This is the section af the FAA proposed rules (ARC) that the AMA wants removed

From the released ARC document:

The AMA recommends removing section 3 in its entirety, leaving only the CBO (AMA) rules.

Note that FPV and atonomous systems are fully acceptable within LOS. The AMA prohibits all autonomous and FPV is allowed only with a budy box. "not operated in accordance with accepted standards" means nonAMA members.

"3. Model Aircraft Not Operated in Accordance with Accepted Set of Standards

3.1 Applicability
The following general requirements and limitations apply to Model Aircraft which are not perated in accordance with an FAA accepted set of standards, but are operated by hobbyists for the sole purpose of sport, recreation, and/or competition.

3.2 General Requirements
(1) Model Aircraft shall be flown in open spaces and in a manner that does not endanger the life and property of others.
(2) Model Aircraft shall yield the right of way to all manned aircraft.
(3) Model Aircraft shall not interfere with operations and traffic patterns at airports,heliports, and seaplane bases.
(4) Model Aircraft shall not be operated at locations where Model Aircraft activities are prohibited.
(5) Model Aircraft are limited to unaided visual line-of-sight operations. The Model Aircraft pilot must be able to see the aircraft throughout the entire flight well enough to maintain control, know its location, and watch the airspace it is operating in for other air traffic. Unaided visual line-of-sight does not preclude the use of prescribed corrective lenses.
(6) Model Aircraft shall be designed, equipped, maintained and/or operated in a manner in which the aircraft remains within the intended area of flight during all operations.
(7) Model Aircraft pilots may not intentionally drop any object from a Model Aircraft that creates a hazard to persons or property.
(8) Model Aircraft shall be operated in a manner that respects property rights and avoids the direct overflight of individuals, vessels, vehicles, or structures.
(9) Model Aircraft shall not be operated in a careless or reckless manner.
(10) Model Aircraft pilots shall not operate their aircraft while under the influence of alcohol or while using any drug that affects the person’s faculties in any way contrary to safety.
(11) Model fixed-wing and rotorcraft aircraft shall not use metal-blade propellers.
(12) Model Aircraft shall not use gaseous boosts.
(13) Model Aircraft shall not use fuels containing tetranitronmethane or hydrazine.
(14) Model Aircraft shall not use turbine-powered engines (e.g., turbo-fan, turbo-jet) as a propulsion source.

3.3 General Limitations
(1) Model Aircraft shall not exceed 55 pounds (lbs).
(2) Model Aircraft shall remain clear of clouds.
(3) Model Aircraft will not operate in Class B airspace without the permission of the ATC authority.
(4) Model Aircraft shall not be operated within 3 NM miles of an airport, heliport, or seaplane base without the permission of the ATC authority or airport manager.
(5) Model Aircraft shall operate in close proximity to the ground, at or below 400 feet (ALG) above ground level, and shall at all times remain below and well clear of all manned aircraft.
(6) Notwithstanding the above limitations, Model Aircraft weighing less than or equal to two lbs incapable of reaching speeds greater than 60 miles per hour (mph)
(52 knots), and powered by electric motor or mechanical stored energy (e.g.,rubber-band powered) may operate within 3 NM of a military or public-use airport or heliport; if they remain a safe distance from the airport or heliport, remain well clear of all manned aircraft, and remain below 400' AGL.
(7) Model Aircraft will not be flown at an airspeed that would cause the aircraft to
inadvertently leave the prescribed maneuvering area. !
(8) Model Aircraft cannot launch pyrotechnic devices which explode or burn.
(9) Excluding take-off and landing, no powered Model Aircraft may be flown closer than 25 feet to any individual, except for the pilot and the pilots helper located at the flight line.

Good point Greg!

Here is an example of the request for public comment section from a released NPRM.

Comments should be substantiated, well documented, have sound reasoning and above all professional.

I already have several draft copies to be edited based on the content of the NPRM. You will only have 30 days from the date of release to comment so be prepared as much as possible. I am prepared to argue that the original ARC proposal allowed recreational use of autonomous systems and FPV. Using the FAA's own recommendations goes a long way to getting it back if dropped!

Note that dates, docket numbers, exact wording and conditions vary from NPRM to NPRM:

"DATES: Send your comments on or before XXX X, 201X.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by Docket Number FAA-201X-
XXXX using any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and
follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
    Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Hand Delivery: Bring comments to Docket Operations in Room
W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays."

"SUMMARY: This advance notice of proposed rulemaking requests public
comment on possible changes to regulations relating to the
certification of pilots conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental
operations. The purpose of this notice is to gather information on
whether current eligibility, training, and qualification requirements
for commercial pilot certification are adequate for engaging in such
operations. The FAA may use this information to determine the necessity
of establishing additional pilot certification requirements and to
determine what those new requirements might include."

"The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also
invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or
federalism impacts that might result from adopting the initiatives in
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific question
number, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include
supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate
comments, please send only one copy of written comments, or if you are
filing comments electronically, please submit your comments only one
time.
We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this initiative,
we will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date
for comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period
has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or
delay. We may change this initiative in light of the comments we
receive."

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Comments

Moderator

Gary Mortimer January 13, 2011 at 2:09am

I will second that Ritchie, we are lucky that the BMFA and the CAA are run by forward thinking people.
Ritchie January 13, 2011 at 12:25am

I'm so glad I live in England. The AMA sound like they are being run by petty jealous 7 year olds who only know one way of getting their point viewed and thats to scream and shout about it. I sincerely hope the FAA looks upon their ideas as such or in fact forces them to state they are only for controlled hobbyists so that a niche association can be formed to help anyone who wants to enjoy their model in any way they see fit to spend their money on.
Duane Brocious January 12, 2011 at 7:56pm

Good point Greg!

Here is an example of the request for public comment section from a released NPRM.

Comments should be substantiated, well documented, have sound reasoning and above all professional.

I already have several draft copies to be edited based on the content of the NPRM. You will only have 30 days from the date of release to comment so be prepared as much as possible. I am prepared to argue that the original ARC proposal allowed recreational use of autonomous systems and FPV. Using the FAA's own recommendations goes a long way to getting it back if dropped!

Note that dates, docket numbers, exact wording and conditions vary from NPRM to NPRM:

"DATES: Send your comments on or before XXX X, 201X.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments identified by Docket Number FAA-201X-
XXXX using any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and
follow the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
    Mail: Send comments to Docket Operations, M-30, U.S.
Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.
    Fax: Fax comments to Docket Operations at 202-493-2251.
    Hand Delivery: Bring comments to Docket Operations in Room
W12-140 of the West Building Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey Avenue,
SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays."

"SUMMARY: This advance notice of proposed rulemaking requests public
comment on possible changes to regulations relating to the
certification of pilots conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental
operations. The purpose of this notice is to gather information on
whether current eligibility, training, and qualification requirements
for commercial pilot certification are adequate for engaging in such
operations. The FAA may use this information to determine the necessity
of establishing additional pilot certification requirements and to
determine what those new requirements might include."

"The FAA invites interested persons to participate in this
rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also
invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or
federalism impacts that might result from adopting the initiatives in
this document. The most helpful comments reference a specific question
number, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include
supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain duplicate
comments, please send only one copy of written comments, or if you are
filing comments electronically, please submit your comments only one
time.
    We will file in the docket all comments we receive, as well as a
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this initiative,
we will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date
for comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period
has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or
delay. We may change this initiative in light of the comments we
receive."
Greg Fletcher January 12, 2011 at 7:39pm

Just couse the AMA want's it doesn't mean they will get it. The FAA wants to remain in charge and will. You need to chill and wait for the NPR to come out. Until then we don't know what it will be. Then we flood the FAA with our well reasoned comments. Maybe you should find out the proper procedure for this process and post it here.
Duane Brocious January 12, 2011 at 6:36pm

Unless you join the AMA, then you will have a non-elected body of amateurs with no oversight telling you what to do. Like I said, the FAA was going to allow autonomous and FPV before the AMA got invlved!

Out of the fryng pan and into the fire.
KKUSA January 12, 2011 at 6:21pm

but every modeler in the country losing a freedom

Precisely!! Boycott the AMA!!!
Duane Brocious January 12, 2011 at 3:17pm

Thought I qould pass this on from another flier:

"AMA restricts autonomous flight by the threat of voiding insurance coverage if you do it. That threat is the only stick AMA has to enforce its rules, and btw it was AMA prexy Dave Brown that asked the insurance company to remove coverage for autonomous flight, not something to be passed off by inference it was initiated by the insurer. If FAA accepts AMA standards, then the restriction is most certainly not just a matter of an AMA member losing insurance coverage, but every modeler in the country losing a freedom."

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