District I Needs Your Help
Whether its the size of an R/C toy or a 30,000 lb Global Hawk, Drones, Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles/Systems (UAV/UAS), and R/C Model Aircraft share the same definition. They're defined as any powered aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, can be expendable or recoverable, and can carry a lethal or non lethal payload. Fueled by the news media, Congress, state legislators, the general public and others view these UAS as threats to individual privacy and public safety. In the absence of state or federal laws regulating the flying of UAS, Representatives around the country have drafted bills to regulate and/or ban the flying of unmanned aircraft. The proposed legislation prohibits using UASs for surveillance, gathering information to use in court, and equipping UASs with devices that could harm humans or sensors to monitor any person or private residence. Some legislation also bans UAS flying within city limits and/or transporting UASs through cities.
AMA members support reasonable legislation for privacy protection and public safety however these regulations often fail to take into consideration the significant differences in the use and operation of model aircraft from public, civil, and commercial UAS categories. Unlike other UAS functionality, model aircraft flights are not mission oriented or flown beyond visual line of sight and are not primarily autonomously flown or used for armed attacks, surveillance, and the sale or retention of aerial images.