AMA Government Relations:
- Ongoing Airspace Authorization Renewals September 22, 2025By Lucas Rodden, Government Affairs manager | lucasr@modelaircraft.org The AMA staff continues to facilitate Airspace Authorization renewals. This marks the first major wave of renewals since the FAA instituted the current process in 2022. A recap of an Airspace Authorization’s function is provided below. While renewals are progressing smoothly, it […]Lucas Rodden
- FAA Publication on Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Operations August 5, 2025On August 5, 2025, the FAA issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the subject of beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations. BVLOS flights allow a pilot to operate a model beyond the range where the model could be observed and piloted safely with the naked eye through the aid […]Lucas Rodden
- Airspace Authorizations and Appreciating Our Hobby July 18, 2025By Lucas Rodden, Government Affairs Manager | lucasr@modelaircraft.org WITH ANOTHER SUMMER flying season well underway, some members and club officers should be attentive to their records, depending on the class of airspace in which they fly. Many sites operate within controlled airspace, utilizing a Fixed-Site Airspace Authorization, a process that […]Lucas Rodden
- FAA Releases Updated Advisory Circular AC 91-57D: What You Need to Know July 14, 2025The FAA recently released Advisory Circular (AC) 91-57D, replacing the previous version, AC 91-57C. While this latest update is largely administrative in nature, it also incorporates updates resulting from the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act, particularly as it relates to recreational UAS operations. These changes reflect continued efforts to refine and […]Holly Silvers
- Senate Commerce Committee Holds Confirmation Hearing for New FAA Administrator June 12, 2025On June 11, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation held a confirmation hearing for the President’s nominee for FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford, who was previously the CEO of Republic Airways, a regional airline headquartered in Indianapolis. AMA Executive Director Tyler Dobbs was in attendance for the confirmation […]Holly Silvers
- Addressing Executive Orders on UAS June 9, 2025 June 9, 2025On Friday, June 6, the White House released two executive orders concerning Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The first executive order focuses on UAS integration into the National Airspace System and investigating security measures to protect critical infrastructure. The second executive order takes steps to accelerate the commercialization of US drone […]Lucas Rodden
- National Altitude Authorization Briefing May 7, 2025AMA Members, If you fly at an AMA field that’s part of the national altitude extension in Class G airspace released in April of 2025, there are important rules you need to follow—especially when flying above 400 feet. These guidelines help our fields continue operating safely and legally under the […]Lucas Rodden
- FAQ For National Class G 7711 April 23, 20251) Does this apply to my club site?District leadership has been provided with copies of all authorized sites, but members can also view Attachment 1 at the bottom of this page. This document is already embedded in the Authorization PDF but can be difficult to locate depending upon your software. […]Lucas Rodden
- Flying Sites in Class G Airspace Granted Higher Altitudes April 15, 2025AMA is excited to announce that we have been granted a National Authorization allowing our members at AMA club sites in Class G airspace to operate above 400 feet above ground level (AGL) for routine, day-to-day activities. Based on your location in Class G airspace, your site will have a […]Holly Silvers
- Congressional Letter on Tariffs April 14, 2025To address recent concerns by our members and partners, AMA has submitted the following letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the United States House Committee on Ways and Means and the United States Senate Committee on Finance. AMA is engaging with Congress to encourage a path that both […]Lucas Rodden