In the Air
Membership news and updates
from AMA Headquarters
FCC Requirements for Model Aircraft Operations
Although many model aircraft pilots know of the FAA’s regulation of model aircraft flights, some are unaware that the FCC also regulates the operation of wireless radio transmitters used to control model aircraft and transmit video images during flight.
Under the FCC’s rules, model aircraft operations generally fall into two categories:
- License-exempt operation under Part 15 of the FCC’s rules (Radio Frequency Devices). A license is not required.
- Amateur radio operations under Part 97 of the FCC’s rules (Amateur Radio Service). Individual operators are required to hold an appropriate license.
Most radios included within model aircraft control systems are certified by the equipment manufacturer or vendor for low-powered, license-exempt operations on frequency bands authorized under Part 15. On the other hand, because of power restrictions, few FPV video systems are certified for unlicensed use under Part 15 and can be operated only with an Amateur Radio License as described in the following.
License-Exempt Operation (Part 15)
Model aircraft devices and other transmitting equipment, operated without a license under Part 15 of the FCC’s rules, must be certified for compliance with certain technical standards designed to limit interference to other devices. The standards differ for analog and digital devices, between frequency bands, and depending on the type of attached antenna.
Technical certification is accomplished by the equipment manufacturer or vendor. Users are unlikely to be able to determine independently whether a device is Part 15-compliant by evaluating power limits or other operating parameters.
Instead, users can take the following steps to confirm a device is authorized under Part 15:
- Identify the FCC ID number shown on the device.
- Use the ID number to locate the device’s certification record in the FCC’s database search at https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm.
- Click on the “Display Grant” link.
- Confirm that the frequency and output power (in watts) matches the parameters for the device the user intends to operate.
If these steps can be successfully completed, the device can be operated without an FCC license.
Licensed Operation for FPV (Part 97)
FPV devices typically require more output power than is authorized in Part 15 of the FCC’s rules and, as a result, are not certified for unlicensed operations. These items will not have an FCC ID number on them, and can only be operated in certain bands under the authority of an Amateur Radio License issued by the FCC pursuant to Part 97 of the rules.
The FCC issues three classes of Amateur Radio Licenses: Technician, General, and Amateur Extra. The lowest-level license, Technician Class, is sufficient to authorize FPV use.
Applicants must pass a 35-question test in order to receive a Technician
AMA Thanks Its Lifetime Supporters!
The Academy of Model Aeronautics recently welcomed Life Members Michael J. Stevens, Ridgecrest CA; Ryan A. Kahn, Middleton ID; Brian D. Callahan, Huntington Beach CA; Dag Roppe, Mabel MN; Brendan Schulman, Short Hills NJ; Brian Rozell, Queensbury NY; Richard Blanke, Pavilion NY; Alan S. Carey, Lady Lake FL; Robert G. Dedrick, Parma OH; Mark Homer, Oregon OH; Frederick Maier, Akron NY; Ron McGrath, North Chili NY; Charles Freeland, Orlando FL; Todd Forshee, Apple Valley CA; Robert Lafayette, Toledo OH; Steven S. Graham, Denver CO; Robert C. Gialdini, Wauwatosa WI; Murray Steinberg, Edinboro PA; Dub Jett, Houston TX; Jerry Rocha, Napa CA; Jay Gerber, Warrington PA; Jesse F. Shepherd, Euless TX; F.B. Baker, Madison WI; Fred Mulholland, Tampa FL; Phil Cartier, Hummelstown PA; Erik Swanberg, Yorkville IL; James Morris, Lawrence KS; Steve Candiloro, East Northport NY; Nathan Wood, North Las Vegas NV; Guy Guerra, Naples FL; Anthony Sperb, Gurnee IL; Russell Doll, Ravensdale WA; Anthony Romano, Ossining NY; Conrad Huffstutler, Uvalde TX; Scott Bohemann, Des Moines IA; Mark Slayton, Bremerton WA; Mark Stout, Pleasant Hill MO; Jeff Blair, Highland MI; Nicholas Wittman, Hazelton ID; Troy Schank, Groesbeck TX; Eric Lunos, Wahpeton ND; Michael J. Miller, Gig Harbor WA; and John Hayden, Markleville IN.
For information about becoming a Life Member, contact AMA Headquarters at (800) 435-9262.
—AMA Membership Department
Class license. Users should contact their local amateur radio club (find one at www.arrl.org) for testing schedules and requirements for the Technician Class license.
Based on these regulations, here is the practical application:
- In order to use a video transmitter on your model aircraft without a license, you should first determine if it is FCC certified. It will have an FCC sticker somewhere on the video transmitter.
- If it does have the sticker, you can verify its authenticity at the FCC’s database search at https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/eas/reports/GenericSearch.cfm and click on the Display Grant link.
- Insert the FCC ID number in the first field and click on search.
- If the item is listed, then it is an FCC Part 15-compliant device and does not require an Amateur Radio License to operate.
- If the item is not listed, then it does require an Amateur Radio License to operate.
If you have questions regarding these FCC requirements, contact AMA Headquarters at (765) 287-1256.
Largo Flying Club
On September 3, 2015, the Largo Flying Club (LFC) of Largo, Florida, was awarded the 2015 Voluntary Service Award (for groups) by the Florida Recreation and Park Association at its annual convention. The LFC was nominated for this honor by the City of Largo Recreation, Parks and Arts Department, in recognition of its work in support of two important city programs. For the past five years, LFC has conducted a weeklong Learn to Fly RC program for local youth as part of the city’s Summer Camp series. It has been extremely popular and the city considers it a valuable and unique part of its camp offerings.
Each year, LFC has requested financial assistance from AMA under the Take-off And Grow program. In each instance, the club has received all of the assistance requested and sometimes more. These funds have been critical to LFC’s ability to conduct these camps.
The LFC has also provided volunteers as course workers for the city’s annual Adventure Mud Run. This popular local activity utilizes the LFC flying field as a part of the race, and club members try to assist during the event.
In addition to the award, this event acknowledges a mutually beneficial relationship between LFC and the City of Largo. This is important to the club because the parks department manages the property that hosts the LFC flying field. It is critical to maintain a positive relationship between the two.
LFC club members have been flying on this property for 16 years. In the years before the first flying camp, it was unclear how much longer the LFC would retain use of the site. Since participating in the city’s Summer Camp program, relations have continued to improve and the club members are hopeful that they will be able to enjoy flying there for many years.
—Larry Tittle
ltittle@tampabay.rr.com
Norththrop Files: Buhl Pup
AMA Plans Service now houses all plans formerly sold though Model Builder magazine, Bill Northrop’s Plan Service, and the Scratch Builder’s Almanac. There are more than 1,000 plans in the collection.
Model Builder has many Old-Timer airplanes redrawn from the 1930s and ’40s. This is a semiscale Buhl Pup from 1936. The completed model spans 8 feet.
You can order the Buhl Pup, plans number 91047, for $28 by calling AMA Plans Service at (800) 435-9262, extension 507.
built and flown two full-scale aircraft and created multiple woodworking projects. He was inducted into the AMA Model Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001. Pete continues to fly both full-scale and model aircraft and he currently has two full-scale aircraft under construction.
—Joe Hass
joehass@gmail.com
Are You a Viewfinder? AUVSI Publishing Drone Photos
AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems magazine has started a new department called Viewfinder that turns attention to you. The editorial staff is seeking photos that you have taken with your drone. Selected photographs will run in the monthly magazine to show the captivating images that unmanned systems can take.
Send your photographs, a brief description of the system you used to take them, what the photo depicts, and your background to editor Danielle Lucey at dlucey@auvsi.org.
To see examples of what the magazine has run so far, go to AUVSI’s Flickr page at www.flickr.com/photos/auvsi.
Discover Flight National Campaign
The opportunities to fly models are greater now than ever before. More people are picking up our exciting and rewarding hobby. In addition to the recreational fun of flying, our hobby is spearheading many innovations and leading our members into careers including engineering, design, aviation, and education.
The AMA and our members embrace all of the positive attributes of modeling, while making safety a primary priority.
In an effort to celebrate aeromodeling, AMA has launched a national campaign, Discover Flight. The campaign is being pitched and picked up by regional and national news outlets to showcase our hobby.
We invite you to learn more at www.discoverflight.org. Watch the three-minute inspirational video and share the campaign with your club, friends, and family. When sharing this campaign on social media, be sure to include the hashtag #DiscoverFlight.
Together, let’s share with the world all of the great and inspirational characteristics of our hobby.
National Midget Airport Kit
“The National Midget Airport is so complete that you will feel yourself right in the atmosphere of the great airports of the country, as you build and arrange this colorful miniature layout,” bragged the 1934 ad tempting kids to ask for the National Midget Airport kit for Christmas.
The National Midget Airport kit came with the plans and supplies to build 10 buildings, a water tower, two radio towers, and 12 static scale airplanes. The balsa, tissue, and clear plastic for each item were bundled together with the item’s plans, and all of it was boxed with the rolled mats for the base and the necessary cement and dope. Although the buildings and models are tiny (the exact scale is unclear), it is certainly an ambitious building project.
Although the airport kit was advertised and sold with the same Midget name as the National Model Aircraft & Supply Company’s line of Midget scale models, the airport and models are not in the same scale. Put side-by-side, the Midget models, with their approximate 12-inch wingspan, would loom over the airport fixtures. This is to be expected because an airport built to the same scale as the Midget models would take up considerably more space than the 44 x 62-inch layout.
The National Midget Airport kit in the museum’s collection is missing 10 of the 12 static scale airplanes, the cement and dope have hardened, and the balsa is brittle, but the green coloring of the large base sheets is still vibrant and all the other advertised parts of the kit have survived.
Do you remember building one of these? If so, please share your memories with Maria VanVreede at mariav@modelaircraft.org, or (765) 287-1256, extension 508.
