Is AMA cozying up to commercial interests?
03-18-2016, 03:28 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Is AMA cozying up to commercial interests?
Here's an excerpt from RH interview in GovTech (link below). Note the absence of any mention of hobby flier interests or concerns.
"From the perspective of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the idea of a unified set of federal rules would simplify drone ownership and usage across the U.S., but would ideally be made up of a blend of federal and local rules.
Richard Hanson, the academy’s government and regulatory affairs representative, said the emergence of unmanned systems is behind the 'collision' with more traditional aviation governance models. He said the FAA’s emphasis on passenger travel and commerce is having to adjust to fit new trends in the space.
'Now we are getting into this realm of one, unmanned aircraft and two, aircrafts that have different functionalities and different task purposes for being in the airspace,' Hanson said. 'Then we’re also looking at much lower altitude airspace than we traditionally looked at with the transport, commerce type of activity though there certainly is blending and overlap in both.'
As for the conversation around navigable and non-navigable airspace, Hanson believes the courts may have to get involved to definitively decide where the line of demarcation stands. 'The challenge is to integrate this new emerging activity and technology into the existing manned aircraft space,' he said. 'That’s what they’ve been working out since 2008 is new regulations ... [to] authorize this new activity to take place'
When it comes to how he sees large companies playing into the space, Hanson said it would be difficult to see a situation in which the national standards were not put in place. 'In the broader sense, when you start looking at interstate commerce in the future for Google and Amazon, it’s almost a necessity that you have national standards to go by,' he said."
http://www.govtech.com/transportatio...ne-Zoning.html
"From the perspective of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the idea of a unified set of federal rules would simplify drone ownership and usage across the U.S., but would ideally be made up of a blend of federal and local rules.
Richard Hanson, the academy’s government and regulatory affairs representative, said the emergence of unmanned systems is behind the 'collision' with more traditional aviation governance models. He said the FAA’s emphasis on passenger travel and commerce is having to adjust to fit new trends in the space.
'Now we are getting into this realm of one, unmanned aircraft and two, aircrafts that have different functionalities and different task purposes for being in the airspace,' Hanson said. 'Then we’re also looking at much lower altitude airspace than we traditionally looked at with the transport, commerce type of activity though there certainly is blending and overlap in both.'
As for the conversation around navigable and non-navigable airspace, Hanson believes the courts may have to get involved to definitively decide where the line of demarcation stands. 'The challenge is to integrate this new emerging activity and technology into the existing manned aircraft space,' he said. 'That’s what they’ve been working out since 2008 is new regulations ... [to] authorize this new activity to take place'
When it comes to how he sees large companies playing into the space, Hanson said it would be difficult to see a situation in which the national standards were not put in place. 'In the broader sense, when you start looking at interstate commerce in the future for Google and Amazon, it’s almost a necessity that you have national standards to go by,' he said."
http://www.govtech.com/transportatio...ne-Zoning.html
03-18-2016, 05:01 PM
#2
I think the AMA won't have much of a choice but to cater to commercial interests, if it wants to survive. The unfortunate truth is, revenue is not generated through model aviation as it is with commercial activities. The AMA will have to go where the money is, if there is not enough funding from hobbyists.
03-19-2016, 01:37 PM
#3
Banned
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Here's an excerpt from RH interview in GovTech (link below). Note the absence of any mention of hobby flier interests or concerns.
"From the perspective of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the idea of a unified set of federal rules would simplify drone ownership and usage across the U.S., but would ideally be made up of a blend of federal and local rules.
Richard Hanson, the academy’s government and regulatory affairs representative, said the emergence of unmanned systems is behind the 'collision' with more traditional aviation governance models. He said the FAA’s emphasis on passenger travel and commerce is having to adjust to fit new trends in the space.
'Now we are getting into this realm of one, unmanned aircraft and two, aircrafts that have different functionalities and different task purposes for being in the airspace,' Hanson said. 'Then we’re also looking at much lower altitude airspace than we traditionally looked at with the transport, commerce type of activity though there certainly is blending and overlap in both.'
As for the conversation around navigable and non-navigable airspace, Hanson believes the courts may have to get involved to definitively decide where the line of demarcation stands. 'The challenge is to integrate this new emerging activity and technology into the existing manned aircraft space,' he said. 'That’s what they’ve been working out since 2008 is new regulations ... [to] authorize this new activity to take place'
When it comes to how he sees large companies playing into the space, Hanson said it would be difficult to see a situation in which the national standards were not put in place. 'In the broader sense, when you start looking at interstate commerce in the future for Google and Amazon, it’s almost a necessity that you have national standards to go by,' he said."
http://www.govtech.com/transportatio...ne-Zoning.html
"From the perspective of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the idea of a unified set of federal rules would simplify drone ownership and usage across the U.S., but would ideally be made up of a blend of federal and local rules.
Richard Hanson, the academy’s government and regulatory affairs representative, said the emergence of unmanned systems is behind the 'collision' with more traditional aviation governance models. He said the FAA’s emphasis on passenger travel and commerce is having to adjust to fit new trends in the space.
'Now we are getting into this realm of one, unmanned aircraft and two, aircrafts that have different functionalities and different task purposes for being in the airspace,' Hanson said. 'Then we’re also looking at much lower altitude airspace than we traditionally looked at with the transport, commerce type of activity though there certainly is blending and overlap in both.'
As for the conversation around navigable and non-navigable airspace, Hanson believes the courts may have to get involved to definitively decide where the line of demarcation stands. 'The challenge is to integrate this new emerging activity and technology into the existing manned aircraft space,' he said. 'That’s what they’ve been working out since 2008 is new regulations ... [to] authorize this new activity to take place'
When it comes to how he sees large companies playing into the space, Hanson said it would be difficult to see a situation in which the national standards were not put in place. 'In the broader sense, when you start looking at interstate commerce in the future for Google and Amazon, it’s almost a necessity that you have national standards to go by,' he said."
http://www.govtech.com/transportatio...ne-Zoning.html
I think the AMA won't have much of a choice but to cater to commercial interests, if it wants to survive. The unfortunate truth is, revenue is not generated through model aviation as it is with commercial activities. The AMA will have to go where the money is, if there is not enough funding from hobbyists.
03-20-2016, 07:46 AM
#4
Always love your biased spin on anything AMA related. How ominous, Hanson isn't taking about the hobby for one second. Ya, he's being interviewed by a site called GovTech, I'm sure they need interviewing him about the latest foamy from Hobby King, lol. Actually he is saying what I've been saying for a long time, something the "traditional" modelers want to ignore because they need something to blame...the involvement of commercial applications of drones is what brought the FAA into this whole situation.
Originally Posted by porcia83
Let's see, they've managed pretty well for 80 plus years without the need to "cater" to any group other than hobbyists. Notwithstanding the huuuuge predicted (by some) decline in membership (from "traditional modelers" no doubt), the AMA won't need to begin catering to commercial interests.
Nowhere does it say that the AMA needs to survive and grow at any cost (i.e. including a group of members that bring completely new and unique needs to the table).
Regards,
Astro
03-21-2016, 04:01 AM
#5
IMO the Amazon proposal to take the space from 200 feet to 400 feet s unworkable, not just for our hobby, which it is, but for all landowners. Per Causby the airspace above the owners home is his and that the government can take the airspace for airports, etc. He made the government pay for that, but I believe it is rare to do so today. Amazon's proposal would basically mean the government would have to pay all landowners for that space. But even if it did many people would be unhappy with drones buzzing over at just 200 to 400 feet above their homes. They should either be restricted to navigable airspace or fly directly over roads and public property.
