AMA GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS UPDATE
By Tyler Dobbs, Government Affairs Director | tylerd@modelaircraft.org
AMA IS COMMITTED TO consistently advocating for the model aircraft community. In addition to working with the FAA and Congress, the Government Affairs department has been focused on a number of other tasks.
AMA has been working with the FAA daily on a host of issues, including securing Letters of Agreement for AMA clubs and U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets operating in controlled airspace, along with participating in FAA Safety Risk Management panels for our clubs. These local and national panels are used to determine and mitigate risks associated with high-altitude operations, flights on airport property, and several other UAS-related issues.
Additionally, the department has been meeting regularly with various members of Congress and congressional committee staff to discuss issues that directly affect the model aircraft community. Finally, AMA has continued to participate in various workgroups, working toward UAS integration and national security.
New information regarding The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) was recently released; however, AMA has been advocating for our members regarding the test since it was mandated in 2018. Our work ensures that the test meets the intent of Congress without placing an undue burden on our hobby.
In the spring of 2019, AMA met with UAS stakeholders and the FAA, hosting a round-table discussion to define the guidelines and administration of the knowledge and safety test, as well as to develop the questions included on the test. In September 2019, AMA sent a request for information to officially declare our interest in becoming a test administrator, and on March 23, 2021, we formally submitted our application. Learn more about TRUST on AMA’s Government Affairs blog.
AMA has continued to coordinate with various UAS industry leaders, including Google’s sister company Wing, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National League of Cities, Experimental Aircraft Association, Horizon Hobby, and others.
AMA takes the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) and model aircraft operations seriously, regularly meeting with security agencies such as the FBI and the United States Secret Service to ensure the safety of the NAS. Additionally, the AMA sits on one of the FBI’s UAS task forces.
Finally, the Government Affairs department makes it a priority to ensure that community and industry leaders remain up-to-date with the latest news within the model aircraft community. The department participates in the AMA Government Advocacy Workgroup, which meets weekly to strategize current and future legislative and regulatory efforts that relate to our hobby.
To remain current with the most recent government-related news, regularly visit the AMA’s Government Affairs blog.
FAA Experiences 50% Decline in New Registrations and Renewals
The FAA has experienced a 50% decline in new registrations and renewals for UAS via faadronezone.faa.gov. The total number of registrations fell from 1,746,248 to 868,421 between December 2020 and March 2021, comprising 492,492 recreational fliers and 375,929 commercially registered drones. The FAA attributes this drop to registrations that are reaching the end of their three-year expiration date. The first round of expirations occurred on December 12, 2020.
AMA has maintained that recreational FAA registration numbers are higher than the actual number of current UAS operators. Many of the recreational FAA registrations were newcomers to the hobby or those who received UAS as gifts. AMA fully expected these attrition rates at the December 2020 renewal deadline.
