The AMA Government Affairs team has worked diligently with Congress to ensure our hobby is protected in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization legislation. On March 23, President Trump signed the omnibus spending bill into law, which includes a six-month extension of FAA authorization, funding the FAA through September 30, 2018. […]
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 readingGovernment Affairs Update, February 21, 2018
Over the past two weeks, the AMA Government Affairs team has been hard at work representing and protecting the model aircraft hobby at the federal, state and local level. We wanted to share with you some of our work and progress made during the first half of February. State […]
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 […]
Continue readingFBI Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Outreach
As you know, we have been enjoying our great hobby safely and responsibly for over 80 years. Unfortunately, there is now some concern that extremist groups could use drones to inflict harm and cause serious damage. The FBI has contacted AMA as part of their routine community outreach to ask […]
Continue readingGovernment Relations Update, January 30, 2018
It has been a busy start to the new year for the AMA Government Affairs team. Here is a look at some of our recent work at the federal, state and local level to advocate for and protect our hobby. Federal Government Relations At this year’s AMA Expo West in […]
Continue readingFourth Quarter 2017 Government Relations Update
As the New Year begins, the AMA Government Relations team would like to take a moment to update you on our work during the last few months of 2017 to represent and protect our hobby at the federal, local and state level. Federal Government Relations Over the past few months, […]
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