Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Urges Swift Action by Congress on FAA Bill

More…

Model airplane crash leads to local lawsuit

Not much in details but the Star Press Article is available…

A major concern with sUAS is what does the FAA consider "Commercial Use".

Here is a comment from a law firm:

" The FAA has consistently defined commercial operation in terms of whether the…

First they ban it because "it has nothing to do with model aviation"

Now its fine if the insurance company will cover it?

From the April AMA EC minutes:

"Outdoor…

The AMA responds to an article in Smithsonian Air and Space Magazine.

Note that the AMA claims it is "The…

Wall Street Journal spotlights high end (and high price) Recreational Aircraft and FAA regulations.

I wonder if this will hurt or help us.…

The FAA has postopned the sUAS NPRM to the end of the year. I am betting this will raise the hackles of both sides of Congress to come down heavy on the FAA in the FAA Reauthorization Act that is currently in conference committee.

Documentation here:…

The AMA insurance liason, Ilona Maine, has identified model aircraft used in manufacturer demos and sponsored pilots to be commercial uses and not covered by AMA insurance.

"You asked if a noon-time flight demo for the purposes of promoting the future sales of a RC product constitutes a "commercial…

Excerpt from "Capitol Hill Brief" from ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association), Apr 25, 2011

"Call to Action: Support One Level of Safety ALPA Pilots Urged to Participate in the Legislative Process



Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Both the House and Senate bills have provisions related to…

I asked my District Website if they would post info about the AMA elections since nominations are due June 16. As an AMA member I thought it was an important issue.

Response from Bob Brown, AMA District VP:

"The following gentleman is…

Haven't seen this posted anywhere yet.

This is the current information and interim guidance on air traffic policies and prescribes procedures for the planning, coordination, and services involving the operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the NAS.

It…

According to Federal "Report on DOT Significant Rulemaking" published April 14, 2011; the proposed SUAS rules were due in the Secretary of Transportation's Office (OST) April 14, 2011. No change…

The US Senate has named their members for the conference committe for the joint FAA Reauthorization…

In an announcemnet today Rich Hanson, AMA Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs Representative said:

"an agreement on the proposed language was a little more difficult to achieve in the House than in the Senate, and we were unable to settle on the exact…

The House and Senate now have to reconcile the two bills into one (S.223 & H.R. 658), pass it and convince the US President to sign it into law.…

H.R. 658 FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011

No amendments regarding sUAS exmptions

 …

UAS are over 150 years old!

Saw this siteand this one, made me wonder why it took 150 years…

Came across this from an FAA pilot exam training program:

"Question:…

Recreationalflyers.org

Thanks to Bill AKA I Love Robotics, the National Recreation Flyers has its own domain name!

Recreationalflyers.org

My vote goes to Bill as…