I have two concerns: 1. FAA and local restrictions and 2. Tariffs imposed by the current administration.
There has been a lot of discussions regarding FAA rules hampering the UAV hobby, which has driven some to leave altogether and others to simply go rogue. In my experience, I have done the following in order to abide by the regulations: Since my quads all weigh more than 1/2 pound I had to register with the FAA, which required me to take and pass a four-part online exam and pay a nominal fee for a license that’s good for three years. I had to affix my ID to the aircraft ans install a RemoteID device which broadcasts my location as well as my FAA ID. I had to enable a geofence with a 121 meter altitude and a radius that will insure the aircraft remains withing visual line of sight. In addition, I (optionally) installed two anti-collision strobes. Even though I don’t plan to fly at night, the strobes are bright and help to keep the aircraft in sight.
I live in Colorado where there are plenty of restrictions where I can legally fly. None of the national or state parks allow UAV overflights, so finding areas that offer interesting scenic views is a challenge.
But more troubling to my hobby are the import taxes imposed by the current administration. To give an example, I needed a 10 pin M9N GPS/compass module for a Tarot quad I’m building that uses a Holybro 6C flight controller. I was able to find a domestic supplier for the F.C. but I had no such luck for the navigation module, and so I ordered one from China. The unit cost $80 plus $21 for shipping, but the import tax was a whopping $56.80! IF you have to order motors, ESCs and other components the costs quickly skyrocket. For me, I’ve had enough.
