In regards to your October column, Drones vs. Model Airplanes, I can’t agree with you more. The advances in electronics and miniaturization in the modeling industry represent a paradigm shift on how we will be operating remote controlled vehicles from now on.
Continue readingMan Accused of Plotting Attack with Model Aircraft
A Massachusetts man was arrested yesterday and was charged with plotting to convert model aircraft into explosive laden military drones to launch an attack on Washington, DC. He also converted and supplied undercover agents with at least 7 cell phones to be used as remotely operated detonators for improvised explosive devices (IEDs). This scheme did not emanate from within the modeling community. This was not an aeromodeling enthusiasts. This was a terrorist bent on improvising a weapon of war from legitimate technology for his own horrific purposes.
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 readingFAA expects to land $5.4B in stopgap funds
Members of Congress appear poised to bring to the floor a bill that will temporarily extend FAA funding through January 2012. The ease with which this tempoary measure is moving forward could pave the way for a resolution this Fall for the long-term FAA Re-Authorization Bill
Read the full article on Politico.com
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.
Senate Democrats urge FAA bill settlement
The US Senate is urging renewed talks on the FAA re-authorization bill; however, progress continues to be is stymied over labor issues and federal subsidies for rural commuter air service.
Continue readingLightSquared will not be allowed to harm GPS: FCC
FCC looking for alternative solutions for LightSquared’s proposed satelite based broadband Internet service.
Read an article from The Chicago Tribune
Continue readingTurning Our Back on Technology is Not The Answer
The advent of unmanned aircraft in the US civil environment brings with it a whole host of societal and cultural issues that go far beyond the concern and perceived need to regulate model airplanes. A recent article on the use of sUAS to do aerial “hacking” and other nefarious activities should make us all pause to consider what’s happening in our National Air Space: https://www.darkreading.com/security/vulnerabilities/231300240/index.html
Continue readingFAA Workers Return to Work
In a bipartisan move, a deal was struck today to end the FAA shutdown… However, the long-term FAA re-authorization bill is still stalemated over labor issues and federal subsidies for rural commuter air service.
Continue readingFAA’s James Sizemore addresses aeromodeling questions
Should I buy a Turbine? Will model manufacturing be curtailed as a result of the proposed sUAS regulation? These questions are best answered in a video clip from the AMA open membership meeting at Joe Nall Week, 5/12/2011. In response to a member’s question, James Sizemore from the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO) addressed these issues in his remarks.
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