EAA's response to FAA. They list control line!!!!! Wake up AMA

[dave siegler]

they get it.  they really do. this is a great read.  it is what many of you have been asking for.


https://eaa.org/-/media/Files/EAA/Advocacy/03-03-2020-RemoteIDcomments

[Dave Hull]

Dave,

I agree with almost all of their comments, but disagree with their assertion that control line and free flight models are unmanned airborne systems. Up to this point, a system, when used in the context of an unmanned vehicle meant the ground station and support equipment in addition to the flight vehicle. A ground station with comms, telemetry and realtime control. That is how the DOD defined things--and how they actually buy them--and they pretty much led the way on practical UAS.  The DOD and the FAA spent a lot of time in the 1990's integrating airspace operations. Suddenly, the FAA comes along and has tried to redefine the terms, and done it as broadly as possible to ensure their regulatory authority. As long as control line and free flight are lumped together under the main label of UAS, we will not be out from under the unnecessary and burdensome requirements that will continue to be added. The best we can hope for in that situation is an overall exemption for control line. That is far better than where we are now, but still should be considered a second choice.

I agree that the EAA and their leadership seems to understand model aviation at least as well as the AMA leadership. The difference is that the EAA is not handicapped by the thinking within the AMA that (a) we're a powerful enough organization to get all recreational flying, including drones and FPV excluded from new FAA regulations; and (b) an inexplicable view that working on solutions to the easily solvable problems associated with certain types of modeling that are zero-risk in terms of terrorism, NAS congestion, and invasion of privacy is not important. Rather, let's fight for drone rights first. So their approach let the whole deal go down the drain, based on unfounded support for the highest risk platform--drones.

The AMA may be changing their approach based on the lack of results, but at best what we are hearing and reading are still mixed messages. Meantime, it looks like someone else has decided to pick up the load. I support that. I won't have any problem finding my wallet when it's time to renew my EAA membership.

Dave
EAA member since 1987

[Fred Cronenwett]

I attended a Disctrict 6 AMA meeting about this before the March 2nd deadline and I asked about the CL exception and how it's viewed by the FAA

question - The Current FAA rules does not say "Control Line" but says tethered, so are they going to put the words that say Control Line in the new rules so that we are exempt?

Answer - The AMA showed the FAA what a CL model is and they (FAA) agreed that we would be exempt because of the flying lines but they will not put the clear words in the FAA regulations saying it.

bottom line they understand what a CL model is and that it is not a threat. The (FAA) definition of a UAS drone is anything that flies with some kinds of control system (helicopter, fixed wing RC, quad, etc...) that can fly. What the FAA really needs is lawyer on the board making the decisions that also flies model airplanes (also must be familiar with CL, free flight, drones)