Focus on Competition
Technically Speaking ...
Greg Hahn Technical Director [email protected]
The importance of capability separation:
As you probably know, we are in the midst of a very difficult debate concerning the amount of freedom we are allowed to exercise in the operation of our model aircraft.
Those freedoms we have enjoyed for many years are now being questioned because of the proliferation of models for use as military weapons, tools for local law enforcement, and many other income-producing entities. The fact that our models are being taken out of our context of flying for recreation has greatly changed the rules and brought much of what we do under what we all see as undue scrutiny.
One very important thing we’ve done from the beginning is draw the proverbial line in the sand as to what defines a recreational model aircraft, therefore keeping it separate from all others. That line includes such things as:
- "not for hire"
- "flying in a controlled environment within unaided visual line of sight"
- not being equipped for "autonomous flight"
Those are the big three that distinguish us from the sUAS group and have helped keep us out of their mess with the FAA. I’m sure that you and I would like to do everything possible to keep it that way.
I know there will always be innovation, but the idea of flying a model autonomously is, as I pointed out, one of the big issues with the FAA and should be completely avoided at all times. I have received several messages and requests this year for autonomous demonstrations at flying events, and I have made it clear to the CDs raising the questions that this type of flying is a no-go! I’m glad the CDs involved have called or e-mailed me about the situations. But any CDs who haven’t, please take heed and stop the problem before it starts. This type of publicity is not what we need.
If you get asked to do a demo, get all the info you can and give me a call so we can discuss your situation before making a decision. We need to be very aware and careful with this technology.
I’m bringing this up because we are heading into another great summer flying season, and it is still very much in our best interests to keep our noses as clean as possible and do all we can to look like the "nice guys and gals" — not the "wise guys and gals."
It is up to you, as AMA members, to do all you can to promote safety and responsibility in all of our flying activities. And if you see something that doesn’t promote our best interests, take issue with it and make it known. In many ways we control our own destiny; always keep that in mind.
Be safe and have fun.
MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
