AMA in Action - 2012/02

12 MODEL AVIATION
Advocating AMAinACTION for Members
Model aircraft standards
By the time this article is published, it is likely that
the small Unmanned Aircraft System Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (sUAS NPRM) will have been
released and in the hands of the aeromodeling
community. If not, the release is eminent.
As I write this in early December, the proposed
rule is on the desk of the Secretary of Transportation
and is poised for submittal to the Office of
Management and Budget, which is the last step in the
review chain before the NPRM is
published.
The significant restrictions projected
for model aviation in the proposed rule
are alarming. The restrictions include
limitations on where and how model
aircraft can be flown, limits on model
aircraft performance, and other
operational limitations.
Representatives from FAA’s
Unmanned Aircraft Program Office have
told us for months that the modeling
community is not going to like the proposed rule.
That’s an understatement!
If there’s a silver lining in the proposed rule, it’s
the provision for community-based organizations such
as the AMA to develop and submit their own set of
model aircraft standards that, if adopted, can be used
as an alternative means of complying with the sUAS
regulation.
This concept reflects FAA’s view that model
aircraft operations, conducted under an established
safety program and oversight of a community-based
organization, present a significantly lower risk to the
public than the modeling activity occurring outside of
such a program. The AMA does not necessarily
disagree with this premise, however, we do question
the effectiveness, enforceability, and advisability of
such an approach and we have grave concern
regarding the potential impact of dividing the
aeromodeling community.
This two-path concept stems from the
recommendation put forward by the sUAS Aviation
Rule Making Committee in its report to the FAA in
April 2009. In May of 2009, AMA put together a
workgroup composed of AMA members and
representatives from a broad spectrum of
aeromodeling disciplines to develop a set of model
aircraft standards for use by the modeling community.
This committee has worked tirelessly in structuring
and designing a set of standards aimed at allowing the
model aircraft activity to continue in much the same
way as it does today.
Although the model aircraft standards are based
upon AMA’s National Model Aircraft Safety Code
and current safety programming, the standards are
much more detailed in their specificity. Safety
considerations that are commonplace and arguably
common sense are spelled out in the standard to ensure
that the most inexperienced modeler understands the
safety considerations and can operate his or her model
aircraft in a safe and responsible manner.
The standards currently under development address
selecting a suitable flying site, preflight procedures
and preparation, model aircraft operations including
high-performance flight, operations at altitude, and
post-flight procedures. The standards also include
AMA’s Turbine Waver and Large Model Aircraft
programs. There is very little in the standards draft
that is not already part of our current approach to safe
model aircraft operations; it’s merely spelled out in
much greater detail.
The workgroup is continuing its effort to develop
the standards and this work will likely continue for
many more months to come. As we get closer to a
final product, the proposed standards will be presented
to the membership and open for comments and
suggestions. For now, however, our primary concern
is our response to the NPRM and proposed sUAS rule.
The AMA website contains the most current
information regarding the NPRM and provides
guidance and information about how to respond to the
call for public comment. Please make sure that
everyone you know is aware of the impending
regulation, and ensure that everyone who shares our
love for this hobby is well-informed and participates
in the response to the proposed sUAS rule.
Timely updates regarding the sUAS rulemaking
can also be found on Facebook by Liking “AMAGov,”
and on Twitter at <Twitter.com/AMAGov>. MA
—Rich Hanson
Government and Regulatory Affairs
[email protected]
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Advocating AMAinACTION for Members
WhereWe Stand!
• Throughout the past 75 years, model aviation has posted
an impeccable safety record—one that surpasses any
other aeronautical activity in the aviation community.
• We are an exceptional group of recreational modelers,
and under AMA’s leadership the modeling community
has proven to be decisively effective in self-policing our
hobby and sport.
• We believe that we have proven our ability to operate
safely and harmoniously in the National Airspace
System (NAS). We have clearly demonstrated that
aeromodeling activity is distinctly different and separate
from the commercial sUAS community, which poses a
different set of concerns that is the primary focus of the
FAA’s need to regulate unmanned aircraft.
• We believe the inclusion of model aircraft in the sUAS
rule to be extremely impractical, unnecessary, and a
questionable use of taxpayer dollars.
• We are concerned that model aviation will be unduly
curtailed for future generations, especially for young
people who represent general aviation’s pipeline of
talent.
• Model aviation has a proven track record and poses
little to no threat to the safety of the NAS, the general
public, or community property.
Don’t find yourself grounded. Keep up-to-date on government relations at www.modelaircraft.org/gov. Photo by Allen Brickhaus
Aeromodeling needs you now. As the collective voice for model
aviation, it is vital that AMA has your email address on file
immediately to keep you up-to-date on the FAA regulations.
Communication is essential to protect your flying privileges that
will soon be under attack from the federal government. We need to
share with you background and resources to protest these pending,
onerous, and undeserving restrictions on model flying.
Don’t delay! Go to www.modelaircraft.org and then click on
“Your Account” located on the top right of the page to login to your
account. Confirm the address we have on file so when the time
comes to respond to the FAA’s notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM), you’ll be ready to communicate appropriately to our
national leaders that model aviation is just fine the way it is.
To get the most up-to-date information on this issue, be sure to
visit www.modelaircraft.org/gov. MA
Call to action—AMA needs
your email address!
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