CBO? Required?

JamesJB · Jan 14, 2023

Hi guys since I have been digging deeper into the Rules and Regs I am getting confused on stuff.

Do I legally have to be part of a CBO or is it not necessary,I looked at a few and man there membership fees are expensive

if they are Mandatory could someone link those guidelines?

I just recently got my TRUST which at the time I didn't know it was kinda Mandatory,I saw a YouTube video where a guy was fined for not having a Trust cert

that scared me lol. They should include that url to take the TRUST with every drone.

As a Recreational Drone Pilot am I aloud to fly at night? I do have the strobes that can be seen 3+ miles.

Please help lol.

rickmurray1989 · Jan 14, 2023

Welcome, James. You do not have to be a member of a CBO. https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreationalfliers/faa-recognized-community-based-organizations

MA2 317 · Jan 14, 2023

Give this a read.

AMA announced as the first FAA recognized CBO.

So those of us who are already long-standing AMA members, got this email yesterday. So there is progress in this front finally! We will see what happens with this. I expect a lot of information to be coming soon on a lot of topics. And we can finally expect some declarative answers, at least...

mavicpilots.com

Vic Moss · Jan 14, 2023

You have to now fly under an FAA approved CBO. There are currently 3 (as of 1/14/23). You do not have to belong to one, and @pilotinstitute put out a great video explaining the differences between them.

As far as 3SM strobes, yes, you need them. Each CBO requires it for night flight.

JamesJB · Jan 14, 2023

Vic Moss said:
You have to now fly under an FAA approved CBO. There are currently 3 (as of 1/14/23). You do not have to belong to one, and @pilotinstitute put out a great video explaining the differences between them.

As far as 3SM strobes, yes, you need them. Each CBO requires it for night flight.

I went and got the AMA handbook,is that ok? or is there something better I should get?

I am currently watching that video

Vic Moss · Jan 14, 2023

JamesJB said:
I went and got the AMA handbook,is that ok? or is there something better I should get?

I am currently watching that video

Look at FPV Freedom Coalition and Flitetest Community Group. The links are in Greg's video. AMA would be my last choice if I were to fly under a CBO. AMA's is too convoluted in my opinion. And I'm an AMA member, and talk with Chad on regulatory issues fairly frequently. I just don't want to use their CBO safety code.

JamesJB · Jan 14, 2023

Vic Moss said:
Look at FPV Freedom Coalition and Flitetest Community Group. The links are in Greg's video. AMA would be my last choice if I were to fly under a CBO. AMA's is too convoluted in my opinion. And I'm an AMA member, and talk with Chad on regulatory issues fairly frequently. I just don't want to use their CBO safety code.

I thought about FPV Freedom Coalition but isnt that just for FPV or doesnt that matter? I don't have a FPV drone.
If I would pay for membership the 2 ya suggested are a lot cheaper.

I picked Flitetest Community Group

I do wish Pilot Institute was a CBO though

SmilingOgre · Jan 14, 2023

As per links, you do not have to be a member of a CBO. You do have to be able to site a the CBO guidelines you have chosen to include the CBO that published the guidelines.

Vic Moss · Jan 16, 2023

JamesJB said:
I thought about FPV Freedom Coalition but isnt that just for FPV or doesnt that matter? I don't have a FPV drone.
If I would pay for membership the 2 ya suggested are a lot cheaper.

I picked Flitetest Community Group

I do wish Pilot Institute was a CBO though

Greg and I talked about that. We also talked about maybe doing that with Drone Service Providers Alliance.

But since we're (DSPA) a 501(c)(6), and not a (c)(3), we'd have to change our charter. Also, since we're an advocacy group for commercial drone pilots, that would be mission creep for us.

Just remember, you don't have to belong to the CBO to use their safety code. It's nice to support them though if you do.