Competitors drive drones with speeds over 100 kilometers per hour to compete for the highest ranking in the world through various obstacles... The racing drone, known as "F1 in the air", has become the golden egg of emerging speed sports in recent years, and its popularity is even used by local singers. MTV story material, as the Transportation and Housing Bureau announced the gazettal of unmanned aerial cameras, the industry soon ushered in the "big winter".
A representative of the Hong Kong team said that the racing drone industry in Hong Kong has climbed to the top four in Asia and the top ten in the world in a short time. However, the details of the relevant legislation are vague and multiple barriers have been set. Dare to host competitions, hoping that the government will exempt some harsh terms and support the development of the industry.
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Hong Kong's world ranking of racing drones climbs rapidly
The racing drone movement is a combination of virtual reality and speed movement. The drones are all operated by real players. They wear VR glasses and control the drone with a camera lens from the first person's perspective to traverse different obstacles at high speed. Watching the game through the head-mounted display, the fastest speed ever recorded, even reaching 260 kilometers per hour, its speed and excitement are known as "F1 in the air", and the United States has the World Championship League organized by the Drone Racing League , Attracting 90 million viewers from 90 countries and regions around the world to watch the live webcast, which shows that it has quickly become a sports upstart.
Zou Weijie, president of the Hong Kong Drone Sports Federation, said that the racing drone team composed of Hong Kong began to participate in international competitions about three to four years ago. In the UAV Championship, the Hong Kong team competed with about 111 drone riders from 34 countries around the world, and achieved good results within the fourth place in Asia and the tenth place in the world.
He said that in accordance with the current momentum, racing drone developing countries, including Japan, the Mainland, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, have agreed to build Hong Kong into a sports city for hosting, training, promotion, and competition.
However, he lamented that the order on small drones in Chapter 448 of the Civil Aviation Ordinance was gazetted a few days ago, which is like "zeroing out" the achievements of the entire industry in a short period of time.
Top international players are only 11 years old, industry dissatisfaction with laws will hinder training young
Zou explained that the small drone order unified all aerial photography, crossing drones and racing drones into the subsidiary legislation for unified regulation. In addition to requiring registration and purchasing third-party liability insurance, drones with a speed exceeding 50 kilometers per hour will fall. In order to enter the more stringent Class B operation regulations, the driver must reach the minimum age of 14 years old before he can be trained and assessed to operate the drone. However, the special feature of the racing drone sport is that the age tends to be younger, 2018 The Thai girl Wanraya Wannapong, who won three championships in the IAF World Drone Championships, was only 11 years old.
In August last year, Wuxi City held the 2020 World Internet of Things Expo International Drone Competition. The winner of the youth group was Shi Jingtian, a 10-year-old elementary school student. According to personal introduction, he started contacting drones at the age of 8.
If the relevant age limit is implemented, Zou believes that it will hinder the training of young athletes in Hong Kong and will not be able to popularize youth sports.
The law does not specify whether pre-match training is exempted
Another area of ambiguity in the legislation is that the operation of small drones is mentioned in the legislative framework documents. The Director of Civil Aviation will grant approval on a case-by-case basis, claiming to facilitate drone demonstrations and racing. According to the competition and media reports, the relevant cases will be given special consideration on a case-by-case or one-off basis. However, it is not stated whether the daily training before each competition will be exempted. If the law states that it will be considered as an approval for each case, a pre-prescription is required Reporting, Zou pointed out that it will become a very high threshold, as if racing drones are treated as helicopters and small aircrafts, the pilot must report the flight plan to the prescription every time, and the law does not state that they will come to Hong Kong to participate in the competition. Whether the international players need to pass the assessment or purchase third-party insurance in advance will seriously affect the feasibility of hosting international events in Hong Kong.
Zou Weijie, president of the Hong Kong UAV Sports Association, is worried that the implementation of the Civil Aviation Ordinance on small drones will severely suffocate the possibility of Hong Kong developing into a sports city hosted by racing drones.
(Photo by Weng Yuhui)
The most difficult place for drones to play is to have a wide area, and the most difficult is to search for the site. They are all deserted and uninhabited or private land. The family does not even have laws to play.
Jia Qi, a racing drone Hong Kong team player
"It used to be difficult to find the venue, 𠵱family law does not allow you to play"
The document further requires small drones to have a "flight record." Zou pointed out that racing drones are different from aerial cameras or super-passing drones. They generally achieve lightweight and fast conditions through component building methods. The new requirements will make the industry at a loss. The speed drone is different from the traditional aerial camera. It is impossible for us to have a so-called flight record, without a GPS system... This is a big question, which basically causes a fault to the overall ecosystem, completely obliterates us, and can’t continue. Fall off."
Kim and Jia Qi, one of the members of the racing drone Hong Kong team, have participated in the sport for about six years. In recent years, they have also participated in international competitions and competitions in the mainland. The place needs to have a wide area. The most difficult thing is to find the site. It is to find deserted uninhabited land or private land. The family and even the laws are not for you to play."
The sponsor immediately asked, is there a ban on drones in Hong Kong?
When he is worried that the law is not fun, he sponsors your contestants, which has no publicity value at all, and many will retreat.
Jia Qi, a racing drone Hong Kong team player
Jia Qi said that after the "Small Drone Order" was gazetted until June 1 next year, the negative impact has been immediate. "Sponsors immediately asked, is there a ban on drones in Hong Kong? It’s no publicity value to sponsor your contestants. Many will retreat, don’t sponsor you, or choose nearby places such as Taiwan or Japan to sponsor them.” Originally, the organizer intended to host a competition in Hong Kong at the end of this year, and the law was announced. Then he stopped abruptly and held a wait-and-see attitude. He believes that the current players and the industry are in a passive state. They can only send a letter to Ma Fengguo, the representative of the sports industry through the Hong Kong Drone Sports Association, to express this when the Legislative Council deliberates the draft. Appeal, relax the law and loosen the wall for sports development.
The "Small Drone Order" was gazetted on Friday and will take effect on June 1, next year. The operation requires training and registration.
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