13 replies to this topic

[K Wells]

Being Pilots Licensed or Unlicensed we should ALL be aware of Flight Safety


I will place Flight Safety Training links here so you may learn how to Fly Safely

How to read a Sectional Chart

http://virtualskies....vigation/8.html



Here is an example of My flying area...Notice Bandera on the Sectional.....it is within the Randolph 2A MOA  (Military Operational Area)
this causes certain greater restrictions than being outside this area.




There are absolutely free courses online that will help you operate your aircraft safely. One of the best is AOPA.

here is a link to courses that would be of benefit to all Pilots here...and they are free...and you can print a Certificate for your wall

http://www.aopa.org/...online_courses/


I would recommend:


Know Before You Go: Navigating Today’s Airspace

Do The Right Thing: Decision Making for Pilots

Essential Aerodynamics: Stalls, Spins, and Safety

Weather Wise: Ceiling and Visibility

GPS for VFR Operations

IFR Insights: Regulations

IFR Insights: Charts

Mission: Possible—Navigating Today's Special-Use Airspace


Here is an example of a certificate








For Weather Forecasts:

http://www.aviationw....gov/std_brief/

http://www.wundergro...com/auto/wxmap/

http://weather.unisy...m/nam/index.php

http://www.noaa.gov/wx.html


Temporary Flight Restrictions


http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html

[Kenn Sebesta]

Good stuff, K Wells. I might also add a couple websites where people can get some US sections.

www.skyvector.com
www.runwayfinder.com  Edit: This site is shutting down......by KWells

Not sure where those outside the US can find sectionals. The way to read them is the same, though, so all the above links apply equally well to non-US as US citizens.

[Spydmobile]

Brilliant Gents! Thanks
Franco

[Arnie]

Also FAA.gov has downloadable sectionals, and enroute charts. But more vital, TFR's or Temporary flight restrictions that in some cases restrict the use of r/c aircraft within a given radius of specified locations. TFR's exsist usually around presidential movements and can last 8 or more hours.

[K Wells]

Good point Arnie....TFR's are posted daily in NOTAM's ( Notice TO AirMen ) and can be read online for specific areas.

You can also look here for Graphical TFR's   http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html

[K Wells]

Here is the latest FAA Orders for UAS (UnManned Air Systems)


http://www.faa.gov/d...er/8130.34B.pdf

[K Wells]

Most recent NAS "National AirSpace" Chart


 airspace chart.png   181.62K   82 downloads

[K Wells]

Reality Check!

Gentlemen, We are in a Kitty Hawk era revisited. Today the UAV, RPV, sUAS, UAS, Drone or what ever acronym you choose to use, is very rapidly becoming "visible" to the public, government, and lawyers world wide. I am troubled by the reckless abandon and "I can do that better" videos being posted, without regard to safety and responsibility.

I would caution everyone...if you operate your vehicle...do it responsibly, with safety. All it takes is one idiot to cause manufacturers to "lock down" this amazing technology.

I can guarantee, your reckless video's will be used against you and the manufacturers. Please, I urge you to not try to create "One Better" video that demonstrates reckless flights down urban streets, around citizens, public property, private property and the like.

Lawyers will sue you, the manufacturer, your dog, your parents and your educators.

I have checked some of the locations some of these videos have been flown.. Some are in "Restricted Airspace"

Get educated, fly smart, fly safe, maintain your equipment, do your pre-flights and post flights, check sectionals where you fly...etc and you have less probability of going to jail or at a minimum having your gear impounded and being grounded.

Read this section. Learn it...Live it

[DaHousemon]

Mystery object nearly causes mid-air collision!!!!

http://www.9news.com...?storyid=268207

I hope that the FAA finds that this was just a bird and NOT a Zephyr wing! If this was somebody flying FPV in that location they were right in the middle of 2 very busy airports!  Scary!

I agree with K Wells!  BE SAFE!!!

[K Wells]

DaHouseman,

Thanks for this article, hopefully members will read and heed. All of us need to be aware of National Airspace and Restricted Airspace, Read your Local Sectional where you fly and Never Fly! above 400' AGL,  within 25 miles of Controlled Airspace, inside a MOA, or within Restricted Airspace.

[scottevil]

DaHousemon, on 16 May 2012 - 09:08 PM, said:

Mystery object nearly causes mid-air collision!!!!

http://www.9news.com...?storyid=268207

I hope that the FAA finds that this was just a bird and NOT a Zephyr wing! If this was somebody flying FPV in that location they were right in the middle of 2 very busy airports!  Scary!

I agree with K Wells!  BE SAFE!!!

8000 feet.. can a zephyr do that? Anyway, that's pretty crazy, if it was a model then screw that guy. Imagine if one of our quads or planes got stuck in a jet turbine.. probably would take the jet down, cost people their lives, and our hobby/sport.

Screenshot from the news report... i bet the pilot had a similar look on his face.

 Capture.PNG   176.48K   3 downloads

[Kenn Sebesta]

scottevil, on 17 May 2012 - 07:23 PM, said:

8000 feet.. can a zephyr do that?

Dunno, what does the math say? At a climb rate of 3m/s, or about 500ft/min, it would take 16 minutes to climb to 8000ft. Can a Zephyr get 16 minutes of flight at 75% throttle? Seems likely.

What about energy? 8000ft ~ 2500m. If the Zephyr weighs 2kg (that's a heavy bird!), then you're looking at 2500[m]*2[kg]*9.8[m/s^2] = 49kJ of potential energy. Flying a 3S 5AHr battery gives 11.1*5 = 55.5WHr, which is 55.5*3600 = 199.8kJ. So it definitely has enough energy in the battery pack for the conservative energy required.

What about radio range? Well, that's the easiest of all, 8000ft is only ~1.5mi, which is well, well within the range of even simple rubber duckies.

[D-Lite]

Not only is it possible, people actually do stuff like this:



even on Bixlers:



Fascinating from a technical point of view but dangerous for the FPV hobby if it ends up in the news in a way as above.

[Kenn Sebesta]

We also should point out that this was 8000' above sea level, in the vicinity of Denver-- a.k.a. the Mile High City. So this was less than 3000' AGL. Definitely doable.