David McCormick of Dave’s R/C Electronics is a member of the AMA Coalition. David has created a step-by-step process to assist in submitting comments to the NPRM, which he is sharing with all modelers on his company website. You can also read his suggestions below. Thank you, David, for creating this resource. Remember: you still have 4 more days to comment!
Attention: All Modelers in the USA
If you are located in the United States, and flying RC planes or drones is one of your hobbies, you are probably already aware of the FAA’s Proposed Rule for UAS that will require remote ID equipment to be installed on certain unmanned vehicles (radio controlled models of all types) flown anywhere in the US. There’s a lot of buzz right now about the situation, and lot of modelers who would like to make their feelings about it known, but who don’t really know how or where to do it. The AMA is working hard on behalf of its membership to ensure that there will be provisions and exceptions in the new rules that will allow us to continue our hobby in much the same way as we have for many years now. But, until the rules are actually passed into law, we cannot be certain of anything. Last minute changes to the rules, or changes in the support for the AMA’s proposals, could result in rules that would be very harmful to our hobby.
As with anything having to do with government agencies like the FAA, and the lawmakers who direct and control them, the success or failure of something like this often comes down to sheer numbers. The FAA and our Congressional representatives need to hear from every last one of us about these rules. They don’t/won’t likely read or respond to your comments, but they COUNT them, and that’s what matters. So, we all need to make sure our “votes” are part of the totals they consider.
In order to try to make this process easy to do, the AMA has produced a template comment for us to use, and a form that, when completed, will send your comment to the appropriate contacts at the FAA to make sure your vote is counted. But the process might be a bit difficult for some modelers who are not as computer literate as others and cause them to give up and not be heard.
I have put together a page of instructions that will show you step-by-step how to use the form, and how to complete it and send it to the FAA. Click HERE to go to the page of instructions, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or problems. The FAA is only allowing comments until March 2, 2020, so don’t delay.
—David