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FPV to space and back (rcexplorer.se)
84 points by donohoe on March 10, 2013 | hide | past | favorite | 4 comments


There are a few things required if you're going to do this in the USA:

* Ham radio Technician License, amateur radio

* Follow the federal regulations, particularly the strength section: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=1b032e7...

* FAA guidance recommends to be below 400 feet when within 3 miles of an airport in addition to avoiding restricted airspaces.

* Certain restrictions may apply dependent on aircraft/balloon weight, see http://www.eoss.org/pubs/faqloon.htm

* It's always advisable to notify the FAA of your intentions in advance of your flight


I looked into doing something like this a couple of years ago, the regulations in Sweden are quite strict.

First you need to send an application [1] to the Swedish transport agency (Transportstyrelsen) and have it approved at least 30 days before the release of the balloon (the application alone will set you back about $200 US).

There are a bunch of regulations for the aircraft as well [2], radar visibility related for example. And for the time of the release; at most 2/8ths of the sky can be covered by clouds, visibility must be at least 8km. It's illegal if these conditions aren't met.

If you have a camera on board, you will have to get all footage vetted by the military to make sure you haven't photographed any secret installations or similar. As best I could find out, you send them the complete raw footage of everything and they give you back whatever's cleared by them. (I didn't ask official questions regarding this, so it may be I misinterpreted the information I did find.)

[1] http://www.transportstyrelsen.se/sv/Luftfart/Flygplatser-och... [2] http://www.transportstyrelsen.se/Global/Luftfart/Flygtrafik/...


FPV = control the remote controlled airplane by seeing through its camera in a "first person view".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Person_View


That is very cool. Real life KSP!




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