Emphasizes Education In Letter To ICAO

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has sent a letter to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) correcting misinformation about current recreational unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) regulation and sightings and emphasizing the importance of education in promoting airspace safety.

In the letter, AMA President Rich Hanson writes: “Unfortunately, as drones have become more popular in recent years, there has been a significant amount of misinformation about the existing laws recreational UAS pilots must follow. Even those who work on drone policy sometimes inaccurately characterize the current regulatory regime governing UAS. This is why AMA has worked diligently for years to educate the public on the laws and the basic guidelines for flying responsibly.
 
“For existing drone laws to work, they must be followed. And if they are not followed, there must be consequences. Increased education for the public and increased enforcement against careless and reckless operators is critica,” he said.
 
In addition to correcting misinformation, AMA emphasized the importance of enforcing the current drone laws. AMA urged ICAO to consider the full picture and the existing regulatory framework when creating Standards and Recommended Practices for drones, and when making recommendations to the United States on UAS regulations.

(Source: AMA news release. Image from file)

FMI: Full letter