National Park Service Support
As you are likely aware, the National Park Service (NPS) sent out Policy Memorandum 14-05 on June 19, 2014. This memorandum addresses interim policies the NPS was implementing, temporarily restricting the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and radio-controlled (RC) model aircraft on NPS lands.
The memorandum was widely reported in the media, although those reports often omitted that the NPS was still allowing approved AMA-chartered clubs with permits to continue flying in the parks.
Since that time, AMA Headquarters has received many inquiries about the policy’s current status and questions about whether AMA could help modelers gain more access to these parks.
AMA’s Director of Public Relations and Government Affairs, Rich Hanson, spoke with the NPS Associate Director for Visitor and Resource Protection. As a result, AMA has been assured that the NPS is supportive of AMA and its clubs and members who fly responsibly and safely. The NPS wants to continue to allow model aviation activities on NPS lands and to approve new permits allowing AMA-chartered clubs to create new flying sites where appropriate.
AMA is working with NPS Visitor and Resource Protection to create a document that recognizes this relationship and will assist clubs that want to pursue a flying site on NPS lands. As soon as AMA has this document, we will make it available to our clubs and members to assist in obtaining permits for aeromodeling activities within the NPS system and in forming new flying sites. Please watch the AMA website for announcements about this document and how you or your club can obtain a copy.
Flying Sites Near an Airport
AMA Headquarters has received numerous calls about what an AMA-chartered club should do if its flying site is located within 5 miles of an airport.
Until now, AMA has been asking clubs to temporarily forgo making contact with airport officials about this issue. Over the past two years we’ve worked with the FAA to create the necessary procedures for complying with this requirement. Progress has been slow, and it appears that mutually agreed-upon procedures for enacting the Special Rule for Model Aircraft will not be finalized any time soon.
AMA believes it’s critically important to meet the requirements of the Special Rule, and the time has come to move ahead independently and create procedures that allow our clubs to fulfill the requirements of this new law. As a result, Rich and I are developing a procedures document for clubs to follow.
This document should be available to AMA members and clubs by the first of the year, and the 2015 National Model Aircraft Safety Code will be reconciled with the criteria established by Congress. Implementation of these procedures and compliance with the 5-mile rule will coincide with the 2015 AMA-chartered club renewal process. Please watch for this announcement on the AMA website; we will make the document public as soon as it is ready.
We understand how important both of these issues are to you, and you can be assured that we will continue to work until they are resolved. Thank you for supporting AMA and our government advocacy efforts. Your support helps us continue to be an advocate for your right to fly!
— Tony Stillman Flying Site Assistance Coordinator [email protected]
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
