Welcome to the Academy of Model Aeronautics' Advocacy Blog. As the FAA looks to regulate the use of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) and as Congress and state legislatures consider legislation with potential impact on the hobby, this site will keep you informed of the latest news, events and industry updates, and serves as an outlet to let your voice be heard by AMA and key officials nationwide.
Score One for Model Aviation – The Mat-Su Borough Assembly in Wasilla, AK recently voted unanimously to repeal a section of its code that restricted the sound limit for model aircraft. The limit set in 2008 was unrealisticly low and effectively eliminated MA from all residential and noise-sensitive areas. Click the following link and read the article in the “Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman.”
Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Article
Continue readingIn a recent article on ModelAirplaneNews.com David Vaught reported on FAA’s announced delay in the projected release of the sUAS NPRM. Though the FAA has officially pushed the release date back to February 2012, there is an ongoing effort within the agency to get the rule out as soon as possible. At a recent seminar in San Diego an FAA spokesperson advised there is still a slight chance of getting the rule out in December; however, it is more likely we’ll see the proposed rule shortly after the first of the year.
Continue readingInformation just received from the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Program Office (UAPO) indicates the release of the sUAS NPRM has been delayed once again. Due to delays in the internal review process, it’s unlikely the NPRM will meet the previous target date of mid December. The UAPO is now projecting February 2012 as the new release date for the proposed rule.
Continue readingABC affiliate KSAT in San Antonio Texas discusses the recent threat with Mark Smith, Interim President of the Academy of Model Aeronomics.
Continue readingOur partners in aviation (AOPA/EAA) need your support… Please sign the White House petition to dump the GA user-fee plan. We’re looking for 10,000 sigs by the end of the week!
Continue readingIn 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 readingA 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 readingIn 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 readingMembers 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 readingInformation 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.