Focus on Competition - 2010/08

142 MODEL AVIATION
FCC LICensIng Issues: There’s
been quite a bit of wrangling about the
use of non-FCC-certified equipment to fly
our model aircraft and the fears that go
along with that unknown.
While AMA Flying Site Assistance
Technically Speaking ...
Greg Hahn
Technical Director
[email protected]
Focus on Competition
Coordinator Tony Stillman is working on
our technical statement of the issues, I’ll
give a quick outline of the subject to
maybe quell some of the fear factor and
expectations.
The official stance of the AMA is that all
radio equipment used for the control of
model aircraft must be FCC certified.
This seems to be simple and cut-and-dried
and has been used for a very long time.
Today, however, with global
marketing and sales, we are now able to
acquire radios and other equipment that
were, for the most part, never intended to
be used in the US and therefore didn’t
need to be FCC certified. Luckily most of
this equipment is transmitting on 2.4
GHz, so it doesn’t cause interference
problems from one system to another, as
it would if they were selling non-narrowband
72 MHz equipment.
That fear of interference is the cause
of much of the unrest in our ranks.
Thanks to the way our 2.4 systems
operate, that interference is not an issue.
The main FCC issue in testing is power
output.
There have also been some questions
raised about who is responsible for
making sure the equipment used is FCC
certified. Simply, that responsibility is on
the shoulders of the owner/user of that
equipment.
If you were to read through the FCC
rules and laws, you’d find where it clearly
states that it’s illegal to import and sell
into the US market non-FCC-certified
radio equipment. The big question is
whether it is illegal to purchase non-FCCcertified
equipment for personal use.
We have our FCC legal team in
Washington working on that very
question as I’m writing this. So we should
have an answer shortly.
In the meantime, if you have purchased a
radio system from an overseas vendor and
would like to make sure your system is
certified, the first thing is to look for an
FCC label somewhere on the transmitter
or module. If you don’t see one, you can
look up your system on the FCC Web site,
where all the certified systems are listed
under the manufacturer. You can search
for the license at http://wireless2.fcc.gov/
UlsApp/UlsSearch/searchLicense.jsp.
I’ll keep updating you as more or new
info comes in. Fly safely and have fun. MA
The Benefits of an Event Sanction
• With a sanction, your event has a protected draw area, to keep events of the same type from
drawing the same people.
• Your event is listed in MA, providing there is enough lead time, for no additional fees.
• Your event will be listed on the AMA Web site calendar at www.modelaircraft.org/events/calendar.aspx.
• You can purchase a supplemental ad to appear in MA.
• The CD is given the authority, as an AMA representative, to administrate and supervise an AMA
sanctioned event.
• The CD has irrevocable authority to disqualify or prevent from flying any participant whose ability is,
in the CD’s opinion, impaired by the use of alcohol or drugs and to prevent any participant from
using equipment which, in the CD’s opinion, is deemed unsafe.
• You are assured that the pilots who are participating in an AMA sanctioned event are AMA
members.
• At an AMA sanctioned event, the CD has the authority to sign up new AMA members.
• Sanctioned events are endorsed by the AMA.
• A sanction number qualifies your event for donations from major sponsors.
08sig5x.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 6/24/10 1:05 PM Page 142