AMA’S SAFETY CULTURE CONTINUES TO
BE THE GOLD STANDARD
By Tyler Dobbs, Government Affairs Director | tylerd@modelaircraft.org
SINCE 1936, AMA has led the model aviation industry in both innovation and safety in the National Airspace System (NAS). Because of this dedication to safety, our members and organization are well respected among both the UAS and full-scale aviation industries.
In addition to respect, our longstanding safety culture is the reason that AMA has recently been granted altitude and Remote ID exemptions for our sanctioned events, high-altitude authorizations in controlled airspace, a high percentage of FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) approvals, and alternative FAA processes for denied FRIA sites in sensitive areas.
AMA continues to work with Congress, the FAA, national security agencies, and industry partners to reduce many of the burdens that have been placed on our hobby. Although there is still much work to be done to reduce the unwarranted and unnecessary laws, we are much less restricted than we were in 2018. AMA continues to educate members of Congress about our hobby, and we remain optimistic that additional restrictions will be removed in the upcoming FAA Reauthorization Act because of our advocacy.
To maintain our status in the industry, it is important that we continue to follow AMA Safety Programming, as well as local, state, and federal laws. Continuing and building upon AMA’s safety culture will result in fewer and fewer restrictions on our community. AMA is happy to assist members and clubs with any safety-related questions, The Recreational UAS Safety Test, and/or navigating the FAA registration process.
Drone Safety Team
AMA continues its participation in the Drone Safety Team (DST), an industry/governmental group that focuses on safety and emerging problems in the UAS industry. AMA has been a member of this group for the past 8 years; however, this year, the DST has a new charter, new bylaws, and new chairmen.
The DST kicked off its first plenary meeting since the new chartering on March 28-29, 2024, at the MITRE campus in McLean, Virginia. AMA looks forward to continuing our work to keep the NAS safe for everyone and hopes that this reorganization will result in positive and realistic outcomes for the UAS industry.
