AMA Update to FAA Registration

AMA Update to FAA Registration

Hold Off On Registering Model Aircraft

On Wednesday, December 16 the AMA Executive Council unanimously approved an action plan to relieve and further protect our members from unnecessary and burdensome regulations. This plan addresses the recently announced interim rule requiring federal registration of all model aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) weighing between 0.55 and 55 pounds.

AMA has long used a similar registration system with our members, which we pointed out during the task force deliberations and in private conversations with the FAA. As you are aware, AMA’s safety program instructs all members to place his or her AMA number or name and address on or within their model aircraft, effectively accomplishing the safety and accountability objectives of the interim rule. AMA has also argued that the new registration rule runs counter to Congress’ intent in Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, otherwise known as the “Special Rule for Model Aircraft.”

The Council is considering all legal and political remedies to address this issue. We believe that resolution to the unnecessary federal registration rule for our members rests with AMA’s petition before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. This petition, filed in August 2014, asks the court to review the FAA’s interpretation of the “Special Rule for Model Aircraft.” The central issue is whether the FAA has the authority to expand the definition of aircraft to include model aircraft; thus, allowing the agency to establish new standards and operating criteria to which model aircraft operators have never been subject to in the past.

In promulgating its interim rule for registration earlier this week, the FAA repeatedly stated that model aircraft are aircraft, despite the fact that litigation is pending on this very question. The Council believes the FAA’s reliance on its interpretation of Section 336 for legal authority to compel our members to register warrants the Court’s immediate attention to AMA’s petition.

While we continue to believe that registration makes sense at some threshold and for flyers operating outside of a community-based organization or flying for commercial purposes, we also strongly believe our members are not the problem and should not have to bear the burden of additional regulations. Safety has been the cornerstone of our organization for 80 years and AMA’s members strive to be a part of the solution.

As we proceed with this process, we suggest AMA members hold off on registering their model aircraft with the FAA until advised by the AMA or until February 19, the FAA’s legal deadline for registering existing model aircraft.

Holding off on registration will allow AMA time to fully consider all possible options. On a parallel track, it also allows AMA to complete ongoing conversations with the FAA about how best to streamline the registration process for our members.

In the near future, we will also be asking our members to make their voices heard by submitting comments to the FAA’s interim rule on registration. We will follow-up soon with more detailed information on how to do this.

Thank you for your continued support of AMA. We will provide you with more updates as they become available.

Kind regards,
The AMA Executive Council
Bob Brown, AMA President
Gary Fitch, AMA Executive Vice President
Andy Argenio, AMA Vice President, District I
Eric Williams, AMA Vice President, District II
Mark Radcliff, AMA Vice President, District III
Jay Marsh, AMA Vice President, District IV
Kris Dixon, AMA Vice President, District V
Randy Cameron, AMA Vice President, District VI
Tim Jesky, AMA Vice President, District VII
Mark Johnston, AMA Vice President, District VIII
Jim Tiller, AMA Vice President, District IX
Lawrence Tougas, AMA Vice President, District X
Chuck Bower, AMA Vice President, District XI

Updated: December 18, 2015 — 9:32 AM

5 Comments

  1. Why it is necessary for AMA pilots to register with FAA can on be due to the skyrocketing drone usage of which in excess of 90% of the owners of these RC controlled crafts are not registered with anyone.

    This is in effect targeting people who comply with federal regulation and having to further identify themselves due to the latest harrassment of commercial aviation and lazer targeting.

    99% percent of the AMA pilots would not be involved in any such activity.

    How about passing regulation making manufacturers provide serial numbers and requiring everyone buying drones or lazers to register their crafts at the time of purchase by the retailer with FAA before the sale can be completed and receiving these items.

  2. There is no amount of regulation by the FAA that will stop the abuses with drones. And there is no mechanism in place to promote registration. This will target only the honest pilots. And as per capt12pm comments, the percentage is high with AMA pilots not involved in any illegal activities. The main problem I believe is that the manufacturers are making these quads and drones too easy to fly. No learning curve is required. And now on TV, they are being advertised as “spy drones”. Cost……..$59.95. Point of sale is the only way to have the registration take place. And very doubtful that will happen.

  3. I have not been for the last ten years, but will be getting back to it soon.
    We are also different in that we do not use imaging to enhance our flight abilities.
    Anyone that does probably should register with FAA.

    Thanks, Tim Beiner

  4. I will join the ama when they stop the govt. regulation on rc planes. I believe you must know when and where to fly rc planes.AMA should train or teach the rules NOT REGULATIONS

  5. This is total BS. IM getting tired of this government taking rights away from us. I have been flying RC planes and only planes for 46 years. Im gona burn all my rc stuff. Maybe if FU–ING FAA would of inforced the national Clark law 911 would not of happened.

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