District V VP Robert B just received this email with an attachment that everyone should be aware of. I can assure you that AMA HQ is already issuing a response, and this isn’t a done deal. I will keep you informed as I learn more. Clink on link below to read letter.
Aviation groups want FAA control over model aircraft
This is craziness. There are already rules that are so prohibitive that it’s getting next to impossible to find a place to fly legally anymore. }
This is typical kneejerk reaction.
There are rules in place prohibiting flying within five miles of any airport.
There are rules in place setting the height limit at 400 ft no matter where you find to fly.
There are rules in place requiring you to maintain line of sight.
The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be much enforcement.}
I’m sure that the idiot who posted the video referred to could have been tracked down with existing technology.
I am new to flying, and currently only have toy grade drones.
I must admit that I am pretty flabbergasted by the lack of knowledge I’ve encountered.
I have contacted the major airport near my house to ask about notification, and the person who responded sent a link that goes to sites I’ve already read and studied trying to determine what’s legal and what’s not. When I sent a second email to the representative, I was advised that if I planned my flight on AIRMAPs that the FAA would approve it. }}
I called the FAA to ask if that was true, and after being transferred three times, the agent I talked to didn’t have a definitive answer except to tell me that for my Toy drone there wasn’t really any restriction, and I should just use common sense.
As far as more restrictions, and another arm of the law taking over to further confuse the issue, I repeat what I started with.
This is craziness
Separate drones from RC models. As long as we keep insisting they are part of our hobby, we will be hopelessly subjected to all their irresponsible acts.
The fact of the matter is, AMA will never push to separate the two, they will lose too much money if they decide to defend us (the true model aircraft hobbyists; the people that made the AMA what it is today) and throw drone users under the bus. AMA forgets where they came from and is biting the hand that feeds them and has been feeding them for years, true model aircraft hobbyists.
So let em have their transponder requirement, but only for flights outside of AMA Chartered Fields/events. For those fields/events, put them on the map, and activity there is already known to be occurring. If you want to fly elsewhere, then I can somewhat see the need to have some type of identification system in place. At the same time, drop the registration requirement for models flown at AMA Chartered Fields/events.
I don’t care what rules or laws you make, there will always be someone that will not follow them