Our hobby has faced many challenges this year as we address an increase in government intervention and proposed regulations. AMA has been aggressively advocating for our hobby, and during the past few weeks, we’ve been happy to report successful progress. Today, our members have yet another AMA government advocacy victory […]
Continue readingAuthor: AMA Staff
Special Rule for Model Aircraft Remains Federal Law
We are happy to announce big news related to FAA authorization. As of today, both the Senate and House of Representatives have passed a 14-month FAA extension, and the President has signed the bill into law. We are very pleased that the FAA extension affirms our right to continue to […]
Continue readingFAA Reauth Passes the House
We want to share with you another promising development related to FAA reauthorization. Late yesterday, the House passed a 14-month FAA extension. Importantly for our hobby, this extension preserves the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (the AMA amendment included in the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act) through September 2017. […]
Continue readingSpecial Rule for Model Aircraft Remains Intact
We want to share with you a promising development related to FAA reauthorization. The House and Senate came to an agreement last week on language for a short-term FAA funding extension. Importantly for our hobby, this extension preserves the Special Rule for Model Aircraft (the AMA amendment included in the […]
Continue readingWildland Fire Advisory Notice
As many of you are aware, wildfire season has started across the western United States. Wildfires are very dangerous, even from the air, and we wanted to remind everyone to please check Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in your area and avoid flying anywhere near these fires or firefighting operations. TFRs allow […]
Continue readingFAA Non-US Citizen and Non-US Resident Registration
All pilots, including those visiting from outside the United States, are required by the FAA to register if they plan to fly most unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) weighing 250 grams or more outdoors. FAA registration can only be completed online using a United States based computer. Therefore, it is recommended […]
Continue readingUpdated Analysis of FAA Drone Data Shows Decline in UAS Sightings
AMA today released an analysis of the FAA’s latest drone sightings that were made public in March 2016. This follows an analysis we previously released in September 2015 on the FAA’s first dataset of drone reports. We’re happy to share that our latest analysis shows a month-by-month decline in UAS […]
Continue readingRoswell Flight Test Crew at AUVSI Xponential 2016
The Roswell Flight Test Crew has a conversation with Chad Budreau for the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). The discussion begins with a pair of announcements made by Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta at AUVSI Xponential 2016. First, that the agency is forming a permanent drone task force, to […]
Continue readingSpecial Rule for Model Aircraft Looks Favorable in the House
The FAA Modernization and Reform Act with the Special Rule for Model Aircraft was passed into law in 2012, but this year the act is up for renewal. Since last year we have been active on the Hill making our case to protect and preserve the Special Rule for Model […]
Continue readingLondon’s Heathrow incident believed to be a plastic bag, not a drone
The Telegraph published an article today indicating that the incident at London’s Heathrow airport this past Sunday could have been caused by a plastic bag – not, as had been previously reported, by a drone. United Kingdom Transport minister Robert Goodwill stated that,“there was no actual damage to the plane” and […]
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