FOLKS PLEASE SEE BELOW!!!!!!
DON

Gentlemen - I am not certain how aware everyone of of the pending FAA
rules that will govern what they call small Unmanned Aerial Systems
(sUAS) and how they will affect the RC hobby. The FAA came to the last
AMA EC meeting and briefed the EC on the status of the FAA rules process
and where the FAA thinking is headed regarding RC. This link takes you
to a page that has the minutes of that meeting:

http://www.modelaircraft.org/membership/organization/ec/0110ecminutes.aspx

There are two sections to note, one near the top of the page and a
second section near the end. This is the summary of the meeting and
comments by both the FAA and AMA. Frankly, I am becoming increasingly
concerned about the direction this is headed. This is one point from the
briefing noted in the minutes:

• Glowacki indicated they are looking at a 400 ft. cap (within certain
distances of airports and populations); lateral distances of 1500 feet
from the pilot in command location, visual observers, no nighttime
operations and the need for a pilot training

So the FAA is considering imposing a 400 foot hard altitude cap near
airports and "Populations", whatever that may be. Of greater concern is
the possible requirement to not fly more than 1,500 feet away from the
pilot. Soaring especially will be heavily impacted by such a
requirement, but let's be honest, pattern and IMAC planes can get that
far out as well. The altitude cap will also be an issue. Depending on
how the FAA defines "population" it may mean that a large number of
venues will have a 400 foot altitude cap.

At any rate, I wanted to make sure that you three were aware of the
status. I am not sure what any of us can do, and the AMA is working hard
to protect our interests, but in the end the FAA is free to do as they
please. The only good news, if there is any, is that this is perhaps 2
or more years down the road.

Here is the page on the AMA site with more information:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/news/ama-faa.aspx

You can keep track of where we are on this page. You can also contact
Rich Hanson, who is the AMA person in the lead of the AMA effort to work
with the FAA on the rules that will affect us.

Rich Hanson

Bill Malvey

Well I guess we can all start flying foamies that will fix the noise problem !

Sadly this has been coming, but so is noise control.. agree, sad day when the fun police steal our fun!
Don

Don, any reasoning on why?

Hey Gil, we heard about this over a year ago, and the ama has been working hard to find a solution for all parties, and keep all happy! Other than security reasons i've never heard of any other reasons.
Don

anything we can do about it don?

tony

Hi Tony, at this time the AMA is lobbying nd working very hard for us. Stand-by as i get more information, we may need more help from the troops.
Cheers:
Don

Do you think writing our senators and representative would help too?

Could not hurt, and may prove to heighten their awareness!
Don

I sure know that I want to fly the Big Boys. LOL Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! : )

We'll get to take out the ASC score. We'll be flying VERY small boxes!