The ama is toothless
 

Some random lawyer is challenging the FAA ruling.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngogl...tration-rules/

It still floors me that the AMA jumped into bed with the drone people, it is an obvious shameless money grab that is jeopardizing the future of our hobby. Shame on you AMA.

The AMA also has a lawsuit against the FAA WRT their "interim rule" vs. the section 336 prohibition. They have stated that they are working to get that lawsuit answered as soon as possible...

Bob

Maybe I am wrong, but I feel that the AMA is hoping to make these non-modelers, non RC flyers (read drone operators) a part of the AMA by increasing the membership roles and rake in more membership dollars.

And using our membership fees as the piggy bank for their efforts.

If that is true, they are more out of touch than I thought. These people are not going to join the AMA. "I'm gonna fly at sanctioned AMA fields." said no online drone buyer ever….

Look at the magazine, its seems like more than half the ads are for quads. It has definitely caused an explosion of growth in the "hobby." I just think its a different type of hobby and should have its own governing organization… of which nobody would follow either.

Unfortunately, I think these things do need to be regulated by the FAA. The regs for our line of sight models have been working fine, leave them alone.

After working in hobby shops for years, I could see where this was going. The FIRST question was how far out can I fly these and film with them? People were starting to use UHF systems and bragging about how many miles away they could go.

Drone users were NEVER interested in rules OR safety. I can honestly say that the AMA has lost it's way and was trying to be PC on this. They totally dropped the ball on this and the really sad part is.......they won't accept what they have done OR admit that they have made a HUGE mistake!

Exactly. And this is because the only real fun people have with these "drones/quads" is for the platform in which a camera can be mounted. The most pleasure these people get from flying a "drone/quad" with a camera attached is during playback of the video they shot while flying where they are not supposed to be, over houses, buildings, people, landmarks, highways, etc. You ever seen a drone/quad operator make a big deal about recording video showing flight over a r/c field? Of course not. That wouldn't be any fun. No, it's more fun to watch video tape of flying over areas like houses, buildings, people, landmarks, highways, etc.

Now the beginner/newbie drone/quad guy will get a lot a pleasure out of flying at a designated r/c flying field, but only until the thrill of "flying" the drone/quad wears off. After the "honeymoon", they'll be ready for the real fun stuff. The stuff that got this situation started in the very first place.

Saw this whole thing coming, you guys are right on!

Just in case you missed this.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/...co-plane-drone

I really wonder if the average model club could purchase private insurance if members could pitch the same $70/yrs they pitch to AMA......then "F" the AMA.

That may be a new deliverable, but that's not a new concept. People have been outfitting various forms of r/c items with such electronics/equipment. The question is will it be flown in accordance with FAA / AMA rules and regulations?

I posted Bob Violet's letter to AMA when he published it. AMA could listen to majority of the membership (actual modelers) then and be effective in dealing with FAA and the entire issue. But, they chose otherwise. this is not the first time a corporation chases virtual income at a larger cost. I truly believe that the modelers will survive but I don't think AMA will be viewed the same by all in the same manner that they were viewed in the past.

This is just like a politician enacting laws that nobody wants that…. If the AMA membership was asked to vote on whether or not it should have anything to do with "drones", I'm sure it would be an overwhelming no.

Anyone remember ....Sport Flyers Assoc.? It was a response to the AMA back in the 90's. Maybe it's time to go down a different road with this.....It's very plain the AMA is doing no one any good here! I want my dues spent well....NOT..... on feeding more government policies!

Wonder if they would reduce dues if someone opted out on the "Drone" magazine they send out monthly? Really not a lot of interest there anymore.

Anyone else think it's rather funny that a multirotor flier is initiating this? Ironic or do the multirotor guys have to take the stand since "they" started this mess?!

….

Many are getting free memberships from WalMart, Best Buy, Amazon, etc. Paid for by the store. A few will stay, but even the first year cash will help pay for the lawsuit.

so is that why membership went up for us paying customers?

No the membership is paid by the stores.

Because their lawyers are smart enough to see that its cheap insurance against future lawsuits when the drone knocks down the news helicopter….. this blows.

Sort of like the same as when a store says they'll pay the sales tax. So is the store paying for the drone registration through the FAA or the AMA membership? Is the store providing the actual buyer's information or the store's information when registering with the FAA and/or paying for the AMA membership?

I am not aware ot the stores offering free FAA registration. The discussion was AMA membership. And I am no AMA official so if you want ALL the details I suggest you contact them.

Wow, if they are paying for the AMA membership, that's pretty good. Cause that's a lot more then compared to the $5.00 for three years / free if done before February 2016 FAA registration cost. Either way, I thought in order to be AMA and registered with the FAA, personal information on who will be flying the "drone" has to be provided.

AMA membership does not require FAA registration. Nor even that you have a model. I haven't flown for years and am a member.

Again........what does flying drones in the middle of the city have to do with us flying models at a model club? What a clusterΦuck!