From my senator
 

Got this e-mail today from our Michigan Senatoer Debbie Stabenow.

Dear Thomas,



Thank you for contacting me about exempting model aircraft from regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration. I share your support for protecting model airplane enthusiasts from unnecessary regulations.



I am pleased to let you know that the final FAA bill excludes model airplanes from new FAA regulations. I supported this provision, which passed the Senate unanimously. I also supported the FAA bill, which will modernize our aircraft control system, create jobs, and protect consumers. This bill passed the Senate by an extremely bipartisan vote of 87-8. I will continue to monitor this bill as it moves through the legislative process, and will keep your views in mind.



Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.



Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator

RE: From my senator
 

Now THAT's GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: From my senator
 

I received the same letter. I hope she is just not referring to the Senate bill.
John

RE: From my senator
 

I cant think of any other toy airplane senate activity that passed unanimously recently
" I supported this provision, which passed the Senate unanimously."

RE: From my senator
 

Debbie sent me the same love letter.

Here is my note from Carl, received yesterday:

<div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"> Thank you for contacting me regarding model aviation. I appreciate hearing your views on this matter.</span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"></span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"> The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System (NAS). Aircraft used within the NAS must not endanger others operating within the NAS, nor persons or property on the ground. According to the FAA, unmanned aerial vehicles, including model aircraft, have to operate under certain safety parameters regardless of whether or not the vehicle is used solely for recreational purposes within the NAS. Currently, the FAA is in the process of establishing new procedures and policies governing the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. If you would like more information about unmanned aerial vehicles, including model aircraft, I encourage you to contact the FAA at [http://www.faa.gov/contact/].</span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"></span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"> Additionally, on February 17, 2011, the Senate passed the FAA Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act (S.223). This legislation included an amendment that would restrict the promulgation of rules or regulations regarding model aircraft if the aircraft is flown strictly for recreational, sport, competition, or academic purposes. </span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"></span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"> Should additional legislation relating to model aircraft come before the full Senate, I will certainly keep your views in mind. Thank you again for writing.</span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;"></span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;">Sincerely,</span></div><div class="ecxpar_9E25AB688952A73F8525786F0078500B_2"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; vertical-align: bottom; text-decoration: none; color: black;">Carl Levin

Idon't really expect anything spectacular. Ihave been in regular contact with my representative.....oh well, we're supposed to stop now, right? Here's a picture of me and Carl (well, just my hand holding an adult beverage) at a Michigan tailgate a few years ago.


</span></div>

RE: From my senator
 

Did the AMA pay the politicians off enough to be sure it doesn't get pulled?  Lots of money paid to them by others and the AMA isn't listed.

http://www.opencongress.org/bill/112-s223/money

RE: From my senator
 

A protion of email I received from Senator Feinstein:

This amendment was agreed to by unanimous consent in the Senate, and S. 223 was passed on February 17, 2011. A similar bill was passed by the House of Representatives, but it did not include the model aircraft provision. The two bills must be reconciled in conference before the President can sign in into law. I appreciate hearing your support for model aviation, and I will be sure to keep your comments in mind as Congress considers the FAA reauthorization.

No need for AMA to toot their horn yet. We're not out of the woods on this one although the majority vote in the Senate may positively influence some in the House.

RE: From my senator
 

After all this passes, things will be as they always have been. There are no regulations coming against toy airplanes, and I seriously doubt there would be, even if the bill didn't have that provision passed by the senate. Even with the amendment, all the FAA is going to do is laugh at it, because we were never a target in the first place.

RE: From my senator
 

That is a strong possibility with the FAA committee in place now. However you may have missed some of the early history that led to the AMA's, and other segments of the aviation community, lobbying efforts.

The first committee wanted to include all types of aviation including models. A giant power grab at best. Cooler heads prevailed in the FAA due to the first committee stepping on a lot of aviation toes so some, or all, members were replaced with the current group which are much more acceptance to suggestions and input.

Sure, FAA may laugh at the legislation if included but it will insure the power grabbers within the FAA, and the current administration, can't sneak it back in somewhere.

RE: From my senator
 

The problem is, that no one yet knows what the defination of modeal aviaiton is !!!!! The devil is always in the details !!!!



Got this e-mail today from our Michigan Senatoer Debbie Stabenow.

Dear Thomas,



Thank you for contacting me about exempting model aircraft from regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration. I share your support for protecting model airplane enthusiasts from unnecessary regulations.



I am pleased to let you know that the final FAA bill excludes model airplanes from new FAA regulations. I supported this provision, which passed the Senate unanimously. I also supported the FAA bill, which will modernize our aircraft control system, create jobs, and protect consumers. This bill passed the Senate by an extremely bipartisan vote of 87-8. I will continue to monitor this bill as it moves through the legislative process, and will keep your views in mind.



Thank you again for contacting me. Please continue to keep me informed about issues of concern to you and your family.



Sincerely,

Debbie Stabenow

United States Senator

RE: From my senator
 

Looks promising.

RE: From my senator
 

uh, and just where is that 'final faa bill'?
s223?
h658?
some new bill we can get on THOMAS?

FIJR,
could you contact Sen Stabenow and ask for the actual bill ID
so we can get the actual text from thomas.loc.gov, like we got the texts of s223 and h658

Cause we have seen many elected folks say models will be protected
when the actual text said some of the models will be protected while others models wouldnt (conditional protection)