RC FLYING GROUNDED AROUND THE DC SFRA

[Carl Cisneros]

From the FAA and the AMA Dist. IV VP:

Looks like no more RC flying till further notice for just about all the N. VA area clubs/flying sites.


Quote:
Subject: Request for your assistance

Good morning everyone.

As we continue our efforts to develop a plan for the resumption of model aircraft operations in the Washington, D.C. Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA), we are hearing reports that some individuals may be flying inside the SFRA even though they know it is in violation of the current airspace restrictions. We are asking for your help in spreading the word to the National Capitol Region model aircraft community that such activity is subject to enforcement action, and could damage our efforts to secure the interagency concurrence that is critical to this effort. As I have told many of you over the last weeks and months, there is increasing governmental support to make this happen, both within FAA and the whole of government, but our combined efforts could easily be delayed, or derailed entirely, by any incidents that involve folks knowingly operating within the SFRA in violation of current airspace restrictions. We know that the vast, vast majority of model aircraft hobbyists/enthusiasts, whether they are members of a formal organization or not, wholeheartedly follow the rules, police themselves and others, and do everything they can to operate safely and legitimately. Anything you can do to help us get the word out would be deeply appreciated. The last thing anyone wants to hear from the federal government is “be patient”, but you folks have been patient, and understanding, and we sincerely appreciate both as we work to try and get you back in the air.

On another note, many of you have invited FAA and our interagency security partners to come out and visit your flying sites and talk to your members, etc. We appreciate the invites and have extended them to our interagency law enforcement and security partners. We hope to take you up on the invitations in the near future. Additionally, I know that many of your members and fellow model aircraft enthusiasts have questions and concerns, about both the SFRA issue and model aircraft operations in general. I would be happy to address them directly, either in person or via telcon or email, and I’m sure my partners from FAA Legal, the UAS Integration Office, and Flight Standards would be more than willing to join in the discourse. If you are interested in such a discussion, just let me know.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you.

Thanks

email from the AMA:

Quote:
From: Jay Marsh, AMA Vice President District IV [mailto:jaymarsh@ama-d4.org]
Sent: Friday, December 25, 2015 7:19 PM
Subject: DC SFRA is a NO FLY ZONE



My Dear Clubs in and around the DC SFRA,



Let me first say Merry Christmas to one and all and I hope Santa was good to you.



The FAA has requested we stop operations at our AMA fields that are inside the DC Special Flight Rules Area for the DC area called the DC SFRA. The letter attached is from Ray Stinchcomb our District IV Government Relations Coordinator with an explanation of the action by the FAA.



You will not need to close the field, only cease operations temporarily, no flying of anything, until mid-January when we expect to get permission to continue operations for all fields.



By the FAA’s count there are 36 flying sites within the DC SFRA. AMA can account for 14 of those. Please pass the word to the Drone User Groups that they need to stop operations too. The FAA did indicate they were going to use law enforcement to enforce this.

One of our AVPs, Rick Moreland, will be contacting you offering to help find fields for our members to use in the interim. I have CC all of your addresses and I hope you will contact each other and work together to help each other and make this as painless as possible. Sorry folks, but we have to comply with the FAA.



Effective as soon as you can please post this suggested sign at your flying site.

THIS IS A NO FLY ZONE

UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE THE FAA HAS REQUESTED THAT ALL FLYING OPERATIONS BE DISCONTINUED.

THIS IS A NO FLY ZONE

PLEASE CONTACT ? Club Officer ? FOR FURTHER INFORMATION



Sorry to have to give you this news but it is necessary and I promise the District IV staff and AMA will continue to resolve this as soon as possible. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me.

[Randy Cuberly]

A little Civil Disobedience Can be Good for the Soul when tyranny raises it's ugly head!

[Carl Cisneros]

 

[RC Storick]

Psst! Hey buddy what are you in for? Flying a model airplane.

[Dan McEntee]

    But the head Community Organizer in Charge is in Hawaii on another 7 million dollar plus vacation! As long as no one over flies the golf course there should be no problem, right? And Santa should have his sleigh already back in the hanger at the north pole. Tell them guys to get over themselves!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Terrence Durrill]

We are screwed by the IRON HAND OF MARXIST GOVERNMENT.  RC may not survive and there is no doubt at all that CL is going to be weakened by this assault on personal freedoms in America.  Who is going to fight his way through all this red tape just to go out and fly a model airplane without going to jail and/or paying a fine? HOW CAN IT BE OTHERWISE.  The iron hand of government moves on.  THANKS BARACK AND ALL THE BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE EXECUTIVE BUREAUCY WHO ARE DESTROYING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF ALL AMERICANS.   

[Mike Griffin]

It has become glaringly apparent that the AMA and FAA are glittering jewels of colossal ignorance.  They are both  jokes.

Mike

[John Fitzgerald]

I think RC will be permanently grounded everywhere soon, thanks to the quadcopter industry.  RC cars and trucks could carry explosives into crowds, so they will get banned too.

[Carl Cisneros]

What about RC Sailboats?   

[david beazley]

What about RC Sailboats?   

RC boats will have to be registered with the Coast Guard, national waterways, you know.  Also RC cars will have to be registered with the Department of Transportation. Probably true for skateboards too.  Tether cars will be exempted.   

[peabody]

Actually, the issue has been percolating for years.....if you examine the agendas of AMA EC meetings as far back as four years ago, three main issues were addressed:
1) Jets....the speed and fire danger when they crash
2) Giant scale RC.....most 15th scale or larger can carry an 80# payload
3) Over the horizon flight.....
These three topics occupied about 90% of the talk.
"Drones" only heightened the problem because they are so easy to fly and so high tech.....stuff that was only military until a few years ago....and the prospect of a half million flying objects got the media into a frenzy.