48 M ODEL AVIATION
ONE OF THE most misunderstood elements
of the Academy of Model Aeronautics’ part in
aeromodeling concerns the “rules.”
The casual observer may see little specific
evidence of rules, or the need for rules when it
comes to flying model aircraft. He or she
understands that competitive events must
operate within a rules structure—but what
part do rules play in recreational flying?
When someone becomes more deeply
involved, he or she becomes aware of
specific items that have an impact on
participation in the activity. When he or she
links up with a club, an awareness of flyingsite
rules occurs. Upon joining AMA, he or
she is given the Safety Code and receives
the AMA Membership Manual.
Although many aren’t aware of it, there
is a fourth set of rules for Radio Control
(RC) that many newcomers never come in
contact with: the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Part 15 and Part 95
regulating radio usage.
There are also directives by the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning
flying activities. The Competition Regulations
are used for specific event flying.
Within these documents, there is an
interesting blend of “Thou shalt and Thou
shalt nots” we’ll call rules, and some
recommendations.
Problems develop when the lines between
these blur, and misinterpretations occur. In
most cases, there is confusion about priorities
maintained by these documents, and
somehow the “recommendations” take on the
value of absolute rules.
I’ll try to clear up some of the confusion.
Official AMA National Model Aircraft
Safety Code: This is the correct name! You
will generally see it written as the “AMA
Safety Code.”
Most people never catch the fact that
AMA has separate codes for boats, cars, and
rockets, available for the asking. Your AMA
membership does provide insurance
coverage for these areas! The codes for
these activities come from the Special
Interest Groups (SIGs), or associations
primarily involved with the activities.
There are several important factors to
consider in the AMA Safety Code for aircraft.
A statement in bold print at the top
states, “Model flying MUST be in
accordance with this Code in order for
AMA Liability Protection to apply.”
This is not written in typical legalize,
nor is there the typical glossary of terms
that attempt to lock in word meanings. The
document is more of a common-sense
reality check.
There are absolutes in the Safety Code
for maximum permissible takeoff weights.
The use of extremely hazardous fuels, etc.
are spelled out, but less-clearly defined
words and phrases imply that you should
“use common sense.”
Some individuals attempt to nail down
each possible condition or word meaning.
In General #8, the phrase “extremely
hazardous fuels” is used. Someone might say
all fuels are hazardous to some degree; what
makes them extremely hazardous?
Two hazardous ingredients are listed—
one of them is tetranitromethane. The term
“nitro” in that word does not mean that the
10% nitro fuel you just bought violates the
Code; the “tetra” prefix changes the
chemical meaning entirely.
Other words or phrases people try to nail
down are “approximately” (General #2),
“prior to” (General #11), “qualified” and
“experienced” (Radio Control #2), etc.
Rather than becoming paranoid about
these more general items, realize that the
Academy does not seek to use the Code as an
escape vehicle in the event of an accident. It
promotes the Code as guidelines for safe,
intelligent, enjoyable flying.
Maintaining a balance in providing
liability coverage for all members is
difficult. AMA must cover the one-gram
Indoor model, the 180 mph, 30-pound
turbine model, and everything in between.
You might hear members talk about
“sanctioned” flying sites. In their minds,
these are sites that AMA approves. AMA
does not do that!
There are recommendations for setting
up flying sites, and specific parameters for
Competition Regulations events if you want
to sanction them through the Academy, but
there are no specific site requirements for
general flying.
The phrase often used is, “It’s not where
you fly, but what and how.” Using the
appropriate type of model and precautions,
parks, schoolyards, backyards, airports, gyms,
etc. might be considered flying sites.
Club and Community Flying Site Rules:
The AMA Safety Code cannot cover all
the contingencies that might be present
with the thousands of flying sites
throughout the country. In many cases,
local regulations may dictate additional
rules and guidelines for a club.
Each club and community flying site
creates an additional list. These lists are often
(but not always) divided into two groups; one
contains additional safety rules and the other
contains operational items. The safety list
might detail areas that must not be overflown.
The operational list contains such items as “no
flying before 9 a.m.”
The important thing for the individual
modeler to know is that the safety items
developed for the local site become part of the
AMA Safety Code, by virtue of General #3.
Therefore, breaking the local site rules is the
equivalent of violating AMA rules!
The reason for this club site/AMA
Safety Code relationship is simple. In most
cases, club-owned or -leased sites—and
public sites—are protected under AMA’s
insurance umbrella.
This is accomplished by the club or
chapter (a group of AMA clubs) chartering
with the Academy; the members of the club
or chapter are AMA members, and the
group has formally applied for recognition
with the Academy.
A chartered club may obtain primary
liability coverage for the site owner. This
Bob Underwood
N e w c o m e r s
Box 40, St. Peters MO 63376
Within the last two years, there has
been a rapid escalation in the
popularity of small, lightweight
electric-powered Radio Control (RC)
models flown indoors and outdoors.
Because of the models’ size, low
weight, and slower speed, they can be
used very effectively as trainers.
Operation in a much more restricted
area is also possible.
Individuals operating these types of
models are reminded that their RC
transmitters have the same effective
range as any other RC system.
Therefore, exercise care in their
operation to make certain that
established model-flying sites are not
located nearby. Guidelines for site
separation are provided in the AMA
Membership Manual.
Although the Academy does not
“sanction” or approve flying sites, it
does promote safety by suggesting
that flying take place at established
sites so proper frequency
management may be provided.
Before operating the so-called
“park fliers” or other small Electric
models, check to make sure there
are no other aeromodeling
operations in the area.
—Bob Underwood
process completes the circle, linking the
AMA Safety Code and the individual site
rules into a common document.
AMA Membership Manual: There is a
variety of information in this booklet,
which ranges from listings of AMA
support services to rules in the form of
the bylaws.
There are recommendations scattered
throughout sections. These are not rules in
the sense of “Thou must,” but suggestions
for model operations; a number of them are
listed as “strongly recommended.”
These listings are where much of the
confusion about rules/recommendations
develop. Individuals will read
“Recommended RC Flying Site
Specifications” and immediately overlook
the first word in the title, as well as other
words such as “suggested.” The details
become rules in his or her mind.
The site specifications may be
inadequate for the situation involving the
club. If the area outside the immediate
flying site is populated and large, or fast
models are flown there, the dimensions may
need stretching.
If the site is a few acres leased from a
farmer and in the middle of 400 acres of
corn or beans, the specifications might be
smaller—with the permission of the owner
of the crops you would be flying over.
There are rules in the Membership
Manual, but there are many more
recommendations.
FCC Regulations: One section raises the
specter of the rule/recommendation
controversy more than any other: the “AMA
Radio Control Utilization Plan.”
Within the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR), two parts relate to the operation of
Radio Control models—Parts 15 and 95.
There is another section—Part 97—but it’s
not an issue for the average newcomer, who
is not licensed in the Amateur Radio
Service. Those who are “Hams” are aware
of the regulations.
Most RC fliers may have never seen a
copy of Part 95, which is the general
document for modelers’ use. When it was
necessary to obtain an FCC license to
operate an RC unit years ago, it was a rule
that you had to read Part 95.
Do you need to obtain a copy to know
whether you are operating legally? You
can, but operating within the guidelines of
the Membership Manual will cover most
problem areas.
As you review the information in this
Membership Manual section, many of the
recommended items are specific rules for
sites throughout the US. They are the
result of close cooperation among radio
manufacturers, AMA, and ultimately, the
consumer.
An example is the frequency identification
program. Manufacturers provide channelnumber
plaques and the red or yellow
streamers that denote frequency-band use.
Although no specific rule exists within the
Safety Code, most clubs require these items.
There are only two radio-related items in
the Safety Code: Radio Control #1 and
Radio Control #4, which is the key issue.
You must operate on legal FCC
frequencies. In concert with the
manufacturers, the Academy made it
possible to use the current 50 frequencies in
the 72 MHz (megahertz) band.
This was accomplished by developing
the plan presented in the Membership
Manual, then presenting transmitter
specifications to the FCC for its approval
and implementation of federal regulations.
The process worked; as a result, almost all
the 50 frequencies are available to RC
modelers, even though we are secondary users
and must accept any interference created by
commercial users between frequencies.
One item from Part 95 should be
mentioned, because there has been much
discussion about it recently—crystal
swapping by the user.
Item 95.645 (b) states: “An RC
transmitter which incorporates plug-in
frequency determining modules which are
changed by the user must be certificated
with the modules. Each module must
contain all the frequency determining
circuitry including the oscillator. Plug-in
crystals are not considered modules and
must not be accessible to the user.”
Does this practice occur? Yes!
This immediately throws a “what if” into
your mind. What if an accident occurs
because the modeler accidentally switches
the transmitter crystal with the receiver
crystal and transmits on a different
frequency than expected? It has happened!
You can speculate about what might
occur if court action followed and there was
a violation of federal law.
Although the Academy does not condone
breaking federal regulations, it is not an
enforcement agency. There is a statement to
that effect in the radio section of the
Membership Manual, item 4.11.
FAA Directives: AMA has had a productive
liaison with the FAA for many years. Because
of the adherence to the Safety Code, and the
excellent record of sharing concern for the
proper use of airspace, the FAA has not
placed stringent regulations on model flying.
In the early 1970s, the FAA issued a
directive; parts of it were incorporated into the
AMA Safety Code, in items such as General
#3. Further collaboration between the FAA
and AMA occurred with Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles (UAV) and their derivatives.
Competition Regulations: This is a “rule”
book! It contains all the formal competition
classes in the various categories of flying.
These rules are used to standardize
competition throughout the US.
Members may participate in the
maintenance of these rules by submitting
proposals through the Contest Boards
and/or the Executive Council, which
oversees rule development.
For the most part, many of the “rule”
concerns are down the road for the newcomer.
A Closing Thought:When you are in doubt
about whether the information you are
receiving is a rule or a recommendation, there
are sources you can use to find the answer.
It is important to remember that when
you find an item identified as a
recommendation—especially if the word
“strongly” precedes it—the concept was
not developed lightly.
Bear in mind that the Academy is
attempting to protect the hobby and promote
the highest level of enjoyment, while
maintaining safe operations. MA
