Cockpit video recording rules or regulations

speshul · December 28, 2015

Just some background UH-60 pilot in the Army about a year out of flight school. Unit is coming up on a deployment and I wanted to document part of it for later on down the road. I haven't heard much about if there are any rules or guidelines behind making videos with a go pro inside the cockpit if you mount it out of the way and it doesn't affect any EPs or egress. Before I go ask my first line and waste his time I was hoping someone here could guide me in the right direction. I am not sure if it would be a legal issue or OPSEC recording flight paths, moving maps, etc. Even if I just had a reference to dig through I wont mind doing it then posting the results. I just have not been able to find anything searching here or google.

P.S. I came here for questions on getting into a military flight program when I was still in high school. It's a little surreal thinking back this was where I got my base knowledge before talking to a recruiter. Anyway, cheers fellas.

akscott60 · December 28, 2015

Just searching youtube will give you hundreds of videos of aircraft in AFG with GoPros recording. Now if its legal? Well, if you have to ask....

speshul · December 29, 2015

Only thing I really found was some CENTCOM documents that basically said Soldiers cannot release video of fire fights, flight-line duties, etc. But the military can't be proactive with what Soldiers capture on their personal cameras. So in essence they can only react to videos they didn't want to release after the fact. From what I've gathered whatever you record that the Army or DoD doesn't want released can get you into legal trouble. Anyway, I still might record some stuff but refrain from posting it online.

brackac · December 30, 2015

I know of a Blackhawk unit where some pilots had modified their NVG mounts to hold a GoPro. I also know of a unit where some pilots had their ass handed to them for modifying NVG mounts to hold a GoPro.

Creep0321 · December 30, 2015

I know of a Blackhawk unit where some pilots had modified their NVG mounts to hold a GoPro. I also know of a unit where some pilots had their ass handed to them for modifying NVG mounts to hold a GoPro.

Now the question is, was it the mounting of the use of the GoPro or the modification of the NVG mount that got them in to hot water?

Yamer · December 30, 2015

https://www.facebook.com/AviationTactical/

They make a GoPro mount specifically meant to fit into the helmet mount now...

napoleonpp · December 30, 2015

Dang I'm glad you posted that one. This one is the only one I've found so far until now. And it's $175.

https://www.adamsindustries.com/GoPro-Mounts/GoPro-MOUNT-For-BALL-AND-PLUNGER-STYLE-MOUNT.html

speshul · December 30, 2015

That would be pretty sweet but sounds like it might get you in some trouble. At least get an SP or two fired up. They have a smaller model now I was looking into that's shaped like a cube that might be able to mount on the side of the helmet or stick it on the Velcro above the visor without sticking out too much.

Velocity173 · December 30, 2015

What does the EMI warning in the -10 say? What does AR 70-62 2-7 say? Read those and decide for yourself if it's authorized.

Back around 2002 Redstone released an AWR that listed specific PEDs with voltage requirements that could be operated in flight. Mysteriously those disappeared from the log books years ago.

Really it's more of a command climate issue if these things are to be used in flight.

Edited December 30, 2015 by Velocity173

brackac · December 31, 2015

What does the EMI warning in the -10 say? What does AR 70-62 2-7 say? Read those and decide for yourself if it's authorized.

Back around 2002 Redstone released an AWR that listed specific PEDs with voltage requirements that could be operated in flight. Mysteriously those disappeared from the log books years ago.

Really it's more of a command climate issue if these things are to be used in flight.

But but but, I need some sweet video clips to post on facebook so that everyone knows I'm a pilot!

Rob Lyman · December 31, 2015

If you are in the NG, try NG Supp to 95-1.

Velocity173 · December 31, 2015

But but but, I need some sweet video clips to post on facebook so that everyone knows I'm a pilot!

Yeah but let's face it, military pilots have been bringing personal cameras with them on flights since cameras existed.

Also the whole EMI thing is a joke. We fly news crews all the time in theater with no AWR for it. Their stuff doesn't interfere with our nav stuff up front. Even if it did, we had our AO memorized like the back of our hands.

The problem I see is with these GoPros are becoming more popular and it's going to be an unecessary distraction in the cockpit. Commanders should be involved and if they see flight profiles occurring for the sake of video footage, they need to cut that off early. Which goes back to what I was saying about command climate. I believe 1-212 has a ban on photography in the aircraft.

Lindsey · December 31, 2015

"But first, let me take a selfie."

Luofynerd · December 31, 2015

Just make sure you say out loud "I'm going inside for a minute" so if you crash you can say you were looking at maps when you're taking selfies. I've seen quite a few black hawk pilots playing on their iPads taking videos you should be fine just don't post it until after you redeploy lol

01CelicaGTS · January 4, 2016

I don't know whether or not it's "legal" to capture video inside the aircraft. As other's have said, there are a lot of videos and pictures around the internet of footage from inside the cockpit.

However, there are issues with mounting the camera. Nothing is allowed be affixed the the helmet (i.e. gopro mounts) other than the authorized velcro as stated in the TMs (i.e. Velcro for the NVG battery pack and weight back, Velcro for a lip light, etc). This is stated in TM 1-1680-377-13&P-1 for the HGU-56/P Helmet.

And as we all know, every piece of equipment that is used or mounted in the aircraft needs an AWR (like iPads).

But, I think it is somewhat of a gray area. We use non-Army equipment in the helicopter all the time. Kneeboards, flashlights, fingerlights, water bottles, etc.

apacheguy · January 4, 2016

Guys, there's really no gray area here. As mentioned above, this is prohibited - but happens often because aviation is awesome and we want to show others how cool we are.

AWR's apply to civilian aircraft under the FAA rules, such as the Lakota. Army aircraft like the 64, 60, 47, don't fall under the AWR rule, but they fall under army regs which do not allow GoPro's or other cameras.

Do yourself a favor and be smart about using cameras in flight. If you're in a mishap and there's a camera on your helmet, you can bet your chain of command will roast you for it. That's what they get paid to do.