ORIGINAL: apwachholz
<span style="font-size: larger">Hello All -</span>
As a very avid r/c'er and aviation enthusiast, the
response by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) to the pending rulings of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding sUAS's has me quite concerned for the future of our hobby. The concern does not lie within the response from the AMA, but the
lack of response from our own community of hobbyists.
For me, the reality of the present situation is dire and the very existence of our hobby is threatened, if not by extinction but at least by severe limitations from decisions to be made by the FAA.
Yet the only response I see is from the AMA.
Over the years I have come to learn more, understand, respect, and awe at organizations like the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and how well they have managed a tight bond in representing the General Aviation voice and their rights when it comes to governmental rule-making.
I guess my concern lies within our own community and what seems to be at best a lackluster interest in anything else but our own hobby. As the AMA is assembling a Task Force (of which I have applied) to reassess its direction and to preserve our future as an organization I can't help but wonder the impact of aligning our hobby once again, with its roots of General Aviation.
Isn't General Aviation where our roots are founded?
I feel as if our passion and romance of flight has been lost to the desire of "bigger is better" or "mine is better then yours" attitudes. A respect for everyone as simply a pilot, regardless of skill or aircraft, seems to be lost, whereas in the General Aviation community (via personal experiences at EAA, Oshkosh) regardless of what you fly (even IFyou fly), how often, or how long, the love of flight is what fuels their passion.
Our community seems to be separating, and in some cases dissolving, as we've lost our passion and love for the enjoyment of flight
We need to regather our strength and move forward as a whole to build up our community once again. Support one another and make that support known to the AMA & the FAA by aligning ourselves once again with the industry that made us.
Only then by understanding the 'why' of the potential changes being proposed and showing our support and understanding of both General Aviation
and our hobby can we move forward together.
Thanks everyone.
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Very interesting statement, andwell thought out too Apwa. There are a few, and that is a very few, that explored these DBs to gather a sense of what really could be done from this vantage point. I left a few weeks back when a few PMs were received. There are a few here that have a very good sense of the most likely direction that energies should be focused on. However, if you read through the threads on this subject, you'll find it's more like a scatter plot. My efforts were focused on approaching or attempting an effort at nominating an individual, perhaps an FAA inspector, (much to the chagrin of numerous folks around here I'm sure) familiar with sUAS, General Aviation, EAA, AOPA, and the AMA (a member even), to provide guidance or assistance. Contrary to the general belief, they dothat. Plane Jim has the right focus; it's really about LoS andobserving theseparation requirement from participants in the NAS, controlled or otherwise. Certainly it does not have an influence on each and everymodeler, but as you stated;is the communityfragmented or viewed as awhole?
Personally, I sense that for the most part modelingwillbe fairly well okay as it is. Some exceptions may be where fields are in close proximity to airports or lower level flight activities such as aerobatic boxes or practice areas. Although, until the NPRM is published and open for comment, who really knows. Anyhow, that was and still is pretty much my two cents.
Hook
AMA 63845
SPA 384
former AOPA, EAA, NAFI
N641RM - RV-6 builder/owner
ATP / CFI-MEIA / Sport Pilot CFI
oh yeah,the much malignedASI too</span></p>