From the Copilot's Seat - 2015/06

I write this at the
end of March
and, although the
calendar says it
is spring, there is
still a foot of snow
to melt before I
can say that spring
is actually here.
At least many of you in the South and
West can get outside to fly.
Yes, I know I’m whining, but I’m
sure you can understand that flying
in a gym isn’t quite the same as being
outside with gas or glow engines
running, but on to more important
information.
There are 162 bills in state legislatures
and 12 bills in the federal legislature
that involve privacy, sUAS, and other
issues involving drones, model aircraft,
etc., on the dockets. We are working
on the national bills such as the new
FAA Reauthorization Bill, which
we plan on being a part of, just as in
2012.
We need our members to check
their own state dockets and, working
through your district vice presidents
and associate vice presidents,
determine what bills might require
your intervention. AMA does not have
the manpower or resources to address
proposed state bills, and is dependent
upon our members’ involvement.
Our experience has been that
when you educate those who are
proposing onerous legislation, their
approach changes—typically providing
an exclusion for model aviation,
including FPV, quadcopters, and
multirotors, when flown by the rules
of a community-based organization,
namely AMA.
In late February, Bob Brown,
Dave Mathewson, Rich Hanson,
our lobbyist, and I met with
representatives of the FAA in
Washington, D.C. We entered the
Federal Building on Independence
Avenue and were required to go
through the same type of security
screening that you see at airports.
We waited for our FAA escort who
took us to the top floor. We sat at
a large, round conference table for
our meeting with the number-two
person in the FAA, Margaret “Peggy”
Gilligan, Associate Administrator;
John Hickey, Deputy Associate
Administrator; Jim Williams, UAS
Program Manager; nine attorneys; and
two people from the U.S. Department
of Justice.
We had asked for this meeting,
and found these people to be cordial.
We discussed our partnership with
the Know Before You Fly education
program. This is a positive initiative
that we are taking with the FAA and
both parties are encouraged by its
progress. The FAA is even developing
an app for cell phones and tablets and
offered to include a link to the AMA
website on this app!
We also discussed the long-awaited
FAA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) that had just been released
concerning sUAS and expressed that
we were happy with the recognition
that model aircraft operated within
the programming of AMA should not
be subject to new regulations, just
as Congress said in 2012. We will
encourage our members to provide
input on that point during the NPRM
comment period. The FAA was
appreciative of this.
We then asked about the status
of AMA’s comments and those of
its members that were submitted
concerning the FAA’s Interpretation
of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft
in July 2014, pertaining to the Special
Rule of 2012. There are five issues
concerning this interpretation that
we want to see changed. AMA filed a
lawsuit last year concerning this, which
is currently held in abeyance until the
FAA vets all 33,000 comments.
We were basically told that they
can’t discuss this because they haven’t
completed the vetting process and
because of the suit that has been filed.
I feel that the most logical approach,
after the comments have been vetted,
will be to sit down again with the FAA
to see if we can discuss the interpretive
rule, and reach the right outcome
for our members. I believe we are
working with good people who have
an interest in helping us move model
aviation forward. It is ironic though,
that we, the very people who are
trying to help the FAA, are the ones
who will be directly affected by the
FAA’s interpretive rule if it is allowed
to become law! Time will tell.
“Thank you,” is something that I
frequently hear from our members.
I have attended many events, shows,
fun-flys, and seminars this year, and at
each event, our members express their
gratitude for AMA’s efforts on their
behalf.
I was really moved, when after
making a brief announcement to the
pilots at the North East Ohio Electic
Festival in Akron, Ohio, in March,
a 14-year-old named Max came up
to me, shook my hand, and thanked
AMA for all it is doing for modelers.
As quickly as that he was gone and I
didn’t get his last name.
Although I realize that our efforts
with all government agencies are for
the benefit of all of model aviation,
this encounter took me by surprise.
Young people are typically focused
on flying and having fun with their
buddies. Here was Max, representing
our future, making a point to
express his appreciation to AMA for
protecting his hobby.
Max, you and all of our members
who have said thank you make our
efforts worthwhile. I have often said
to members that we work for you, and
your appreciation really recharges our
energy levels. Thank you!
I appreciate you reading this far,
and for all of the support you provide!
Until next time, please help secure
the future of our hobby and take a
youngster flying!
From the Copilot’s Seat by Gary Fitch, Executive Vice President