UK first person view flyers (FPV) no longer require a second pilot on the sticks.

FPV UK is very pleased to announce that on the 21st September 2011 the CAA authorised First  Person View flying as Person In Charge; a second pilot is no longer required.

This authorisation is in the form of an Exemption from article 166(3) of the Air Navigation Order 2009 and is only for full members of FPV UK when they fly models of less than 1.8kg, below 400ft, and have a Competent Observer as lookout.

The Exemption ties in with the new FPV UK Pilot Handbook which includes excellent guidance on FPV flying and specific guidance on flying FPV with a Competent Observer; such as what he or she should say if they spot a full size aircraft heading your way.

FPV UK Chairman Simon Dale said “We have been working with the CAA for over two years on this and we’re extremely pleased to have got to this point. FPV flying offers a great fun and absorbing (or should that be addictive?!) new aspect to our wonderful hobby and it’s fantastic that competent flyers can now fly without having to find another R/C pilot happy to hold a buddy switch for the entire duration of each and every flight!”

A copy of the exemption is here: http://tinyurl.com/fpvexemption

A copy of the FPV UK Pilot’s Handbook is here: http://tinyurl.com/fpvpilothandbook