AMA Government Relations:

FAA Finalizes Process to Expand Remote ID Authorizations for Clubs Near Airports in Uncontrolled Airspace March 14, 2024
On March 8, 2024, AMA and the FAA finalized procedures to expand Remote ID Authorization exemptions to include clubs on or near sensitive locations in uncontrolled airspace. Previously, only AMA clubs in controlled airspace with letters of agreement with air traffic control were eligible for this type of authorization; however, […]
Holly Silvers
FAQs for Remote ID Sanctioned Event Waiver and Authorizations February 28, 2024
Q. What are the available FAA waivers/authorizations for AMA sanctioned events? A. AMA sanctioned events are eligible for both Remote ID authorizations and/or altitude waivers. Remote ID authorizations are for any AMA sanctioned event. This authorization allows AMA members to operate at sanctioned events without broadcasting Remote ID information. Altitude […]
Holly Silvers
FAA Grants National Authorization for AMA Sanctioned Events February 27, 2024
In January 2021, the FAA commented in the Final Rule on Remote ID, that “Though FAA-recognized identification areas would not be authorized for temporary use, the FAA expects that instances such as air shows or temporary drone racing events would be handled, where warranted, through authorization from the Administrator to […]
Holly Silvers
Discretionary Enforcement of Remote Identification Ends February 26, 2024
On March 16, 2024, the FAA’s discretionary enforcement period for remote identification (Remote ID) of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) ended. The following is a quick refresher on the topic and how to comply. Q: Who needs to comply with Remote ID? A: All radio-controlled aircraft that weigh more than 0.55 […]
Ben Flesher
Senate Passes FAA Reauthorization Act of 2023 with AMA’s Amendment Included February 9, 2024
On February 8, 2024, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation passed the bipartisan Senate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023. The legislation includes several provisions to strengthen safety standards and oversight at the FAA and responds to safety concerns from recent aviation accidents and near-misses. […]
Holly Silvers
AMA Submits Public Comment to the FAA January 22, 2024
The FAA’s Office of Airports is looking to change the definition of “aeronautical activity” and exclude recreational UAS/model aircraft from this definition. This could create an issue with clubs and events that AMA have on airport properties around the country that receive FAA funding because this money is often prohibited […]
Holly Silvers
How to Use the FAA’s UAS Facility Map to Search for FRIAs January 22, 2024
AMA has successfully obtained FRIA status for the majority of our chartered clubs’ flying sites. If you’d like to identify where FRIAs are located across the country, there are a couple of ways you can do that. One option is for members to use AMA’s Club Finder. Click here for […]
Holly Silvers
Remote ID Compliance and Resources January 17, 2024
As a reminder, the FAA will be ending its Discretionary Enforcement Policy for Remote ID compliance on March 16, 2024. Radio-controlled operators must then comply with Remote ID requirements through Standard Remote ID, use of a broadcast module, or by flying at a FRIA site. AMA has shared with the […]
Holly Silvers
AMA Secures Higher Altitudes for Sanctioned Events December 27, 2023
AMA is happy to share that we have signed a new Letter of Agreement with the FAA to continue to provide higher altitudes for AMA sanctioned events in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace for 2024. The AMA event sanctioning process currently includes an assessment for operations to be approved up to […]
Holly Silvers
Club Finder Updated for FRIA-Approved Club Sites October 3, 2023
Many of our clubs have been granted FRIA (FAA-Recognized Identification Area) status for their club’s flying site. We have updated the club finder on our website to reflect which locations have been granted FRIA status, as well as added an option to search for FRIA-approved clubs within a certain mile […]
Holly Silvers