What to do before drones are banned and what to do after

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

A law is about to come into force that will change the rules for the purchase and use of aircraft weighing more than 250 grams and will put a bold cross on quadcopters, RC planes and other small entertainments. Is this area interesting? Start reading and acting urgently!

In mid-April, amendments to the Air Code of the Russian Federation concerning the use of unmanned aircraft come into force. Very soon, customs officers will begin to open 5% of parcels from abroad. And closer to the summer, the duty-free bar will be lowered, and we will begin to pay extra for purchases that are more expensive than $ 150, but some $ 25. In general, in the near future Russia will most likely be left without flying RC models in principle.

Radio Controlled Flight Law

The amendments to the Air Code were adopted in the second and third readings, signed by the President and should enter into force 90 days after publication (they were published in Rossiyskaya Gazeta on January 11, 2016). From this moment on, unmanned aerial vehicles with a maximum take-off weight of more than 250 grams will be subject to state registration. Aircraft weighing up to 30 kilograms of all types of purposes and structures are subject to the law.

These aircraft are subject to mandatory certification. Some aircraft will be certified on the basis of an existing airworthiness document, some on the basis of a manufacturer's certificate. The classifier does not exist at the moment.

Previously, copter manufacturers did not certify their aircraft in Russia, since it was simply not required. And they are unlikely to be: most of the devices are imported illegally. So in this regard, the owners will have to get out.

In addition, the legislators are thinking about the "crew". It consists of one or more external pilots. One of them should be appointed as the commander of the unmanned vehicle and bear additional responsibility for any operational problems: make the final decisions on takeoff, flight and return to the airfield or on an emergency landing in the event of a clear security threat.

Such decisions can be made with a deviation from the flight plan, instructions of the relevant body of the unified air traffic management system and flight assignments, with the obligatory notification of the corresponding air traffic services (flight control) body and, if possible, in accordance with the established flight rules.

Air Code of the Russian Federation

Before the amendments appeared, drone flights were not regulated at all. And that's bad. But it didn't get better with the amendments. In fact, they simply prohibit flights of all vehicles heavier than 250 grams. And these are any radio-controlled models or quadro-, hexa- and octocopters.

Unmanned aerial vehicles registration rules

So, from mid-April, all drones will need to be registered. The state register of drones will be maintained by the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia).

To enter the device into the register, the owner must submit a written application to the Federal Air Transport Agency in any form, but with data about himself and the drone (type, serial number, date of manufacture, manufacturer's name, maximum takeoff weight, type and number of installed engines, their power). After registration, the state and registration identification marks are assigned to the drone and applied to it. Re-registration is required when changing the owner of the vessel and any change in components or modifications.

After registration in the state register of the Federal Air Transport Agency, you will need to register the drone with the Federal Security Service (FSB), providing the same data as during registration.

Than the customs and new rules threaten

Complications with registration are complemented by big troubles with customs. Firstly, because most drones cost more than the duty-free limit allows (now it is $ 150, but it will probably drop to $ 10–20 by the summer).

Secondly, most of the copters and aircraft are manufactured in China (everyone's favorite Phantom is also), which means that no one will urgently be engaged in their certification. Thus, they will all be counterfeit products.

If a parcel is opened (and customs officers not only have the right to open parcels, but will do it more often) or if there is information on it that the package contains an unmanned aerial vehicle, your purchase will be delayed.

There can be two options for the development of events:

• or the drone will remain with the customs authorities,
• or for its import, you will have to carry out certification. How exactly, I have not yet fully figured out. This is too complicated a process that the Federal Air Transport Agency should be in charge. In the meantime, such a procedure is carried out only for ultralight MANNED vehicles.

How to get around the new rules

In fact - nothing. Although a huge pile of rules has been written, there are two problems at once that firmly prohibit any flights:

1. Copters and RC planes are neither certified nor subject to certification, which means they cannot be registered.
2. There is no official procedure for obtaining a flight license (at least for the qualification of an unmanned aircraft captain, at least for an auxiliary pilot-operator). Therefore, the Federal Air Transport Agency has the right to refuse anyone when trying to officially register.

It would be logical if DOSAAF would deal with the issues of drones. However, this organization has practically been destroyed, and a holy place is never empty. To support the development of unmanned aerial vehicles, a public organization appeared.

She already invites everyone to join their ranks and get an official certificate of a member of the association. For ordinary pilots, this is completely free, but if you need legal support, participation in scientific projects, trade, you need to shake up your wallet a little. The project was noted for the organization of round tables and exhibitions, including at the Skolkovo squares. But none of the initiatives were considered by the State Duma when approving the current amendments. As the achievements of the association, we can note the only successful case of air cargo transportation on a small drone in Syktyvkar.

However, membership in any club or organization does not exempt from mandatory registration. The crusts of model aircraft clubs will not save either. Unfortunately, the activities of such clubs are not regulated in any way and, apparently, this season (if the legislators do not have mercy) their members will meet on the ground or in secret garages.

What to do

Fly carefully, unnoticed. And prepare yourself for the fact that, if caught, you will have to pay a fine of 5 to 50 thousand rubles (for airspace violation and for an unregistered vehicle). If, in addition, a flash drive with video material is found and there is no permission for photo and video filming, you can fly into an even larger amount. In the presence of photographs that can be classified as a collection of cartographic data, the fine will increase to 200-500 thousand rubles.

Thus, if you fly, then:

• do it so that other people are safe;
• do it unnoticed;
• do it in private, or friendly, territory at low altitude.

There is nothing to fly yet, but you want to? Unfortunately, there is only one way out - at least for now - to buy right now so that the package can arrive before the end of March. It is advisable to use the services of a transport company - CDEK, SPSR Express or EMS: the terms are too short, any order from China will be sent no earlier than February 17th.

In the future - theoretically - it will be possible to import disassembled, disassembled vehicles: separately propellers and engines, a separate case, flight controller, and so on. Everything is in different packages with a reliable time offset so that the parcels do not cross at customs. Or buy domestically, which is much more expensive.

Unfortunately, almost all aircraft designed for outdoor flights are banned. And quadrocopters (their counterparts), and radio-controlled helicopters, and similar aircraft / gliders. If you decide to take a chance, then first of all you should pay attention to these models:

Syma X5C (W)

Small quadcopter for outdoor use. Pros: high-quality plastic, solid construction, a large number of spare parts, low cost. There is a modification with video broadcasting. Disadvantages: motors burn rather quickly, legs are fragile enough, cannot carry an action camera.

WLtoys V686

A somewhat more powerful drone that is quite capable of carrying - for a short time and not far - a good camera. Significantly stronger than the X5, but more expensive (not everywhere) and harder to drive.

JJRC H16 Yizhan Tarantula X6

An excellent, durable drone with a wide range of capabilities. He knows how to carry a GoPro, albeit without controlling it from the remote control. Suitable for filming simple videos.

Syma x8

A more advanced and expensive Phantom-sized variant of the Syma X5C. Unlike the "five", it can carry a full-fledged camera. Unfortunately, there is no active suspension to stabilize it, so a somewhat castrated apparatus still comes out. But it is cheap, durable and has a huge community.

Flying 3D X8

The most affordable of the more or less serious devices. There is even telemetry on board for displaying flight parameters.

Cheerson CX-20

Almost Phantom. It has powerful brushless motors, which allows to increase the thrust-to-weight ratio, and due to this, the flight duration and carrying capacity. Can be equipped with a controllable gimbal for GoPro and analogs. The flight time is up to 15 minutes, and this is already enough for a short video. And the speed of the Cheerson CX-20 is decent. Cheap and weak plastic, but a very well-modifiable design and low cost.

XK Detect X380

A large but well-controlled quadcopter with a reasonable price, its own gimbal and video broadcasting system. One of the best semi-professional options.

Walkera QR X350 (Pro)

Almost Phantom. He knows how to fly in automatic missions on the map, the flight duration of the Pro-variant reaches 25 minutes. Dear, difficult to control, but thanks to the ArduCopter-based board, it has almost endless customization possibilities. If desired, it will be possible to sort it out and assemble the device on its own frame. Due to its huge community, it is a quality and better customizable replacement for DJI products at a more affordable price.

Afterword

All these devices will definitely fall under the upcoming ban. However, if you get them in advance, maybe you can fly safely. Probably, public organizations will sooner or later achieve certain concessions and clarifications in the law, which will allow the return of aircraft modeling sport. But this is in the future. In the meantime, we will somehow get out.

This article will open a cycle devoted to a variety of aircraft, their operation, customization and creation. I will talk about my own attempts to register the device, and then I will consider small-sized drones that can be operated.