RE: Does
Silent,
unfortunately, I still maintain my personal views and desires
as to interpreting the deal the way BP views it.
... but I do recognize and accept that the most recent FAA text (policy11) now very clearly does point to what you have been saying.
I may want them to have said something else, I believe they ought to have said something else, but they didnt.
In the past, the argument was that since AC9157 was not a mandate/enforceable
that folks can exceed the very clear limits recommended in the AC- that NO regs apply to models,
which had the unintended consequence of allowing folks to do ANYTHING they want under then banner of Hobby
... I used to use the example of doing all kinds of forbidden activities and getting it excused/allowed
by just writing Recreational Model on the side of the craft with a marker.
Now, we can very clearly read in Policy11 that the case is just that- SHOULD follow AC9157, not Must Comply.
So, folks can now confidently say there is no Fed mandated limit on SoaringAlt/FPV/Armed/Autonomous/400lb hobby crafts,
because the only rules that apply to models is the AC, and the AC has no mandates in it and declares itself Voluntary.