Hard at work representing and protecting AMA’s interests
During the past few months, the AMA Government Relations team has been hard at work representing—and protecting—the model aircraft hobby in Washington, D.C., and across the country. We want to share with you some of our efforts and progress during the third quarter of 2017.
Federal Government Relations
As you might be aware, the team worked for many months with federal lawmakers to ensure that the Special Rule for Model Aircraft was protected in FAA reauthorization legislation. On September 28, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives passed a six-month extension of the FAA’s current authorization, which provides continuity for those in the model aviation community. This extension means that members can continue to fly safely under AMA’s set of community-based guidelines.
Still, we believe a longer-term extension of the FAA legislation is needed. We will continue our work with Congress to strengthen the Special Rule for Model Aircraft in the new legislation, and we might call on our members for support in this effort. Please keep an eye on the AMA Government Relations blog for the latest information concerning this bill.
Waivers and Regulations
Also in the past few months, the team continued to work with the FAA toward a possible VIP NOTAM/Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) waiver for those flying during President Donald Trump’s travels in the Bedminster, New Jersey, area, and across the country.
Michael Wong, president of the North Jersey Soaring Society, spoke with the Bernardsville, New Jersey, Patch newspaper about the implications of VIP TFRs on local hobbyists during Trump’s visits. Read the entire article at: https://patch.com/new-jersey/bernardsville-bedminster/model-aircraft-hob....
AMA attended Drone Advisory Committee meetings to discuss the appropriate role of state and local governments in regulating UAS into our nation’s airspace. The team also continued to work with the Aviation Rulemaking Committee on remote identification and tracking of UAS. We anticipate this committee’s recommendations will soon be made public.
State and Local Government Relations
The AMA Government Relations team also continues to track many state and local bills with an eye for legislation that could negatively affect the model aircraft hobby. We’re glad to share that in the past few months, we’ve worked with AMA members throughout the country to combat several problematic state and local bills in California, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, and Nebraska, through direct outreach and education.
AMA has also had discussions with the New York Parks Department regarding the relocation of the Suffolk Aero Modelers flying site. The team worked with an AMA club in California to ensure ongoing success for a 23-year-old flying site managed by the Army Corps of Engineers.
AMA continues to work with local lawmakers in Raleigh, North Carolina, to amend a problematic UAS park policy. AMA also met with local leaders in Holly Springs, North Carolina, regarding the development of flying sites.
AMA members have successfully published opinion articles in The Sale Lake Tribune in Utah, The Jackson Free Press in Mississippi, and The Lincoln Journal Star in Nebraska, focusing on the impact model aircraft have had on their lives.
In September, AMA President Rich Hanson, along with other industry stakeholders, spoke at Aviation Safety Week events throughout Virginia. He discussed the importance of integrating UAS into the skies surrounding airports. Read more at www.wdbj7.com/content/news/plans-discussed-to-integrate-drones-into-mann....
Members of the AMA team also attended the National Recreation and Park Association’s (NRPA) annual conference in New Orleans, where AMA discussed the development of new flying sites. In addition, Chad Budreau, AMA’s director of Government Affairs, was a guest on NRPA’s OpenSpace Podcast, where he shared information about flying model aircraft safely.
Finally, AMA participated in the FAI meeting in Switzerland, as well as InterDrone, the International Drone Conference, in Las Vegas.
AMA members continue to be an important part of our work at the local, state, and federal levels. Thank you for your continued support in 2017. We are successful because of you and your dedication to our longstanding hobby! Thank you!
—Chad Budreau
Public Relations & Government Affairs Director
chadb@modelaircraft.org
