AMA applauds the FAA for making it clear that students can use UAS, including model aircraft, for educational purposes. For years, model aircraft have been used for science, technology, education and math (STEM) education without burdensome requirements on teachers and students. In recent years, AMA advocated that new regulations for […]
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London’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 […]
Continue readingTested.com: RC Flying and the Law in 2016
Terry Dunn shares how 2016 is going to be a pivotal year for our hobby in his latest Tested.com article. The current situation is still very fluid as regulations are still being hashed out. The article discusses the community-based organization model, altitude limits, trends in retail, and how some proposed […]
Continue readingFAA More Accurately Characterizes Drone Sightings, But More Analysis Needed
AMA is pleased to see the FAA more accurately characterize its recent drone data as ‘sightings’ and ‘reports’ rather than the more inflammatory terminology that was used last summer. When the agency previously released this data in August 2015, AMA completed a detailed analysis of these reports. We found a […]
Continue readingAMA Working with Senate on FAA Reauthorization Act 2016
We want to provide you with an update on recent congressional action on the new FAA Reauthorization Act of 2016 (SB 2658). Last week, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the FAA, sent SB 2658 to the Senate floor for consideration. While the proposed […]
Continue readingSafe Modeling Resumes in DC SFRA
We are pleased to announce that AMA members in the Washington, D.C. metro area can resume model aircraft activities inside the D.C. Special Flights Rule Area (SFRA). After weeks of working closely with the FAA to find a resolution, the 14 AMA-charted clubs in the DC metro area can now […]
Continue readingNew Draft of the FAA Reauthorization Bill
Rep. Bill Shuster, who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, introduced a new draft of the FAA reauthorization bill, titled the “Aviation Innovation, Reform, and Reauthorization (AIRR) Act.” This bill is critical to preserving our voluntary, community-based approach to the model aviation community across the country. While we are […]
Continue readingAMA on the Hill
January 27 and 28, a dozen AMA members, staffers, and executive councilmen descended upon DC. The visit granted the AMA the opportunity to meet directly with members of Congress and their staff to advocate on behalf of our members for the protection and enhancement of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft. […]
Continue readingFAA Advocacy Meeting January 15 and 16
While the AMA continues to address registration legally and through Congress, members are being asked to register with the FAA. Pilots do not register their aircraft, they register as a pilot and place their registration number in all of their aircraft. For decades, the AMA has had a tremendous safety […]
Continue readingAMA Finding A Solution for Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) in the D.C. Area
Recently, the FAA more than doubled the airspace around Washington, D.C., that it considers a ‘no drone zone.’ In 2009, the FAA expressly prohibited model aircraft operations in the D.C. Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ), shutting down three AMA-chartered clubs and eliminating all model aircraft activity in the nation’s capital. The […]
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