Heads up pilots - UAVs about

[Bruce]

Hi everyone, the following was circulated by e-mail to SAA members, but applies to all GA aviators so I am posting it here to increase awareness. This is an e-mail from Rex Kenny from CAA's recreation aircraft division:

"Sent: Friday, November 19, 2010 1:47 PM

Subject: NOTAM - Unmanned Aircraft Ops



Good Afternoon All,

A couple of weeks ago we saw the first authorised commercial flight of a unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in New Zealand. The flights were conducted in the Waikato region and was well advertised in the local area via clubs, airways etc and of course NOTAM. The flights were all conducted below 400 feet within visual line of sight. During the second flight a light aircraft penetrated the NOTAM area at around 300 feet. The UAS took evasive action.

I am sending this message to you all to ask you to spread the message far and wide regarding the importance of NOTAM to all pilots.

Next Wednesday the Navy will be providing a demonstration flight for the CAA and others of their Pheonix UAS. This aircraft weighs 50 kg and has a top speed of 300 knots. It will be operating within the Kaipara Range area and the area will be NOTAM active.

Now I know all of us and our fellow pilots always read NOTAM, but this new activity makes it a serious matter that we do know that such activity is going on in the range area. It is also likely that assuming the trials are successful other MOA’s could be used to operate this UAS.

Thanks for your valuable assistance



Regards

Rex Kenny "
end of quote.

put the word out and remember to check the NOTAMS - "lets be careful out there, OK"....

[Dave Homewood]

Adrian and Hugh Kingsford used to conduct many "UAV" flights in the Nelson region back in the 1980's. Did they slip under the radar of CAA then?

[Bruce]

Its the legal definition of UAV which is a new thing. CAA Airspace rules now have special procedures to allow UAV ops, however it relies on people actually reading NOTAMs, which doesnt always happen!

[Dave Homewood]

I see. I guess back then there was no fancy name for a UAV because those two have been credited with the invention of it. They didn't go high up like the modern ones do, nor did they drop bombs on civilians like the modern ones.

They were however a danger toi traffic - not air traffic but road traffic, as they used rural roads as the runways. They got some awesome footage in their trials, including close calls with take offs where a car came round the corner. ;D

[philip]

Just heard M106 will be active all week which is a bugger as I was planning to visit a friend on south head Wednesday.