Thanks, littlecrankshaf! There are too many hotheads in and out of the AMA who strike out whenever there is some suggestion of a new federal law or rule that affects their, "rights." Many comments on Web forums and YouTube like, "I don't care what the rules are, I'm gonna fly my model like I want." and "The government is taking away to many our rights and invading our privacy."

Then some of the long time model flyers who think these new RTF quadcopters with stabilization and GPS should be banned from the AMA and local flying sites as they are not "real model aircraft." Well...They are here, by the hundreds of thousands according to the industry and there are going to be hundreds more of them as time goes forward. As many have stated, they are not only here to stay but with even more advanced automation, mission planning, and new avoidance devices.

What we as a model community need to do is to make the public aware of the limitations (regarding snooping) and how we are trying to advance safety among model pilots and especially new operators of these aircraft. Below is a copy of a letter I recently sent to the manager of a small private airport near our (non-AMA sanctioned) flying location to further that goal. Although I said it was 4 miles from their airport, from the end of their runway, to the edge of our area, it's just barely over 3 miles.

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Dear Sir,

I am writing to advise you of radio controlled model aircraft that may fly from [location removed] about 4 miles NE from your airport. Flights normally will occur only in the afternoons.

Any aircraft flown from this location will follow all suggested rules of the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the FAA. In particular stay under 400' AGL and within an area of approximately 1.25 miles (2km) so as not to endanger manned aircraft.

Many of the news reports of "drone" sightings that may be violating the 400' AGL flights have been shown to be false as estimating the height of these small aircraft is very difficult in reality. Most of the model multicopters flying today have live operating telemetry letting the model pilot know all GPS info including speed, altitude, and location. Of course there are idiots out there that do not follow the suggested rules and there are laws on the books to police these violations using various public endangerment laws.

This letter is meant for information purposes only and by following any existing and suggested FAA regulations we are not seeking permission, nor any exemptions to any existing or suggested FAA rules regarding your airport. Rather it just our intention to let any pilots who fly from your airport know that any "sightings" of drones or other small model aircraft that they see in this area are below 400' AGL.

I have held a private pilot's license since 1970, although no longer flying I understand the dangers these model aircraft could possibly be to even small general aviation aircraft and it is in the interest of all model aircraft groups and pilots to spread the word on safe flying so we are not legislated or regulated out of existence.

Sincerely,
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The manager did call and thanked me for the, "heads up" and stated that "small drones" popped up in conversations at all their get togethers. We shouldn't be too surprised when Congress addresses this problem in the next session since those members regularly fly in commercial and private aircraft and many are as worried as the general public. Hopefully, by that time the AMA and individuals will have contacted those representatives explaining our thoughts on the subject so they don't get carried away with ridiculous laws or giving the FAA complete authority to regulate model aircraft.