[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Vanport 12-12-2016 by Ord. No. 371. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 180.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CIVIL UAS
An unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system operated by any person for any purposes other than strictly hobby or recreational purposes, including, but not limited to, commercial purposes or in furtherance of, or incidental to, any business or media service or agency.
MODEL AIRCRAFT
An unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system operated by any person strictly for hobby or recreational.
PERSON
A human being or group of human beings.
PUBLIC UAS
An unmanned aircraft or unmanned aircraft system operated by any public agency for government-related purposes.
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
An aircraft, including, but not limited to, an aircraft commonly known as a "drone," that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft.
UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
An unmanned aircraft and associated elements, including, but not limited to, any communication links and components that control the unmanned aircraft.
The following shall apply to the operation of any model aircraft within the Township of Vanport:
A. 
No person shall operate any model aircraft within the Township of Vanport in a manner that interferes with manned aircraft, and shall always give way to any manned aircraft.
B. 
No person shall operate any model aircraft within the Township of Vanport beyond the visual line of sight of the person operating the model aircraft. The operator must use his or her own natural vision (which includes vision corrected by standard eyeglasses or contact lenses) to observe the model aircraft. People other than the operator may not be used in lieu of the operator for maintaining visual line of sight. "Visual line of sight" means that the operator has an unobstructed view of the model aircraft. The use of vision-enhancing devices, such as binoculars, night vision goggles, powered vision-magnifying devices, and goggles or other devices designed to provide a "first-person view" from the model do not constitute the visual line of sight of the person operating the model aircraft.
C. 
No person shall operate any model aircraft within the Township of Vanport other than during daylight hours, defined as between official sunrise and official sunset for local time.
D. 
No person shall operate any model aircraft within the Township of Vanport more than 200 feet above the earth's surface.
E. 
Excluding takeoff and landing, no person shall operate any model aircraft within the Township of Vanport closer than 20 feet to any individual except the operator or the operator's helper(s).
The following shall apply to the operation of any model aircraft or civil AUS with the Township of Vanport:
A. 
No person shall operate any model aircraft or civil UAS within the Township of Vanport in a manner that is prohibited by any federal statute or regulation governing aeronautics.
B. 
No person shall operate any model aircraft or civil UAS within the Township of Vanport in violation of any temporary restriction (TFR) or notice to airmen (NOTAM) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration.
C. 
No person shall operate any model aircraft or civil AUS within the Township of Vanport in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another. The standard for what constitutes "careless or reckless operation" under this section shall be the same as the standard set forth in any federal statutes or regulations governing aeronautics.
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with this chapter. Any person violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine not to exceed $500.
This chapter shall not apply to any public UAS operated pursuant to, and in compliance with, the terms and conditions of any current and enforceable authorization granted by the Federal Aviation Administration.