with his RCC certificate and noted how easy it was to take.

The chaps from our club who have completed the CAA test, have commented on the fact that the test is biased towards drones, but the questions are based on common sense so no biggy.

[SIMON CRAGG]

Posted by Frank Skilbeck on 19/11/2019 09:09:51:

Posted by Kevin 216 on 19/11/2019 07:38:58:

I must have missed something! What is the point of doing the BMFA competency test for either model aircraft or drone when the CAA test covers both?

I suspect they've done this as many traditional fliers have complained that the CAA test asks them "drone" questions which are not applicable to them.

I fly conventional models LOS >95% of the time but do fly fixed wing FPV now and again so I did the camera equipped RCC out of interest.

One of our new members who is still on a buddy box turned up at our AGM yesterday with his RCC certificate and noted how easy it was to take.

The chaps from our club who have completed the CAA test, have commented on the fact that the test is biased towards drones, but the questions are based on common sense so no biggy.

[SIMON CRAGG]

Posted by Frank Skilbeck on 19/11/2019 09:09:51:

Posted by Kevin 216 on 19/11/2019 07:38:58:

I must have missed something! What is the point of doing the BMFA competency test for either model aircraft or drone when the CAA test covers both?

I suspect they've done this as many traditional fliers have complained that the CAA test asks them "drone" questions which are not applicable to them.

I fly conventional models LOS >95% of the time but do fly fixed wing FPV now and again so I did the camera equipped RCC out of interest.

One of our new members who is still on a buddy box turned up at our AGM yesterday with his RCC certificate and noted how easy it was to take.

The chaps from our club who have completed the CAA test, have commented on the fact that the test is biased towards drones, but the questions are based on common sense so no biggy.

[SR 71]

I did the online test and down loaded the certificate

The thing is i dont have a printer, so theres another problem

Im nearly 80 years old and dont like computers, and all this is making me give up the hobbie i started as a 10 year old, ill do something else, where theres none of this bull$€!/

[Alan Gorham_]

You did the test knowing you need a copy of the certificate and because you don't have a printer you are giving up the hobby?

[SIMON CRAGG]

Posted by Alan Gorham_ on 19/11/2019 10:09:57:

You did the test knowing you need a copy of the certificate and because you don't have a printer you are giving up the hobby?

Say no more Alan!

[Geoff Parkes]

I have just took the test, only to check what all the fuss is about, must admit i was one of the "why should we bother with extra legislation etc etc, but when you think what it could have been only a few months ago, i think just filling in 20 basic questions whose answers are given if you read the accompaning guide is a small price to pay( assuming you dont mind the £9 pound charge) you get both your user and owner nos.all done in about 10 mins,Well done the BMFA.

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Steve, I get the impression that you live, sleep and breathe this subject and your knowledge of the regulations appears to be second to none but it seems to me that by running an in-house testing programme, the BMFA is only reinforcing its credibility as a trusted entity - rather like (before interference from EASA) the British Gliding Association was able to run gliding in this country on behalf of the CAA while offering technical and regulation services at greatly reduced cost by people with relevant specialist knowledge.

[Peter Christy]

Exactly! The BMFA scheme also appears to enable specific statistics to be gathered differentiating between drone pilots and model aircraft pilots - something that may well be to our benefit in the future.

I detect a lot of anti-BMFA bias in some of the posts on here. While the BMFA may not be perfect (and the solution to that is in the members hands), it is by far and away the best support organisation that we have. All the smaller organisations derive considerable benefit from the work carried out by the BMFA, yet contribute little or nothing back in return. Indeed, the only reason they are able to offer reduced membership fees is because the BMFA is doing much of the donkey work.

I think a little more support for our national organisation would be in order. Were it not for the efforts of David Phipps and others at the BMFA, we would be in a considerably worse position than we are now.

--

Pete

[Bob Cotsford]

IMHO the BMFA version has been reworded for the benefit of all those who still don't understand that a model aircraft IS a drone and are distracted by the CAA using illustrations of multirotors and including one or two questions related to camera carrying SUAs. If it encourages more people to take the test and stay with the hobby then surely it can only be a good thing?

[Chris Berry]

Steve, it seems to me that you arent a huge fan of the BMFA. If that is the case why don't you join another association and leave the BMFA to it?

[SR 71]

Gorham and Cragg you jump to the wrong conclusion as usual, its not the fact i have no printer, it is the whole thing of HAVING to take tests and be registered and pay the extra £9, i just added the printer as it might be a problem for other old folk like myself,

[Alan Gorham_]

Posted by SR 71 on 19/11/2019 10:02:39:

I did the online test and down loaded the certificate

The thing is i dont have a printer, so theres another problem

Im nearly 80 years old and dont like computers, and all this is making me give up the hobbie i started as a 10 year old, ill do something else, where theres none of this bull$€!/

 

Hmm, I've jumped to the conclusion that you don't have a printer and yet here you are saying that you don't have one. I think I smell something that comes from a bull...

Look, this is law, like it or not. If you stopped building a model every time you encountered a problem then you wouldn't build models. It's a simple thing to fix. Go somewhere like a print shop to print it out, ask your friendly neighbour to do it, buy a printer or use the one you now admit to having.

If you have been in the hobby for so long then you will remember having to have a license for your R/C equipment. It's a wonder that didn't put you off then.

By the way I object to you calling me by my surname when you can clearly see my first name.

Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 19/11/2019 11:24:12

Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 19/11/2019 11:24:45

[Chris Berry]

For those of you who don't have a printer or computer. You have several options.

Friends or family, club mate, the club or the BMFA may be able to assist. Or if you can use a computer, your library will be able to help.

Edited By Chris Berry on 19/11/2019 11:38:54

[Nigel Heather]

My club AGM is later this year, on the 28th November, because of the drone registration process.

It is going to be discussed at the AGM, but the suggestion so far is that they are not going to take club and BMFA fees this year - instead they are just going to take the club fees and ask members to renew their BMFA membership directly using the BMFA portal.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Nigel Heather]

Posted by Alan Gorham_ on 19/11/2019 11:23:26:

Posted by SR 71 on 19/11/2019 10:02:39:

I did the online test and down loaded the certificate

The thing is i dont have a printer, so theres another problem

Im nearly 80 years old and dont like computers, and all this is making me give up the hobbie i started as a 10 year old, ill do something else, where theres none of this bull$€!/

 

Hmm, I've jumped to the conclusion that you don't have a printer and yet here you are saying that you don't have one. I think I smell something that comes from a bull...

Look, this is law, like it or not. If you stopped building a model every time you encountered a problem then you wouldn't build models. It's a simple thing to fix. Go somewhere like a print shop to print it out, ask your friendly neighbour to do it, buy a printer or use the one you now admit to having.

If you have been in the hobby for so long then you will remember having to have a license for your R/C equipment. It's a wonder that didn't put you off then.

By the way I object to you calling me by my surname when you can clearly see my first name.

Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 19/11/2019 11:24:12

Edited By Alan Gorham_ on 19/11/2019 11:24:45

Apologies, just spotted the embedded quote and realise I have responded to the wrong person.

Is there no one you can ask. I know that if a neighbour, relative, work colleague, friend needing something printing I would be happy to help - can’t imagine I am unique.  If we weren’t at opposite ends of the country I would be more than happy to help.

Failing that, I’m sure that your local library or CAB will be able to help.

 

Cheers,

Nigel

Edited By Nigel Heather on 19/11/2019 11:46:28

Edited By Nigel Heather on 19/11/2019 11:49:19

[Mark Kettle 1]

Alan the last post / reply, it reminds me of the good of delivery by Ronnie Barker playing 'Norman Stanley Fletcher' in 'Porridge', was the post written by Ian La Frenais OBE and Dick Clement.

[Chris Berry]

That's an interesting point Nigel.

We have only ever done the minimum 5 to affiliate. In the last year we now have 40 members registered through the club who have done so via the online portal and all have our club name on their BMFA membership.

Does that mean they are now no longer country members and will need to pay via the club affiliation process?

[Nigel Heather]

Posted by Chris Berry on 19/11/2019 11:47:44:

That's an interesting point Nigel.

We have only ever done the minimum 5 to affiliate. In the last year we now have 40 members registered through the club who have done so via the online portal and all have our club name on their BMFA membership.

Does that mean they are now no longer country members and will need to pay via the club affiliation process?

I think that is correct. I went into the portal yesterday and did some housekeeping - noticed that there is a section for the club(s) that you are a member of and it correctly shows my club.

So when I renew I expect it will be against the club rather than as a country member but I have raised a ticket in the portal asking for clarification.

Cheers,

Nigel

[Supersavage]

I've been wondering on where to put my OP ID and was wondering if it would be ok in the battery compartment somewhere as it's easy to access

Edited By Supersavage on 19/11/2019 12:20:21

[Gary Manuel]

Posted by Nigel Heather on 19/11/2019 11:53:17:

Posted by Chris Berry on 19/11/2019 11:47:44:

That's an interesting point Nigel.

We have only ever done the minimum 5 to affiliate. In the last year we now have 40 members registered through the club who have done so via the online portal and all have our club name on their BMFA membership.

Does that mean they are now no longer country members and will need to pay via the club affiliation process?

I think that is correct. I went into the portal yesterday and did some housekeeping - noticed that there is a section for the club(s) that you are a member of and it correctly shows my club.

So when I renew I expect it will be against the club rather than as a country member but I have raised a ticket in the portal asking for clarification.

Cheers,

Nigel

Nigel

Would you mind posting BMFA response on here as I have the same question.

Regards

Gary