ORIGINAL: joebahl
I think FAA has full size aircraft at 400 ft and above and rc at 300 and lower but i think its a close guess. joe
I'm pretty sure (tho just from recall with due allowance for aging) the full scale aircraft should have been at a minimum of 1000' AGL. If so, the FPV pilot was applying common sense by allowing for a separation 300' and so being more conservative than FAA requires, a minimum separation between models and full-scale of 100' in the general case (not over areas that show signs of human activity). IOW min altitude for full scale is 500' and max for models 400' AGL.
FAA says models should not fly above 400' anywhere. AMA says they should be allowed to fly above 400' but does not say how much higher. It may be stated in AMA safety rules submitted to FAA last October, but we hoi polloi members are not privy to that. Reason for that stated here, an excerpt from minutes of AMA EC meeting Jan '03:
• Mathewson passed around a document that was put together by HQ staff. At the beginning of the year AMA presented its support materials in request for the FAA to recognize AMA as a Community Based Organization (CBO). That included the safety program that Council saw at the October 2012 meeting and another book that was an effort of R. Hanson’s team and the AMA Staff. Putting this book together turned into a 2-week project and Mathewson recognized Chris Savage for his working nights and weekends, including Christmas Eve and Christmas, so AMA could have the book to the FAA before the end of the year (2012). Once the book is finalized each Council member will receive a copy
• The ED commented on the membership numbers year-to-date; compared to last year we are down .8% in overall membership 2013 compared to 2012 YTD. HQ discovered an anomaly in District II that was believed to be a result of Super Storm Sandy. In comparison to national numbers (Open down .8%; Sr. Citizen up 1-2%), District II Open members were down 13%; Sr. Citizen down 1-2%. The ED and District II VP will investigate opportunities to reach out to those members
• The ED requested feedback on copyrighting AMA material. A ballpark cost for copyrighting the two books (safety program and support material book presented to FAA) would be less than $500 each. Making minor changes to the copyrighted books would not require application for a new copyright. It was suggested that AMA copyright all of its’ PDF documents; these do not have to be ‘registered copyright’ but could contain a statement that AMA created the document and is the owner. The two books are now out of AMA’s control and it is important to get them copyrighted so other organizations can’t purport them as their own
MOTION I: Moved by E. Williams (II) and seconded by M. Radcliff (III) all documents in the CBO proposal will be registered for copyright. All other publically available AMA documents will be evaluated for the purpose of application of non-registered copyright.
MOTION passed unanimously
So, AMA Safety guidance is proprietary intellectual property and they can't tell us members what it is for fear of leaks to great unwashed.
The (presumed) non-AMA FPV flyer used common sense and came up a plan that would allow him to operate safely. The guy that needs AMA rules because he lacks common sense, and the rule makers seem to presume that is the norm, well............what can I say?.