Golf Channel Testing Out New Octo-copter Drone To Film Golfers This Weekend

An anonymous reader writes "In what seems like a surreal mixture of life imitating art, the Golf Channel has taken the wraps of a new camera drone. The hover camera appears to have 8 independent rotors supporting what looks like a gyro-stabilized HD camera. Though it is far from silent, the new drone will be on the course this week at the PGA Tour event taking place at Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida. No word on whether or not Lord Vader will be using these to monitor rebel activity on Hoth."

Re:I wonder who's legally liable?

[Anonymous Coward]

It is illegal to fly a commercial UAV for any reason in the US...mostly. The FAA has not yet (or may never) issued a COA (Certificate of Authorization) to a civilian company. Mainly just government agencies, etc. Everything else you read about line of sight, and a pilot at the controls at all times does pertain, but it is mostly for hobbyists out on a weekend as long as they stay below the ceiling height which can vary from place to place. One way we have gotten around this rule is to have an actual heli pilot at the controls...this seems to quiet down the FAA. On the other hand, if you have enough money and lawyers, you can try to obtain a Special Airworthiness Certificate - Experimental Category (SAC-EC), but I have never met anyone or a civilian company that has gotten one of these.

Re:I wonder who's legally liable?

[asynchronous13]

I'll refer you to Public Law 112-95 [gpo.gov] - note the bold section.

SEC. 336. SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.

• (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law relating to the incorporation of unmanned aircraft systems into Federal Aviation Administration plans and policies, including this subtitle, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft, or an aircraft being developed as a model aircraft, if—
  • (1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational use;
  • (2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with a community- based set of safety guidelines and within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization;
  • (3) the aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds unless otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection, flight test, and operational safety program administered by a community-based organization;
  • (4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft; and
  • (5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior notice of the operation (model aircraft operators flying from a permanent location within 5 miles of an airport should establish a mutually-agreed upon operating procedure with the airport operator and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport)).
• (b) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to pursue enforcement action against persons operating model aircraft who endanger the safety of the national airspace system.
• (c) MODEL AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘model aircraft’’ means an unmanned aircraft that is—
  • (1) capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere;
  • (2) flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft; and
  • (3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes.