The drones are coming...The drones are coming...

[1600vw]

Under what rules do these drones fly? FAA or AMA.

I ask this because the owner of the airpark where I hanger told me these people contacted him and asked him if they could come and put on a demo flight for everyone.

I asked him under what regs are these things flying. He had no idea.

 

[DaleB]

IANAL, but...

AMA is not a regulatory body. There are AMA rules that AMA members are supposed to abide by, but if it's flying it's under FAA jurisdiction.

 

[1600vw]

IANAL, but...

AMA is not a regulatory body. There are AMA rules that AMA members are supposed to abide by, but if it's flying it's under FAA jurisdiction.

Now I am really confused. So any time I put an RC airplane into the air I am flying under the FAA regs or rules?

I never heard this before...

 

[1600vw]

I had the RC club at my home airfield approach me and tell me I could not fly an RC airplane on my own field or runway not without an AMA membership. These people got in my face about it, and now I learn I fly an rc airplane under the FAA and not the AMA...I am confused.

My rc has no N Number. I see where this is going and don't like what I see. The FAA controls our airspace now from the ground to the atmosphere I guess and we can no longer play in this space.

This is my take on what you are saying.

 

[DaleB]

The AMA is a large club, which offers insurance and a set of standard rules for its members and affiliated clubs. Think "AOPA for RC flyers". Again, they have no regulatory authority. The local RC club has absolutely no say in what you do or don't do, other than flying at their field. Most of them know that, but in most clubs you're going to find a few people who want to try and assert some authority and become self-appointed cops.

If they're concerned about radio interference from your flying, that's covered by FCC regulations (hint: neither they nor you have any protection from interference). As for flying objects, again... FAA jurisdiction.

For the FAA's position, Google and faa.gov are your friends. From the FAA web site:

Model Aircraft
Recreational use of airspace by model aircraft is covered by FAA Advisory Circular 91-57, which generally limits operations to below 400 feet above ground level and away from airports and air traffic. In 2007, the FAA clarified that AC 91-57 only applies to modelers, and specifically excludes individuals or companies flying model aircraft for business purposes.
The FAA guidance is available at: http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/91-57.pdf

 

[Palmpilot]

I had the RC club at my home airfield approach me and tell me I could not fly an RC airplane on my own field or runway not without an AMA membership. These people got in my face about it, and now I learn I fly an rc airplane under the FAA and not the AMA...I am confused.

My rc has no N Number. I see where this is going and don't like what I see. The FAA controls our airspace now from the ground to the atmosphere I guess and we can no longer play in this space.

This is my take on what you are saying.

I would ask those club members to cite the legal authority for their claim.

According to the AMA Web site, the FAA is working on a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). Once that is released, members of the public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed regulations, suggest changes, etc.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/aboutama/gov.aspx

The only thing I have found on the FAA Web site is a set of voluntary operating standards from 1981.

http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/91-57.pdf

[Oops - I see Dale beat me to it!]

There might also be local laws or regulations.

 

[Captain]

The AMA is a large club, which offers insurance and a set of standard rules for its members and affiliated clubs. Think "AOPA for RC flyers". Again, they have no regulatory authority. The local RC club has absolutely no say in what you do or don't do, other than flying at their field. Most of them know that, but in most clubs you're going to find a few people who want to try and assert some authority and become self-appointed cops.

If they're concerned about radio interference from your flying, that's covered by FCC regulations (hint: neither they nor you have any protection from interference). As for flying objects, again... FAA jurisdiction.

For the FAA's position, Google and faa.gov are your friends. From the FAA web site:

Model Aircraft
Recreational use of airspace by model aircraft is covered by FAA Advisory Circular 91-57, which generally limits operations to below 400 feet above ground level and away from airports and air traffic. In 2007, the FAA clarified that AC 91-57 only applies to modelers, and specifically excludes individuals or companies flying model aircraft for business purposes.
The FAA guidance is available at: http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/91-57.pdf

This.