Last changes for UAV pilots from the Federal Aviation Authority
Of course, all of the considerations made so far must be subordinate to the requirements of EU legislation and the implementation in the respective national law. This presents the executing companies, and above all the training companies, with great challenges. Of course, we want to make it as easy as possible for pilots to use their drones in surveying operations, but on the other hand we attach great importance to compliance with current regulations in order not to reduce the acceptance of UAV use and to put it to the test again and again. We are in close contact and exchange with the aviation authorities to find practicable solutions. In connection with the implementation of the new EASA legislation, we can often observe that people are deliberately ignoring it because it has become too complicated. This is dangerous and can lead to many new regulations and bans. We don't want that. Therefore, we recommend a detailed training in which we show how and when to work with UAVs with reasonable effort.
We try to assign as many flights as possible to the open category, but mostly we are in difficult surroundings, with uninvolved people in the recording area, groups of people or in urban terrain (inner-city) often nearby or directly over motorways, federal roads and other traffic restrictions. Then it is a matter of the category requiring approval (Certified). This always requires an operating license and a SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) or ConOps (Concept of Operation), and that complicates things.
So far, according to the new EU regulation, no distinction has been made between commercial and private use for UAS operation in the open category. - So far -
Because now, at the beginning of the year, the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport issued the following:
A minimum horizontal distance of 30 meters must always be maintained from uninvolved persons. If the UAS is operated in a separate slow flight mode and the operator ensures that a maximum speed of 3 m/s is not exceeded, the minimum horizontal distance is 5 meters….
Wasn't there talk of 50 meters in the transitional regulation (until December 31.12.2022, XNUMX) with existing UAS? Correct! However, according to the ministry, "These limitations severely limit the UAS's capabilities in urban areas and often make their operation in the open category in urban environments impossible."
Now we can fly a little closer to bystanders with our existing drones and an A2 long-distance pilot's certificate. Of course, all other rules (eg 1:1 rule) still apply, but there is some relief here. But...unfortunately this decree is only valid until August 31.08.2022, XNUMX, so we can only be really happy for a short time.
From our point of view, sooner or later all of us who use the UAS in a professional environment will not be able to avoid the SORA ConOps package. All questions about the A2 long-distance pilot's certificate, SORA-ConOps or other topics related to the use of UAS in the surveying area are explained in detail in our training plan for "flying surveyors"?
