Focus on Competition - 2010/11

November 2010 177
Frequency usage: I get quite a few
phone and e-mail questions every month
about whether 72 MHz frequencies are still
usable, good to use, will be usable in the
near or distant future, and so on. I also get
Technically Speaking ...
Greg Hahn
Technical Director
[email protected]
Focus on Competition
asked if the use of 72 is still allowed here at
the International Aeromodeling Center
(IAC) and during the Nats.
All good questions, and with the normal
rumors on the forums from time to time
they reappear on a regular basis. With that
in mind, I’ll try to put many of the questions
to rest at least for the time being and also
hopefully provide a little peace of mind.
In August the FCC requested that we
(AMA) comment on a proposed rewrite of
the FCC part 95 rules. The 95 rules pertain
to our (model) use of the current 72 MHz
frequencies that were acquired way back in
the late ’80s and early ’90s during the great
narrow band transition. These rewrites are a
normal activity for the rules and occur on a
regular basis, so this is nothing new.
There were no changes proposed as to
our usage of the frequencies. The few
changes proposed were updates to
transmission tolerances and other techno
stuff and to consolidate redundant areas of
the rule. Our DC attorney basically
provided the FCC with our normal
comments in legalese with a few additions
provided by the AMA Electronic
Technology Committee.
That being said and done, there are no
pending threats or use requests from outside
sources being dealt with, so our use of the
existing group of frequencies should not be
impeded into the foreseeable distant future.
I know that at this time there is limited
production of new and spare 72 MHz
equipment, but that situation is not being
precipitated by any threat to our usage or
availability of those frequencies for RC.
As far as the IAC is concerned, there are
no general restrictions on the usage of 72
MHz systems or 2.4 GHz systems. There
are certain areas of the site where only 2.4
systems are allowed, because of the
availability of the pin board, but both
systems are totally usable at this facility.
Since the Nats events are managed by
the individual Special Interest Groups
(SIGs), they have the option to choose
which systems can be used by their
individual events. But that is not an AMA
mandate. If you have a question about
which systems your Nats event is using,
you can usually check with the SIG
involved or look on the Nats entry form,
where it is normally stated if there is a
limitation.
Hope this clears up a few things. 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.
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