Dated: 2/6/12
Over the past year or so, there has been many discussions, on the web and in our clubs, on the new ruling coming from the NPRM - FAA. The text I posted below is from the Law Makers and this bill is on it's way to the house to get approved, which can be as early as next week.
Read it for yourself, as it looks like we will be flying as we always have been. The nationwide community based organization they speak of, is of course our AMA.
SEC. 336. SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.
11 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi
sion of law relating to the incorporation of unmanned air
craft systems into Federal Aviation Administration plans
and policies, including this subtitle, the Administrator of
the Federal Aviation Administration may not promulgate
any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft, or an
aircraft being developed as a model aircraft, if-
(1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or
recreational use;
(2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with
a community-based set of safety guidelines and with
in the programming of a nationwide community
based organization;
(3) the aircraft is limited to not more than 55
pounds unless otherwise certified through a design,
Econstruction, inspection, flight test, and operational
safety program administered by a community-based organization;
(4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that
does not interfere with and gives way to any manned
aircraft; and
(5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the
operator of the aircraft provides the airport operator
and the airport air traffic control tower (when an air
traffic facility is located at the airport) with prior
notice of the operation (model aircraft operators fly
ing from a permanent location within 5 miles of an
airport should establish a mutually-agreed upon op
erating procedure with the airport operator and the
airport air traffic control tower (when an air traffic
facility is located at the airport).
(b) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this
section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Ad
ministrator to pursue enforcement action against persons
operating model aircraft who endanger the safety of the
national airspace system.
(c) MODEL AIRCRAFT DEFINED.—In this section, the
term ‘‘model aircraft’’ means an unmanned aircraft that
is—
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(1) capable of sustained flight in the atmos2
phere;
(2) flown within visual line of sight of the per4
son operating the aircraft; and
(3) flown for hobby or recreational purposes.
.
