President's Perspective — 2013/04
Bob Brown [email protected]
FAA meeting and proposed legislation
The AMA Expo in Ontario, California, was the venue for a meeting between AMA and FAA officials. James Williams, head of the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, was scheduled to offer his perspective on AMA’s efforts during our FAA seminar. He was unable to make the trip but offered comment via Skype.
James Sizemore did make the trip and provided additional positive comments. All who were present appreciated the participation of the FAA representatives. You can view the discussion on the AMA website at: http://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amagov/2013/02/09/ama-faa-forum-ama-exp....
It appears the FAA and AMA discussions have turned positive, although the next few months will likely be quite interesting. I hope the results will be worth our efforts.
State and local legislation
Proposed state and local legislation regarding drones and privacy issues has exploded at an alarming rate. AMA has been doing everything it can to address these issues. A recent meeting between District X Associate Vice President Lawrence Tougas, Government and Regulatory Affairs Representative Rich Hanson, and California officials in Sacramento was worthwhile.
We are also coordinating efforts with a major aircraft manufacturer to counteract a proposed law in Oregon that could make it a felony to own a model with a camera. Efforts are also underway in Texas and Virginia.
This past weekend AMA representatives attended E-Fest in Champaign, Illinois. While we were there, Hobbico offered corporate assistance to our political efforts.
How members can help
- Keep AMA Headquarters informed of any proposed legislation that may hinder model aviation.
- Limit aerial photography to the flying field and avoid commercial activity.
- Avoid posting questionable pictures or videos on the Internet; such posts provide additional ammunition to those opposed to our activity.
- Respect individual privacy and safety in all flying activities.
- If possible, consider making a donation to support AMA’s political efforts; contact AMA Headquarters for additional information.
When I ran for AMA president, I campaigned on the premise that I would not raise dues. I remain committed to that promise, but the current political efforts are draining money from other programs. Donations from members and clubs would allow us to provide a stronger, more focused effort.
AMA Expo and AMA Flight School
I hope those who attended the AMA Expo in Ontario, California, appreciated the efforts of the many who helped organize the event. Thanks to everyone who was professionally involved. Special thanks to the Pomona Valley Model Airplane Club for its assistance within the convention center and for the use of the club’s excellent field at Prado, California. The club’s efforts allowed us to film a segment of the new AMA Flight School featuring flying instruction by Andrew Jesky.
I watched the shoot evolve throughout the day, and the result should be of value to all. If you have not yet viewed our new effort, it can be found at: www.amaflightschool.org. The video featuring Andrew will be posted soon, as will others from noted members. Bookmark the site — we will frequently post new segments.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
