FAA has established new streamlined policies and procedures for applying for and issuing Certificates of Authorization (COA) for public agencies, allowing them to operate unmanned aircraft up to 25lbs. In compliance with Public Law 112-95, as of May 14th, law enforcement agencies, fire departments and other public entities will be […]
Continue readingAuthor: Rich Hanson
DWI Charges Against Former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt Dismissed
Drunk driving charges against former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt were dismissed Thursday, May 10th. Fairfax City Court Judge Ian O’Flaherty ruled that Mr. Babbit was stopped on a mere hunch that he might be under the influence. Video from the police officer’s patrol car revealed there was no sign of […]
Continue readingPresident Obama Nominates Michael Huerta to 5-year Term
Yesterday the White House announced President Barack Obama’s nomination of Michael Huerta, interim chief of the FAA, to a full five-year term as the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. In December 2011, then Deputy Administrator Huerta was appointed as the interim administrator of the FAA when Randy Babbitt resigned […]
Continue readingsUAS NPRM Release Date Slips Again…
According to a recent update on DOT’s Rulemaking Webpage the projected publication date for the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) has been pushed back to July 2012. Though this has not yet been confirmed by the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO), sources close to […]
Continue readingFAA/UAS Interview with John McGraw, Deputy Director, FAA Flight Standards
AFS Deputy Director John McGraw speaks to the issues revolving around the integration of UAS into the national airspace and the UAS provisions embedded in the recently passed FAA reauthorization bill
Continue readingMember Feedback
In a recent Letter to the AMA Model Aviation Editor, AMA member Frank Phelps from Spring Hill, FL presented some thought provoking insight to the small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) rulemaking issue…
Continue readingAMA Attends the 2011 AUVSI North America Conference
Information received at the recent AUVSI conference indicates the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for FAA’s proposed regulation for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) is on track for release in mid December 2011. It’s anticipated the new rule will address model aircraft operations and will provide a provision for community based organizations such as the AMA to submit their own set of standards. If adopted, these standards will provide the modeling community an alternative means of complying with the sUAS rule. At this point AMA is hard at work in developing a set of standards aimed at allowing the aeromodeling enthusiasts to continue enjoying the hobby in much the same way as they do today.
AMA is also preparing for the release of the NPRM. Once released there will be a 90-120 day public comment period allowing AMA members and other stakeholders the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule. AMA is working toward providing its members a simple and effective means for responding to the NPRM. It will also provide analysis and commentary on the impact of the proposed rule and suggestions for improving the rule before the Final sUAS Rule is published in late 2012.
sUAS Rulemaking Updates
On May 12th representatives of FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO) attended the Joe Nall fly-in at the Triple Tree Aerodrome and met with the attendees at the AMA annual meeting. For the most part they appeared very impressed with the professional manner in which the event was conducted and the level of safety achieved at the various venues and concurrent MA operations.
Continue readingCongress Reconvenes to Complete the FAA Re-Authorization Act
After a two week spring break, Congress reconvenes this week and will take up the work of completing the FAA Re-Authorization Act. Both the Senate Bill (S. 223) and the House Bill (H.R. 658) have passed their respective houses and have been sent to Conference Committee for reconciliation. The Senate has officially called for a conference on the legislation and has named its conferees. The House is expected to respond to the request this week. The AMA remains hopeful that the model aviation exemption provided in the Senate version of the bill will be accepted and moved into the final bill.
Continue readingConference Committee to Consider Language to Protect Model Aircraft
The political process of creating legislation is more of an art than a science, and the fact that H.R. 658 does not include an exemption for model aviation (MA) does not necessarily mean there wasn’t support for such an amendment. Quite honestly there is a significant amount of backing in the House for our issues, and numerous Representatives have come forward with pledges of support and offers to assist in protecting MA from onerous regulation.
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