The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate this week released proposed legislation for FAA reauthorization. We are pleased to share that both bills preserve the Special Rule for Model Aircraft and even contain some of the new provisions AMA has been advocating for to further protect our hobby. And while the Special Rule remains in both bills, there […]
Continue readingSpecial Rule for Model Aircraft Looks Favorable in the House, Waiting on Senate.
As you may know, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are in the process of revising their own versions of legislation, known as FAA reauthorization, which includes the Special Rule for Model Aircraft. The Special Rule for Model Aircraft allows community-based organizations like the AMA to continue managing our community of hobbyists without […]
Continue readingGrowing Activity in DC
Last week was another busy week for AMA in Washington, D.C., where the government affairs team has held multiple meetings with members of Congress and other industry stakeholders to discuss FAA reauthorization and other issues. We’ve met with the National Aeronautic Association, National League of Cities, the National Association of Realtors […]
Continue readingDrone Federalism Act
As you may know, a bipartisan group of United States Senators has introduced legislation known as the “Drone Federalism Act” that would give state and local governments some authority to restrict drone and model aircraft flights under 200 feet. If enacted, this proposal could make life more complicated for our […]
Continue readingWhat we really need to ensure the safety of our skies
We are excited to share with you a new op-ed by AMA president Rich Hanson, which was published in The Hill newspaper: “What we really need to ensure the safety of our skies.” This opinion piece, which you can read in full below, focuses on the importance of community-based […]
Continue readingAMA participates in self-reglatory roundtable
On June 6, AMA Government Relations and Public Affairs Director Chad Budreau participated in a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C. on self-regulation and economic growth in the UAS sector. At this event, AMA was joined by experts in the aerospace and aviation sectors, including representatives from Congress and government agencies. […]
Continue readingFAA Registration Requirement Struck Down
On Friday, May 19 the federal appeals court struck down the FAA’s registration requirement for recreational model aircraft. You can read the opinion here. The Court ruling is effective immediately. As such, if you have not registered with the FAA, you are no longer required under the law to do so. […]
Continue readingAs drone sales soar, vast majority of reports remain simple sightings
AMA’s analysis also finds that some sightings appear to be users flying appropriately; “drone” continues to be a catch-all term for any object in the sky A new analysis released today by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) reviews the 1,270 new unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) sightings reported by the […]
Continue reading1QTR 2017 Government Relations Update
Government Relations Update – April 2017 2017 is shaping up to be another busy year on the legislative front. At the federal and local level, some legislators are discussing bills that could harm our hobby. We take these legislative proposals seriously and wanted to share an update on our efforts […]
Continue readingUAS Military Flight Restrictions FAQ
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced airspace restrictions over 133 military facilities to address national security concerns. These new restrictions, outlined in NOTAM FDC 7/7282, apply to all model aircraft, sometimes referred to as drones or Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The restrictions begin Friday, April 14, […]
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