mikes68charger

My Feedback: (34)

It sound to me The AMA needs to find some way to brod cast there involment and safey concerns to local Government. Its amanzing how many non flyer have never heard of the AMA and whay it dose for us and them

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Again, you're doing everything 100% correct! It's great that you direct those folks to a club that has the ability to allow FPV, and not just shut the door in the face of someone who wants to get into the hobby. Protecting your field and maintaining good relations with your town/city is critical. It sounds like you were doing the heavy lifting here, any involvement with local AMA AVP or VP if they are in your area?

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

They have gone to considerable and reasonable lengths to get the message out, see Know Before You Fly as the most wide reaching example of that. Partnering with the FAA, and now being part of the advisory committee is another step they took. They can't be everywhere at all times, nor everything to everyone. I think local issues that crop up need to be brought to their attention though, through us as members. See the example above from the president of the NY club. Local towns/cities will usually follow federal laws/regs, although some can certainly be more stringent for a number of reasons. It's tought to fight city hall, but not impossible.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Originally Posted by porcia83
Oh if only they would have banned them, the world and the AMA would be so perfect.

Nobody wants them banned. The AMA putting a bit of distance from them would be nice to protect what we have by reinforcing the fact that's not who we are or what we do.

Then again, I'm sure there would be a 100 other complaints about anything and everything.

Why's that?


At least Joe put his money where his mouth was, he voted with his wallet and walked away. Can you do the same?

I did the 2 year deal to see just how this pans out being a club officer it would not be fair to the club members to just walk. With that said if it goes to far south I'm done. While I disagree with the current direction our organization is taking there is always a chance that it may change.

You can still sit in judgement and second guess what goes on though.

When you get no information as far as just what the plan is or just what the cost will be along with just what the goal is there will be questions along with second guessing.

Or are you doing something more meaningful and running for office? I look forward to hearing your platform and all the suggestions you have for improving everything.

Distancing our organization for all the "problem children" and defining that is not what we do. Instead we cast the net thinking they would flock to us is getting us in deeper. We do not have the resources needed to win this.

Hey I like those responses in black. Do it in red next time, then put AIR as your response.

I don't believe I've ever said you were anti drone, you might have me confused with someone else. As for the AMA, I think your posts with regards to them show a pretty healthy disdain for them. I don't recall you ever saying anything positive about them in any thread. Not saying you have to, or should, or have to agree with everything they do, but to say that you are not "anti" AMA when reading your comments about them seems contradictory.

I agree I don't want to see the hobby regulated to death, I don't think anyone does. Where we disagree the most (at least I think) is this regulation and scrutiny was coming regardless of the AMA's acceptance of MR, quads etc. The AMA had to do something to be part of the process. I draw the conclusion that you might be in a minority based on comments here, this being a pretty small segment of total hobbyists. I also base that on total responses to the FAA over the past few years. I accept I may be wrong on that assumption.

And I'm sorry, but pointing to a "good 'ol boy" network is a total and complete cop out. is your AMA VP part of this alleged good 'ol boy network? Nothing is stopping you from getting more involved at the local level, becoming an AVP, and then a VP. I'm not saying that's the only way to affect change, but those positions are elected, not appointed and granted forever.

rcmiket

Honestly I've got a lot on my plate for a "semi-retired" guy. Serving as a Club Officer/Board Member and Newsletter Editor is enough but toss in on the Board for a STEM Program at the H.S. We run several events a year geared toward education and exposing peopel to the hobby along with a Charity event here and there.Then I spend 4 days a week at the LHS working with modelers on their problems along with trying to educate the new "drone" crowd is all rather time consuming. So as far as the local level my time is taken.
Now lets talk about running for VP or AVP I'd have to become a leader member I sure I could but I feel I don't have the time to dedicate right now or just how my efforts would be received by the powers to be.

Mike

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

AMA is being outwitted in Washington
Wow ! Last I heard, Washington was full of " Half-Wits " . Hmmm....... now what does that make the AMA

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Your time is still well spent educating new drone pilots or anyone who looks for direction at the hobby shop, the same for those at your field who are current members, and those looking to join as noobs to the hobby. I submit we (that being AMA members in general, perhaps more so for board members of clubs) ultimately do more good for the hobby overall than any select few EC members, mainly because we have strength in numbers. A great example of that was the guy from NY who got personally involved in town politics and was able to work with them.
Your time is still well spent educating new "d

JimDrew

My Feedback: (16)

There is a pretty simple solution to this for the AMA... publicly define what "drone" is vs. a model aircraft, and ban/distance the AMA and its members from everything that is considered a "drone". The FAA/DHS definition of a "drone" is an aircraft that is flown with a control system that is not manual and/or line of sight. Any aircraft using a video system and/or GPS system is considered a "drone". It's really that simple. If you do not use either of these, you are flying a model aircraft.

Banning video and GPS guidance is a simple solution for the AMA. A new organization, with it's own insurance carrier should be created for those that want to fly "drones".

Chris P. Bacon

My Feedback: (4)

https://www.faa.gov/regulations_poli...mentID/1028086

JimDrew

My Feedback: (16)

That link is an AC from September. Section 6(3) has a key element of the recommendation: "flown within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft". Using a FPV system permits the possibility of this not being the case. Much like using a GPS system (for way points) also permits the possibility of positioning the aircraft so that it is deliberately no longer "within visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft". The DHS (who has jurisdiction over the FAA) is the entity most interested in seeing "drone" usage limited.

So, either we can all be pro-active, or let the feds lump model airplanes into a group that they should not belong in...

ira d

I agree, The AMA needs to do more to get the word out about RC flying in general and let the general public know That RC operations has being going on in this country for many years with very few problems and without being limited to 400' either.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Piffle Rot Banning some thing because it COULD be used incorrectly is Ludicrous. With your reasoning U should ban cars because some Idiot will speed drive drunk or run a red light. It's the same thing as Banning Guns because some Idiot might use a gun in a manner that it is not intended or is against the law. It's time the DOT/FAA/AMA put the BLAME where it belongs ...ON the OFFENDER not on every one that flys R/C TOYS.

franklin_m

I'd really like to know how many AMA sanctioned flying sites exist today as compared to 1, 2, 3, and say 5 years ago?

Chris P. Bacon

My Feedback: (4)

Also note AC 91-57A does not contain the word "drone" in it anywhere.

JimDrew

My Feedback: (16)

People who race cars are required to do so on race tracks with training and licenses. To purchase a hand gun you are suppose to go through a background check. To fly an RC model, there are really no restrictions. There needs to be some type of control in place to protect people and help limit the number of offenders. The FAA/DHS wants to limit the weight and require registration because they have issues with FPV/GPS flown "drones". Unfortunately, those types of aircraft are being lumped in with what we all consider "model airplanes". The smartest thing to do is to have two different entities... the AMA for people flying model aircraft that are not using FPV/GPS, and another entity that allows that type of activity... then that bunch can have various rules a regulations imposed upon them. In the eyes of the public, we need to be a bunch of old men playing with toy airplanes... not the users of "drones" that can be flown miles away without needing anything more than a laptop.

The DHS has determined that our models are now "drones" because of their capabilities, and they are right. That's why we need to split the group.

on_your_six

My Feedback: (11)

I would like to point out that the cap is still on the CA bottle in the picture... You might need to teach him how to glue again.... lol... good looking kid, just bustin you.

Chris P. Bacon

My Feedback: (4)

Although the numbers are important, I'd be more interested in understanding what happened to the ones that no longer exists.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Hundreds less, probably thousands. AMA's fault too no doubt. Why not ask the AMA though?

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

While educating is a great thing, how exactly would that work different than how it is now. Know before you fly, participation in national programs, articles in the paper (USA Today), interviews in the media, testimony before congress etc etc etc. Should they take out some kind of ad in People magazine? Perhaps ads on TV? What would those ads say? It's not the public outcry about a drone or two that's driving this issue, it's big business, and the military. We cannot compete with either of those two groups. I can only imagine the outcry from some members, a minority I might add, if additional monies were spent on a retail style ad campaign. Talk about expensive. Cha Ching

bruceal

This is the point I have been trying to make, not all field locations can support all types of model aviation. As you can see from some of the pictures on our website http://www.hvrcc.com/ we fly over goose crap and swamp. We asked our few FPV people if they would honestly want to be confined to LOS when just across the street is some amazing scenery. Our major concern is full scale heli traffic. We can't afford to have someone out where they don't belong, we don't get a second chance. That is reality. I think that we are going to see some challenges going forward. The genie is out of the bottle and it's not going back in.

bruceal

Our District II AVP came with us to meet with the county sheriff and legislator. Together we were able to soften some of the legislation. And again, because of our good standing in the community they didn't want to affect the clubs. As a matter of fact, each public hearing worked to promote our club and air show. This is why I can't stress how important it is to be involved in the community. The politicians also need to see that there are those that do obey the laws. This works to prevent total over-reach. I think that the AMA has demonstrated this for the past 80 years.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Great job, you have set a fantastic example for other clubs.

astrohog

My Feedback: (1)

There is no such thing as an "AMA sanctioned flying site", only AMA sanctioned clubs.

Astro

ira d

I see a lot of news reports about drones but I wonder if the AMA appeals to the news media to here their side of the story, Also when they hear that a local ordinance is the works that would restrict RC operations do they reach out with info that would set the record straight.

electric fly

My Feedback: (97)

Ditto!
RC flying has been going on since the 1930's!
400 ft. Max. Alt. Is a joke, go to a jet or glider meet.
Yet people are getting shot left and right on the news, and noting is being done about that!
but the gov. Has it's nose all over model planes!