New operating requirements: Transitioning from Section 336 to Section 349

Written by Tyler Dobbs AMA in Action Column As seen in the December 2018 issue of Model Aviation.

As most of you likely know, Congress passed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, which included new operating requirements for recreational UAS operators. These new requirements do not take effect immediately; it will take time for the FAA to implement the new provisions written into the bill. At this time, AMA and the FAA have created a team to work through the new provisions and discuss how AMA members and events will be impacted. There are new restrictions, such as the 400-foot Class G altitude cap, that would handicap some of the disciplines within our hobby, but the FAA has shown a willingness to address these issues. I remain confident that a solution can be found before this 400-foot restriction takes effect. Although some of the provisions will require closer dialogue and coordination with the FAA in the months and years to come, many of the provisions will give AMA a stronger voice, which I have outlined in the following: • Congress more clearly defines community-based organizations (CBOs) and tasks the FAA to recognize CBOs. • CBOs, such as AMA, are given a more prominent role in shaping future regulations. • Congress codifies elements of AMA’s safety programming into law, including the use of FPV. • The 5-mile airport notification rings are removed, which was a burdensome and often misinterpreted mandate placed on our hobby. • There are no prescriptive remote-identification equipage mandates, allowing AMA to continue to champion for a more reasonable approach and threshold. • Congress allocated $1 million every year to help support education campaigns such as Know Before You Fly, which AMA cofounded. • Congress recognizes the distinction between members of a CBO such as AMA and those “outside the membership, guidelines, and programming” of a CBO. Congress then tasks the FAA to consider different operating parameters for each recreational community. In the coming weeks and months, AMA might ask its members to verify club locations and/or event operating procedures. This data will help us in the implementation process and will help ensure that your operations can continue as they have in the past. If you don’t have an email address on file with AMA, or if you have recently updated your email address, please contact AMA Headquarters to ensure that our information is correct. Rest assured that AMA will continue to work closely with the FAA to limit the impact of the new operating requirements found in Public Law 115-254 (Section 349). For the latest information, including the recently passed UAS operating requirements, please visit www.modelaircraft.org/gov. —Tyler Dobbs Government Affairs & Public Relations Representative [email protected]