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This seems wild to me (I believe you, it's just wild). A quadcopter has to be registered above 250 grams, this requirement goes away if there's a human inside??

This seems wild to me (I believe you, it's just wild). A quadcopter has to be registered above 250 grams, this requirement goes away if there's a human inside?? Feels like this area between an unmanned drone and the smallest manned airplane is missing regulation.

tomrod 3y ago
Not every space needs to be regulated. Presently, ultra lights aren't crowded and adhere to rules. Once people want to use these to simplify their commutes it will become a regulated space.
- electroly 3y ago
  While true in the general sense, I specifically think this particular space should be. This is an insane device to sell to someone without requiring any licensing or training. I honestly feel the same way about my 249g drone, to a lesser extent--I should have needed to prove that I'm not an idiot before firing it up, but I didn't have to. I both injured myself and lost the drone because I actually am an idiot. I can't imagine what kind of mess I could get into with this size of device.
  - mycall 3y ago
    > This is an insane device to sell to someone without requiring any licensing or training. Large boats are like this too (over 80ft requires salaried captain though).
dehrmann 3y ago
I'd rather crash a drone than crash the aircraft I'm in. That, and drones are harder to fly because you have the wrong perspective.
notatoad 3y ago
i think it makes sense that there's a lot of regulation in an industry where products are widely available, and there's not a lot of regulation in an industry where products don't exist beyond a few isolated prototypes. this seems like an example of regulatory systems working in a sane way. regulation should follow reality, not lead it.
- sverhagen 3y ago
  Would it not make more sense for it then to be not allowed at all until there's regulation? Like with bvlos for drones?
  - notatoad 3y ago
    not allowing anything to exist until there is regulation specifically allowing that thing to exist sounds like an excellent way to stifle all innovation and experimentation in the world.
IshKebab 3y ago
Yeah I think the fact that somebody is in it means that they'll take some more care over things than a drone pilot.

tomrod 3y ago

Not every space needs to be regulated. Presently, ultra lights aren't crowded and adhere to rules. Once people want to use these to simplify their commutes it will become a regulated space.

electroly 3y ago
While true in the general sense, I specifically think this particular space should be. This is an insane device to sell to someone without requiring any licensing or training. I honestly feel the same way about my 249g drone, to a lesser extent--I should have needed to prove that I'm not an idiot before firing it up, but I didn't have to. I both injured myself and lost the drone because I actually am an idiot. I can't imagine what kind of mess I could get into with this size of device.
- mycall 3y ago
  > This is an insane device to sell to someone without requiring any licensing or training. Large boats are like this too (over 80ft requires salaried captain though).

dehrmann 3y ago

I'd rather crash a drone than crash the aircraft I'm in. That, and drones are harder to fly because you have the wrong perspective.

notatoad 3y ago

i think it makes sense that there's a lot of regulation in an industry where products are widely available, and there's not a lot of regulation in an industry where products don't exist beyond a few isolated prototypes. this seems like an example of regulatory systems working in a sane way. regulation should follow reality, not lead it.

sverhagen 3y ago
Would it not make more sense for it then to be not allowed at all until there's regulation? Like with bvlos for drones?
- notatoad 3y ago
  not allowing anything to exist until there is regulation specifically allowing that thing to exist sounds like an excellent way to stifle all innovation and experimentation in the world.

IshKebab 3y ago

Yeah I think the fact that somebody is in it means that they'll take some more care over things than a drone pilot.