ORIGINAL: Tarasdad



For those who say that nothing would happen to our shared hobby if the AMA didn't exist, that the FAA ''doesn't care'' about us, well, you're sadly mistaken. Right now the AMA is closely involved with the FAA committee that is developing the rules for the use of SUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems) in US airspace - and you better believe that our model aircraft most assuredly DO fall under the SUAS definition. The AMA is coordinating with the FAA to see that these new regulations have as little impact as possible on our hobby. Without such representation it could easily be that you would be unable to fly RC or other model aircraft without the proper FAA licensing - or at all. If the FAA ''didn't care'' about our hobby, why then are we specifically included in NOTAMs, and why do we have specific altitude limits in place for flying near airports? Those two alone tell me the FAA is VERY much aware of our activities and DOES ''care about'' our hobby. And not always in a good way. Folks, the AMA is the ONLY group that represents aeromodeling on a national level. Without it there would BE no representation and we would have no say in whatever the government decided to do.