AMA request for help w/ FAA

[Bill Heher]

I am sure many of you received the E-mail from the AMA asking us to petition the FAA Rulemaking board regarding the FAA's interpretation of the new UAV / Model Aircraft operating rules.
When I first contacted the AMA regarding the NPRM and the possible impact on CL flying,I was told nt to worry, CL models are not Model Aircraft in the eyes of the FAA because they are tethered to the ground via the pilot. I took that to mean _ Don't worry- this only applies to RC- we don't need to codify the operation of CL planes or kites. 

I was wondering how others felt about it, I personally think the AMA Executive Council got in bed with the R/C ARF and FPV / Electronics Industry, then tried to legitimize this relationship by saying it is only about the " Hobby ". So now the FAA threatens the cash cow they courted and partnered with, and they need our help.

I spent almost a decade dealing with the FAA on various issues related to F.A.R. 121 Aircraft Operations, and my experience is they use the " grey areas" in reg and rules to get the outcome they decide is best. I came to the conclusion that since I was not a lawyer- just an A&P / Power Plant engineer trying to do things right- I quit the commercial aviation world- and enjoy life much more.

Anybody else care to comment?....

 

[Tim Wescott]

1: this belongs in the debate zone.

2: if we're going to stick our heads in the sand and refuse to help out when the gun is pointed at the RC people, then we'll have no one to complain to when the gun ends up pointed at us.

I'm an aircraft modeler.  I happen to be most interested in control line stunt, but I fly free flight and RC, too.

How long do you think control line is going to last if the FAA manages to render RC illegal through the back door?

[wwwarbird]

 Good points, but I'm most worried these days about the stupid R/C "drones" and the attention they receive screwing things up for ALL of us. I don't see anything good for the future of model aviation hobbyists coming from them.

[skyshark58]

Bill is correct about the FAA. There is a different FAA behind every desk. If an exemption is not written in regulation for control line model aircraft then it will be huge problem convincing each of those inspectors that this regulation does not apply to control line models. It is imperative that a written exemption be included in the regulation for control line models.

Please let this be known to the FAA in DC. This comment period ends on July 25th,2014

http://www.regulations.gov     FAA docket number2014-0396   

[Perry Rose]

Rules are made to be broken and that's exactly what I plan to do.

[Wayne J. Buran]

Unforunately this entire situation is outside AMA sphere of influence. I doubt that any of these siuations are caused by AMA members of good standing. The AMA has no influence over these technology nuts that buy all these park fliers, helicopters and drones and go on willy nilly doing there thing unabated. Likewise AMA's 300,000 members mean nothing to the government bozo's currently in control. It is another unintended consequence of technology and no matter what we say or do the FAA will have there way.
Wayne

[john e. holliday]

I have not responded to the AMA as I think the FAA is going after the wrong people.   It is the manufacturers, suppliers and hobby shops.   Remember when you needed a radio license to fly radio?  Also the hobby shops selling to people that don't know what they are doing besides not having an AMA license.   There was a guy asking about flying RC at our new circle.   I think he was told this is for CL only flying.   But, I see Harbor Freight is even selling radio planes ready to fly..   Tower Hobbies sells over the internet as well as a few others.   Just look at Model Aviation at all the ads.   With this FPV(first person view) in radio is what is going to do radio in as we know it.  I still have my radio equipment, but do not fly it as the sites where I can fly requires I be a member of the club that uses the field, which is fair(IMO).  But need AMA license which I agree with.   But, then you have to purchase a park permit also to show the park officer when asked for it.   So I will stay with CL.

[Hoss Cain]

I am sure many of you received the E-mail from the AMA asking us to petition the FAA Rulemaking board regarding the FAA's interpretation of the new UAV / Model Aircraft operating rules.
// SNIP //

I was wondering how others felt about it, I personally think the AMA Executive Council got in bed with the R/C ARF and FPV / Electronics Industry, then tried to legitimize this relationship by saying it is only about the " Hobby ". So now the FAA threatens the cash cow they courted and partnered with, and they need our help.

//SNIP//
Anybody else care to comment?....

MR. Bill, I think you pretty well have the problem in your sights. However I think the AMA Executive Council (EC) is more into being the Fun-Good- Guys, and saying "Yes, Sir" to the top paid Staff people. The DVPs tend to their specific districts and - strictly my opinion - then rubber stamp whatever the headquarters staff lays on them. That is not new, as it has been same since I was a DVP back in the late '70s and early '80s.
The current "Standing Rules" allow only 3 names on an EC election ballot. The sitting EC determines the 3 persons allowed on the ballot. #1, the incumbent, is automatically selected. Now only 2 new persons can be allowed on that ballot for membership election. It seems to me that several names can come on base just before, usually about 20 +/- days, the 3 persons are selected. The incumbent generally gets reelected, as the new 2 names are not generally known to the voters. I am now on the selection list for AMA EC Executive Vice President. Of course just like before - I had same fate several years ago - will not be on the ballot as my bet is that there will be 2 others available on July 19, 2014 when the EC selects the 3 names.
AMA politics are really something for a small group. When I was a DVP (VI) first time, I won over the incumbent. Back then a term was 2 years. I was left off the ballot for 2nd term. I won the election by write-in. The AMA Executive Director had hid the write-in ballots but the AMA President, Earl Witt, found those ballots, demanded a count and I won by some 20% over the other candidate. AMA Politics are not new, and the current Staff is under very capable capacity to ensure such, if they so need.