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 imminent.
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 constraints.
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 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 Rulemaking Committee in its report to the FAA in April 2009. In May 2009, AMA assembled 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 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 standards to ensure that the most inexperienced modeler understands the safety considerations and can operate their 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 Waiver 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 is 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. As we get closer to a final product, the proposed standards will be presented to the membership and opened for comments and suggestions. For now, however, our primary concern is our response to the NPRM and the proposed sUAS rule.
The AMA website contains the most current information regarding the NPRM and provides guidance 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.
— Rich Hanson Government and Regulatory Affairs [email protected]
Call to action—AMA needs your email address!
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, which 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 click on "Your Account" located on the top right of the page to log in 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.
Where We 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.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
