

BACKGROUND:

As of Feb. 19, 2016), new federal rules from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), requiring the registration of all unmanned aircraft in the US weighing between 250 grams (8.8 ounces) and 55 pounds went into effect (Note: As of mid 2017 some provisions of this may be in suspension during litigation). In addition, there are already other new procedures in effect for permitting certain commercial applications of such aircraft. While these rules arose in response to the popularity of multirotor aircraft , commonly called "drones," they apply equally to traditional "model" airplanes and helicopters that fall into the same weight category. Registration is actually of the pilot, who is issued a single unique number which is required to be affixed to each aircraft. This is at the least a nuisance for most of us, but there may be a bit of a silver lining.



UPDATE: As of late spring 2017, the legal status of some FAA regulations concerning non-commercial uses of unmanned aircraft (including hobby and "prosumer" class "drones") are up in the air. Regardless of the eventual outcome, the benefits of clearly identifying to the public what you are doing remain. Further UPDATE, late 2017: Now we're back to recreational pilots being required to register as before.



We are all painfully aware that the public at large does not like our multirotors ("drones"), thanks to exaggerated reports in the media about the stupid antics of a tiny percentage of reckless and/or ignorant drone owners, along with the misconception that our aircraft have anything to do with military drones, or are some sort of greater threat to peoples' privacy than the neighbor's cell phone or the "bird watcher" at the beach with a super-zoom point-and-shoot camera.



How bad is it? Pilots have been physically attacked while conducting perfectly legal and polite flight operations, just because their aircraft was a (gasp!) "drone." Many pilots have had lesser but still most unpleasant encounters with bystanders, or even authorities, while flying safely, in full compliance with all laws and common-sense considerations.





Also Available in Orange Color



Aside from the drone haters, most of us have been approached while flying by folks who are simply curious and interested. And some of us (myself included) have crashed or have had a photo shoot spoiled as a result of such distractions, regardless of what the interloper's intentions were.



Then there are people who may wander into a flight area who are neither friend nor foe nor interested in what we're doing, but who are just minding their own business, perhaps walking the dog, unaware that someone they are approaching is engaged in piloting an aircraft. (Which will run out of juice first, the poodle cavorting in your LZ or your hovering aircraft's batteries? Been there, done that!)



As every R/C pilot knows, watching your own back while flying is pretty much impossible. This vest and its message cannot be missed by anyone approaching, and will certainly give them pause, if not stop them cold. Nobody is likely to just rush right up to you when they see this vest. And if you and a couple of buddies are wearing them, you'll likely not hear an impolite word. Hostile individuals will likely just slink away, while the truly fearful citizen will have their anxiety softened. And if a conversation does follow, hopefully after landing, the message on the vest makes a great starting point from which to educate. (Update, mid-February 2016: We now have enough vests out and about to be getting some reports back , and it looks like their effects are calming, just as expected.)



Applying the word "drone" to our little unmanned aircraft is controversial. But the general public does not yet know the meaning of other terms we use instead, such as UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) or UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) or sUAS (Small Unmanned Aerial System). Nevertheless, some pilots prefer one of these terms on their vests. So, in the pull-down options menu at the bottom of this page we offer all four of these. Contact us if you want something altogether different.



Likewise, the words used to identify the type of pilot vary. "Registered" applies mainly to recreational pilots, while "Certified" and "Licensed" and "Commercial" are commonly ordered by business-oriented pilots (see box "More Words About Words," above, regarding a trivial spat over the words "certified" and "licensed"). The pulldown option menu offers several popular words and combinations, but there are many more to fit different needs; the chart below illustrates some popular choices. When emailing or calling us, referring to this chart can save time and effort and prevent misunderstandings.





~Above: Chart of typical vest texts and general layouts of the back~

~Exact font proportions and spacing may vary from this guide~

~Refer to the numbers of the samples when discussing these choices~



~If you don't see what you want, just ask~



YOUR LOGO OR CUSTOM WORDING

We can apply your logo (in black) for a basic cost of $10 per application, with a first-order two-unit minimum (meaning that if you order a logo on the back or front only on a single-vest order, it will cost the same as logos on both front and back). Simple changes or rearrangement of wording is at no cost, while more extensive additional wording is again $10, at our discretion. We will need your logo file, in any format but the larger the better, via email, and/or clear instructions on what you want. If at all necessary we will email you a digital mockup for approval. To order a custom vest, contact us at the email address or phone number below.





Some Samples of Customer-Supplied Logos, and Some Special Wording



THE FRONT OF THE VEST : All vests unless otherwise specified have the text on the back repeated on the front left top pocket (except for the "stand clear) . Changes in text are always available, just let us know what you need. Minor changes are at no cost. The top right front pocket is available for your logo, if desired.





The front left of a vest with text from back repeated



