AMA To FAA: Hold Irresponsible ‘Drone’ Operators Accountable | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.07.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.08.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.09.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.10.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Sat, Aug 15, 2015

AMA To FAA: Hold Irresponsible ‘Drone’ Operators Accountable

Organized Hobbyist Community Also Calls For Final UAS Rules And More Education To Enhance Safety

Sometimes you just have to stand up and question authority, and that's just what the leadership of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has done following the FAA's release this week of data that shows a sharp increase in "drone" sightings by pilots of manned aircraft. The AMA says the FAA needs to get its own house in order on the issue.

“The increase in sightings of unmanned aircraft highlight the need for stricter enforcement of existing federal regulations and for the FAA to finalize its small UAS rules," said AMA executive director Dave Mathewson in a statement released Thursday. "Whether flying a commercial UAS or a model aircraft, there are rules that prohibit careless and reckless operations. We support the FAA taking a more aggressive approach to assessing civil penalties against operators violating those rules.

“In addition, one of the most immediate things the FAA can do to increase safety is to finalize its small UAS rules. The draft rules will enhance safety by requiring everyone who wants to fly to either follow the safety programming of a community-based organization (CBO), like AMA, or follow new FAA rules for commercial operators.

“For nearly 80 years, our members have safely operated model aircraft through community-based safety guidelines. Our more than 176,000 members know where to fly and where not to fly. Unfortunately, the same is not always true for the legions of new ‘drone’ flyers increasingly taking to the skies.

“That’s why AMA worked with the FAA and the unmanned aircraft industry to create the Know Before You Fly campaign. It is our hope to share our safety practices and make common-sense guidelines more accessible to people increasingly taking to the skies.

“Finally, AMA would also like to see a more in depth analysis of the FAA data on ‘drone’ sightings and be able to review investigative findings for each of these reports. More detailed information will enable UAS stakeholders to more precisely target their education and other efforts to enhance safety.”

FMI: www.modelaircraft.org

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 07.11.25: New FAA Boss, New NASA Boss (Kinda), WB57s Over TX

Also: ANOTHER Illegal Drone, KidVenture Educational Activities, Record Launches, TSA v Shoes The Senate confirmed Bryan Bedford to become the next Administrator of the FAA, in a ne>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 07.03.25: Sonex HW, BlackShape Gabriel, PRA Fly-In 25

Also: DarkAero Update, Electric Aircraft Symposium, Updated Instructor Guide, OSH Homebuilts Celebrate The long-awaited Sonex High Wing prototype has flown... the Sonex gang tells >[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 07.10.25: ATC School, Air Race Classic, Samson School

Also: Sully v Bedford, Embraer Scholarships, NORAD Intercepts 11, GAMA Thankful Middle Georgia State University will be joining the Federal Aviation Administration’s fight ag>[...]

Rick Kenin New Board Chair of VAI

30-Year USCG Veteran Aviator Focusing On Member Benefits The Vertical Aviation International Board of Directors announced its new leadership officers in April, and all began their >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC