Image  of a Drone with a pair of HellFire missiles attached is what the FAA thinks we are flying to take aerial photography with, hum, this seems to be the perception with a lot of our Congress too, public thinking we are spying on them, pilots think we are in the way of them landing or flying, all are wrong.  RC Helicopters & air craft are flown for aerial photography & video work at less than 200 feet above the ground always in sight of the operator, most of the aerials for Realtors less than a hundred feet, video for film industry more like 50 feet.  Misconception of and understanding of our industry has been the issue.  So for now, the image above is what they have in mind when thinking of us, Aerial Photography & Aerial Video companies !!

The U.S. Senate late Monday joined the House in passing the first  FAA Reauthorization Bill called “FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012“. Which both the Senate & House included a provision aimed at protecting the RC aviation flights from regulations that in my opinion are unnecessary, restrictive and over reaching !! to put it mildly.   The bill is expected to signed into law.

FAA has told two reporters, Nick Wingfield New York Times and Alan Levin a reporter for Bloomberg Businessweek  whom I personally have spoken with, their interviews with staff at the FAA told them that the new FAA RC guidelines are coming in Spring 2012.  FAA will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking [NPRM] for public comment at which time we can see “how to comply” with the new FAA guidelines and be flying again ourselves as mi6 films RC helicopters for film industry & Realtors soon. FAA spokes person told the Bloomberg reporter the new pending regulations for commercial use of RC drones, will be limited “when licensed”, to only flying in non-populated areas.  This does not sound good, especially coming from an investigative reporter speaking directly with staff this week at the FAA in Washington D.C., whom did not wish to be identified  per Alan.

Here is the full story on our company mi6films this weekend edition of Bloomberg Businssweek, tells a short side of the story, but we are thankful for any additional attention this can bring, again so we can fly again for “all our loyal clients” safely and within the law’s of USA national air space.

Read story here from Bloomberg Business week by Alan Levin

One more story posted this week from the Academy of Model Aeronautics tells the FAA story from a different point of view, list the Congress members who are helping get us a guideline regulation for flying RC Helicopters.

Plenty more on this subject, just Google FAA RC Helicopters or FAA Drones or FAA Modernization Act 2012,  read way too much on this subject.

RECAP:  All we wish is the FAA have a guideline regulation so we may comply, get flying again, plain and simple.

I wish to correct a few miss guided statements made with true facts that they have made in the recent press release.  The full press release is shown below from CAR to the Realtors of Los Angeles.

This article states that the LA film Commission “requires” a FILM PERMIT for use of an aircraft to take video or still images of a home for sale is just silly and in fact false.  I personally have been in the LA Film Commissions office this past spring and requested to know if we were taking aerial images of a home do we need a film permit, the answer was NO !   To further this I got a phone call yesterday from a member of the Beverly Hills Board of Realtors, asking the same question, his call yesterday to the LA Film Commission, the answer was NO.    Think about it, your child’s birthday party in your private backyard, you want to take photos, or hire a professional photographer to take photos, according to this logic you will need a “Film Permit” from LA.. again just silly.

When we were using RC Helicopters for Real Estate Aerial Photography last year, they were taken off from private property, elevation about 50 to 90 feet, no where near any LAPD Helicopter or air traffic,, these facts are again just silly to assume.  They said photography for commercial use needs a still image permit?  Well then “every home” now on the MLS most all the images were taken by a Professional Photographer, then again by their logic every home listing on the MLS would require a Film Permit from LA Film Commission, again just silly.

mi6 films does fly a full size Robinson R-44 Helicopter for all your future Aerial Photography needs, give us a call.

Brought to you by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

LAPD Warning Against Hiring Unmanned Aircraft Operators for Aerial Photos
Los Angeles authorities have asked C.A.R. to communicate this warning to REALTORS® who hire unmanned aircraft operators to take aerial photographs for marketing high-end properties. Using these devices (also known as drones) for flight in the air with no onboard pilot may violate, among other things, the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) policy on unmanned aircrafts, and Los Angeles’s local ordinance requiring permits for filming commercial motion pictures and still photographs.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) investigation has apparently revealed that aerial photos where unmanned aircraft were observed have appeared on certain real estate sales websites. According to FilmL.A., the LAPD Air Division has issued this warning as it intends to prosecute violators in the near future. FilmL.A. is a public benefit company created by the City and County of Los Angeles to manage film permit activity and related issues.

Under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s current policy, no one can operate an unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace System without specific authority. Operators who wish to fly an unmanned aircraft for civil use must obtain an FAA experimental airworthiness certificate, which will not be issued to an unmanned aircraft used for compensation or hire. Although the FAA allows hobbyists to fly model airplanes for recreational purposes under specific guidelines, that authority does not extend to operators flying unmanned aircraft for business purposes. More information is available from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Notice on Unmanned Aircraft Operations and the FAA’s policy.

The small RC Helicopters unlike many news articles reflect for Real Estate are flown on “private property” are at an elevation of 50 to 90 feet above the home, no where need any airport, air traffic flying overhead, or any LAPD full size helicopter which has to maintain minimum FAA regulations 400 feet elevation above the ground.  There is no chance even of an RC Helicopter hitting a full size LAPD helicopter or even a jet landing at LAX, beyond reasonable to think this could happen.

mi6 films does fly a full size Robinson R-44 Helicopter out of John Wayne Orange County airport for taking all future Real Estate aerial photography, glad to continue to help our Realtor clients in OC & LA with aerial photography of their listings until the FAA has rules in place to allow the use of RC Helicopters and drone aircraft to fly again.

Here is one article Los Angeles Times about the LAPD.

The Los Angeles Police Department is warning real estate agents not to use images of properties taken from unmanned aircraft, saying the flying drones pose a potential safety hazard and could violate federal aviation policy.

The warning was issued this week after officers saw a television news report showing a basketball-sized object with multiple rotors hovering over an expansive Westside residence.

“We are just trying to inform the public to ensure that before hiring these companies to operate these aircraft in federal airspace, that they are abiding by the federal regulations to ensure safety,” said police Sgt. George Gonzalez.

Drones can range from as small as model airplanes built by hobbyists to as large as a commercial jet. Nationally, there has been an intense and growing debate about the safety of allowing drones to operate in airspace used by passenger aircraft.

Federal regulations prohibit the operation of unmanned aircraft in U.S airspace without specific permission, though the rules do allow hobbyists to fly model planes in designated areas.

Real estate agents have been posting aerial photos and video of homes for sale in the Los Angeles area, according to the LAPD. The pictures have been taken from several hundred feet off the ground in the city’s crowded airspace — an altitude at which police helicopters often fly.

Seeking to maintain the safety of their pilots as well as people on the ground, LAPD officials are first notifying those who are in the market for photos taken by drones “so they make informed decisions and don’t hurt anybody,” Gonzalez said.

The LAPD knows who was operating the “spider-like” drone shown on TV, but hasn’t yet contacted the operator, Gonzalez said.

SEE FULL LA TIMES REPORT HERE

As I stated in a prior blog post, I have had several very long phone conversations with the folks at FAA in Washington DC & Southern California field office there is no budge in the conditions of RC for aerial photography , aerial video no matter how small scale.  The USA air-space is closed to all RC ‘s for any commercial use.

You want to hear it for yourself, give these folks a phone call, e-mail them, let them know how you feel about this, here are the links with phone numbers an e-mail address.  This is a copy of the actual letter sent to our company, too.

Make your voice heard, write a note today:   This is in my personal opinion a restriction of my freedoms in the USA to be in business !!!

Thank you to all for your support.

LETTER BELOW FROM THE FAA TO OUR COMPANY

Gentlemen-

I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with the person or persons in

your organization who oversee your unmanned aircraft operation.  As a

courtesy to you and your organization, I would like to discuss the existing

prohibition of commercial operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in

the U.S. national airspace as well as the rule making efforts the FAA is

currently undertaking to provide for such operations in the future.

Please respond within 5 business days.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Kind regards,

Lance

R. Lance Nuckolls

Aviation Safety Inspector – Flight Operations

FAA Office of Aviation Safety

Flight Standards Service

Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (AFS-407)

470 L’Enfant Plaza STE 3200

Washington, DC  20024

202-385-4958

lance.nuckolls@faa.gov

Lance.Nuckolls@faa.gov

Lastly, contact the FAA representative directly who is in-charge (so to speak) about this issue and hear about it from the horses mouth:

Randy Willis

Senior Analyst

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (AJR-36)

FAA Headquarters

800 Independence Ave, SW

Washington, DC 20591

Ph: 202-267-8565

Fax: 202-267-5809

randy.ctr.willis@faa.gov

THE PERSON IN SOUTHER CALIFORNIA FIELD OFFICE WE HAVE TALKED WITH TOO IS

Name: Dennis Fogarty

Email: dennis.fogarty@faa.gov

Phone Number::  310 725-7212

Our phone calls with them over the past few day at the FAA office in Washington DC, they will not be issuing permits till sometime in 2013.  

We are flying INTERNATIONALLY,   Canada, South America & Europe is still open, we do and have flown in this countries over the past year, your project production is in these countries, we can help.

USA, we have a “real” R-44 Helicopter available, rates start at $9500. per day with pilot, for video film productions within the USA.

Cheers, till permited within the USA airspace, sometime in 2013.   mi6films staff

“What’s your anecdote going to be?”  I played dumb, so our Ferrari-obsessed associate photo editor Mike Shaffer continued, “You always start your stories with some sort of anecdote. What’s it going to be for Best Driver’s Car?” Well, young Shaffer, how’s this for an anecdote: Over the course of six days in June, I had the keys to 82 cylinders, more than 5000 horsepower, and 4000 lb-ft of torque split between 11 performance cars worth more than $1.5 million. Most folks would happily give up a limb just to sit in and sniff the interior of any one of these monsters.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/performance/1109_2011_motor_trend_best_drivers_car/viewall.html#ixzz1XqUzuZQR

Mi6 Films RC Helicopter-Helicam filming for Motor Trend Magazine.

Here is the video production links to YouTube of this, the Worlds Greatest Drag Race

RC Helicopter-Helicam filming for Motor Trend Magazine El Toro Worlds Greatest Drag Race

DollPhace feat. Snoop Dogg “Let’s go to Vegas”

Mi6 Films participated in the aerial helicam RC Helicopter filming of the Music Video for DollPhace feat Snoop Dogg “Let’s go to Vegas” our custom RC Helicopter flying the Canon 7D camera. Mi6 Films rents RC Helicopters, helicam for Video Productions, indy films, commercials or your travel logs. Go “Beyond the Crane” shot, to a higher place with the advantage of no limits on creations to get the shot, where no crane can go, that impossible shot now is in your reach.

Check out the completed DollPhace Music Video above. Our special thanks to Prime Zero Productions, Ben Griffin Director and True Vision Media Group for the use of these clips. Thank you to Director of Photography Derrick Threatt. Thank you to Doll Phace Music for whom this video was shot, our personal thanks to her, a great person to work with on location, her new Hit song release featuring  Snoop Dogg, “Let’s go to Vegas” now available on iTunes.

Mi6 Films rents RC Helicopter Rentals, Helicam Rentals, Aerial filming rentals, RED Epic, Canon 7D, Canon 5D, Canon 550D, Canon T2i flying for 1080p HD Video, we travel internationally, give us a e-mail note for your next project, Raf@mi6films.com will go directly to our production department.

Mi6 Films RC Helicopter Rentals
Music Video Productions
Location Scouts

www.Mi6Films.com

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Malibu who would not love walking along the surf, waves coming in hitting your bare feet, the cool misty ocean breeze on your face, while walking along your part of paradise, a Malibu sandy beach, looking at the cobalt blue sky, aqua clear waters, thinking that perhaps you will take a long board surfing later in the day, right now your enjoying your morning coffee while walking along the coast, at Malibu.  Sound too good to be true, well take a look at the images we captured this week, a “Rental” Property which has all this to offer then a little more, sorry we did not stick around for a sunset shot, perhaps we will be invited back another day.

Now you can enjoy the dream, relax, let your mind go, your walking on a sandy beach, you can feel the cool water on your feet, just as we did while at this perfect holiday house, enjoy !!

Realtors:  If you have a Rental Property, want Architectural Magazine Quality images to advertise with, you now know who to CALL, Melissa is taking reservations for half & full day photo shoots, our team is available to capture your place in paradise, images, video, aerials plus web sites that sell & rent properties, we are the premier photography company in all of Southern California, give us a call. Melissa cell 818.903.3991

RENTAL PROPERTY WEB SITE:  EXAMPLE www.CarbonBch.com this is a “full bleed” large image web site designed to appear on iPhones, iPads & Droid mobil devices, this site has slideshows & gallery, none are in flash.  This is a hard coded html java script web site, not a template, it was created & written by hand by our staff, enjoy.   We can make you one too, add a map or Video menu link to YouTube property video, all web sites are custom made for Rental Properties start at $450.  AND $Save $100. when bundled with half day photo set, only $350.

Mi6 Films participated in the filming of a Music Video with a RC Helicopter flying the Canon 7D camera. Mi6 Films rents RC Helicopters for Video Productions, indie films, commercials or your travel logs.  Go “Beyond the Crane” shot, to a higher place with the advantage of no limits on creations to get the shot, where no crane can go, that impossible shot now is in your reach.

Check out the demo reel from this behind the scenes short video clip below, with our special thanks to Prime Zero Productions, Ben Griffin Director for the use of these clips.  Thank you to  Doll Phace Music for whom this video was shot, True Vision Media Group the Producer, our personal thanks to her a great person to work with on location, her new HIT song release featured with Snoop Dogg,  “Let’s go to vegas” now available on iTunes.

Mi6 Films rents RC Helicopters Canon 7D, Canon 5D, Canon 550D, Canon T2i flying for 1080p HD Video, we travel internationally, give us an e-mail note for your next project, rusty@mi6films.com will go directly to our production department.