AMA in Action - 2012/05

14 Model Aviation May 2012 www.ModelAviation.com
AMAi n Action Advocating for Members
On Tuesday, February 14,
President Obama signed into
law the FAA Modernization
and Reform Act of 2012. Contained
in this law is language that instructs
the FAA Administrator not to
enact rules affecting model aircraft
activity conducted within the safety
programming of a nationwide
communitybased
organization,
such as AMA.
For the first
time in history,
federal law
now contains
a provision
protecting model
aviation from
burdensome and
overreaching
regulation.
The passage
of this bill is a
monumental
achievement for
the hobby and
for the Academy of Model Aeronautics,
and it reflects the culmination of AMA’s
efforts during the past four years.
Obtaining this legislative safeguard
is a significant accomplishment and
represents your membership and AMA
dollars at work in advocating for and
protecting model aviation.
This law indicates recognition of the
effectiveness of AMA’s safety program
and goes a long way toward protecting
model aviation from regulation;
however, it should not be viewed as a
total exemption from regulatory oversight.
The FAA will always have authority
over, and responsibility for, maintaining
the safety of the national airspace, and
modelers have the responsibility
of operating their model aircraft
in a safe and responsible manner.
The aeromodeling community will
continue to be subject to policies and
procedures governing model aircraft
operations in the national airspace,
whether they are part of AMA’s
community-based safety program or
regulatory in
nature. There
are many
unanswered
questions
regarding how
the model
aviation
provisions in the
reauthorization
bill will be
enacted, and we
are still in the
early stages of
working through
these issues.
Moving forward,
AMA will seek
a viable means
of enacting this legislative provision and
establishing a mutually agreed-upon
set of criteria to ensure the continued
safe operation of model aircraft in the
national airspace.
But for now there is cause to
celebrate. Establishing a provision
protecting model aviation in law is an
unprecedented achievement and AMA
members throughout the country
have expressed their gratitude and
appreciation for the hard work and
efforts put forth on their behalf.
The sUAS rule remains an issue and
the NPRM is on the horizon. This is still
a significant matter for the modeling
community.
Historic First: Federal Law
Protects Model Aviation
Where to go for more information
The passage of this
bill is a monumental
achievement for
the hobby and for
the Academy of
Model Aeronautics,
and it reflects the
culmination of AMA’s
efforts during the past
four years.
Advocating
on your
behalf is
a strong
government
advocacy
team led by
Rich Hanson,
a longtime
modeler, former
Vietnam helicopter pilot, and retired
airline employee. He’s also a former
AMA Executive Council member.
Rich provides answers to your
questions on the governmentrelations
section of our website:
www.modelaircraft.org/gov. Visit this
regularly for updates.
Rich’s blog contains frequent
updates on timely topics and news
items. Check out the AMA government
relations blog at http://amablog.
modelaircraft.org/amagov. This is a
complex issue that affects the entire
aeromodeling community.
Please make sure 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 when the NPRM is
published.
Timely updates regarding the sUAS
rulemaking can be found on Facebook
by Liking ‘AMAGov’ and on Twitter at
<Twitter.com/AMAGov>.
—Rich Hanson
Government and Regulatory Affairs
[email protected]
Read the special rule for aeromodeling in the
FAA Reauthorization Bill recently passed by
Congress. For additional background, visit www.
modelaircraft.org/gov.
www.ModelAviation.com May 2012 Model Aviation 15
Reaction from aeromodelers
Comments have been edited for space.
Scott O’Connor
Sharon Springs NY
Without a doubt, praise is due the
AMA for their attentive involvement with
the FAA’s Proposed Rulemaking process.
We, the membership, as an organization,
are due some credit for maintaining
our participation in the AMA, as there
is strength in numbers. We should also
take pride in the great tradition that
is the spine of the
AMA as well as our
parent international
organization. At the
root of our tension is
liberty. We don’t like
people messing with our
liberty, and how many
things represent liberty
better than fleeing “the
surly bonds of Earth,”
defying gravity, taking
flight? Let’s put our
hands together and
our best foot forward
as an organization.
Not as a concern
in a fight against
our government’s
regulations, but as
fellow citizens of this
democracy, leaders and
authorities on the subject at hand, in our
continuing pursuit to ensure the safety,
longevity and liberties of
our hobby in a responsible manner.
Keith Jarvis
Willis TX
This is a very positive step and I
agree that we should not let up on our
commitment to keep our hobby strong
and safe. We just cannot ever become
complacent in what we love and enjoy.
A really big thanks to all that are on
the front lines and behind the scenes at
AMA. I would also like to give a really
big thanks to the representatives that
have worked on these issues and continue
to work on these issues, and let them
know how much I (we) appreciate their
efforts.
Tim Toutant
Chesterfield MI
This just shows when we, as a group,
get involved, great things can happen. As
a safety professional, we as a whole can
either make or break our hobby/sport.
Thanks AMA and all the members who
wrote to their congressional people. Many
more years of happy and safe flying.
Dale Simmons
Antwerp NY
Thank you AMA and everyone who
wrote in to the FAA on the Proposed
Rulemaking. I really appreciate saving
my hobby of 45+ years. Governmental
regulations have no place in a hobby
such as this. We fly, we build, and we
meet to converse and have fun. We police
ourselves, and no government regulations
are needed. The fact that our liability
protection has such high limits of coverage
and is so cheap is because we do not pose
any threat to others or property because
we have the AMA suggested guidelines
to keep us all safe at the field. Thank you
AMA and everyone who wrote in to the
FAA on the Proposed Rulemaking.
Bill Langreder
Calumet City IL
I think through the years the AMA
has demonstrated more than any other
entity that certain groups can successfully
govern themselves. I urge anyone that flies
anywhere to join the AMA. It just makes
sense. The liability insurance alone and
the low (very low) cost in itself should
encourage non-members to join. When
the federal government makes a decision
in our favor I’m sure it has reflected
on our past safety record and personal
injury/property damage insurance and
our pledge to fly safely under self-imposed
rules/regulations and guidelines. I urge
anyone who chooses not to join the AMA
to familiarize yourself with our mission
statement and go ahead and follow us
through channels such as this, visit our
website and generally respect our hobby
and equipment as we do.
Abel Tolpin, an AMA youth member from Port Townsend WA, appeals to his organization and to the FAA to protect his
hobby. Thanks to AMA and members such as Abel, Congress has listened.