The AMA Government Affairs team has been working persistently with lawmakers this year to ensure our hobby is protected in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation. The Senate’s August recess gave our team a few days to adjust our strategy towards preserving Section 336 and to address some state and […]
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UAS Operators Must Comply With FCC Rules
In a June 5, 2018 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Enforcement Advisory, the Enforcement Bureau cites an increase in websites that market and sell noncompliant radio accessories, particularly audio/video (AV) transmitters. AV transmitters require FCC certification to show compliance, unless they are only capable of operating on a frequency allocated for […]
Continue readingGovernment Affairs Update, June 7, 2018
The AMA Government Affairs team continues its work in Washington, D.C. to represent and protect our hobby. We want to share with you more information about our activities in recent weeks. As the Senate prepares to focus on FAA reauthorization legislation, members of our team have conducted numerous meetings with […]
Continue readingGovernment Affairs Update, May 17, 2018
Government Affairs Update, May 17, 2018 Over the past few months, the AMA Government Affairs Team has been hard at work at the federal, state and local level to protect and preserve our longstanding hobby. Just last month, the House of Representatives passed its version of the FAA Reauthorization Act […]
Continue readingHouse of Representatives Passes FAA Reauthorization Act
Today, the House of Representatives passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R.4), a long-term reauthorization of the FAA. We are happy to share that Section 336, also known as the Special Rule for Model Aircraft, is included in this bill with meaningful refinements that we supported to help make […]
Continue readingGovernment Affairs Update, March 26, 2018
We wanted to share with you a bit of what the AMA Government Affairs team has been up to over the past few weeks, including recent outreach and at the federal, state and local level to advocate for and protect our hobby. Federal Government Relations This month, our team attended […]
Continue readingFPV IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C., SPECIAL FLIGHT RULES AREA (SFRA)
For decades, AMA members have enjoyed our hobby under our programming, whether it’s soaring, aerobatic, or FPV. Although AMA provides robust safety programming to enjoy our hobby, there are situations in which operators might be required to comply with additional rules, such as in the Washington, D.C., Special Flight Rules […]
Continue readingUAS Stakeholders Launch Initiative to Educate Public on Drone Laws, Call for Enforcement
Today, the nation’s leading unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) stakeholders, led by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), launched a new initiative to educate the public about the existing drone laws they must follow and the consequences if they ignore or break the law. The new advertising campaign – Even the […]
Continue readingRaleigh Public Park Drone Policy Nearing Final Approval
Last week, the City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Department approved a new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) policy, which regulates the use of drones and model aircraft in the city’s public parks. This policy is headed to the full Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board for final approval, […]
Continue readingMore Education and Enforcement is Necessary for Unlicensed Commercial UAS
Last month, AMA President Rich Hanson wrote an op-ed in The Hill about the two ways for recreational drone enthusiasts to legally fly. The default drone law for these pilots to follow is the FAA’s Part 107 regulation, which requires a remote pilot certificate. The only exception to this rule […]
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