The radio-controlled airplane community has hit some regulatory turbulence.
In February, Transport Canada rescinded an exemption in the 2019 Canadian Aviation Regulations that was aimed at the radio-controlled airplane community. Since then, the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada has been negotiating to try to get the rules eased again.
The regulations were initially rolled out as a result of the soaring enthusiasm for drones of all shapes, sizes and capabilities and growing concerns about the increasing number of near-misses between high-flying drones and regular aircraft.
Radio-controlled airplane flyers were given an exemption, a reflection of the differences between the drone- and airplane-flying communities. Where drones can be launched from anywhere and are often seen buzzing around local parks, radio-controlled airplanes fly from club airfields in safe areas.
Central Alberta Radio Fun Flyers past-president Ron Hall said the loss of the exemption introduced a lengthy list of regulatory obligations, including the need to pass an exam to be approved for a pilot certificate. Each plane also has to be registered and the number displayed just as is required with full-size aircraft.
Radio-controlled airplane pilots even have to keep a flight logbook and detailed maintenance records, not much different than those required for a passenger plane carrying hundreds. The certificate costs $10 and the $5 per-plane registration fee does not seem like much, but can add up for enthusiastic pilots who often have miniature air fleets of a dozen planes.
As well, the regulations limit flying to 400 feet above ground level. That is too low for larger radio-controlled planes, or gliders that seek out and ride rising thermal columns of air.
The sudden imposition of a raft of new regulations caught many in the radio-controlled airplane community by surprise. Another club, Red Deer Propbusters R.C. Club, has an airfield just west of Red Deer on Highway 11A.
“A lot of confusion and quite a few guys upset at not knowing what’s going on and a lot of them not understanding Canadian aviation regulations, which have always been geared to full-sized aircraft,” is how Hall sums up the reaction among many.
There is also a sense among many that radio-controlled airplane flyers are getting lumped in with a drone community that has posed many more challenges to regulators, who became increasingly alarmed by a growing number of incidents of drones intruding into airspace used by regular-sized air traffic.
“The biggest difference is we have is a lot of the folks buying drones are putting cameras on them and they’re going and flying them around town, or in parks and national parks. They want basically just to get good photos and video footage to put up on Instagram and YouTube and all that kind of stuff.
“The difference between that and us is we’re flying out our own properties and club fields, out of harm’s way and away from everybody.”
The radio-controlled flying community has high hopes the Model Aeronautics Association of Canada’s ongoing talks with Transport Canada will see regulations eased again.
In the meantime, Hall, who is an experienced helicopter mechanic and well-versed in aviation regulations, has hosted information sessions to bring flyers up to speed on the regulations. Didsbury model flying club got wind of his efforts and have asked him to come and speak to them.
Hall said despite the new red tape challenges, club members will adapt and keep flying out of their airstrip off McKenzie Road southeast of Red Deer.
“As it stands right now, it looks quite promising that we’re going to have a decent flying season.”