AMA Safety Program

If you do not have your Part 107 Pilot Certificate and you still want to fly your drone legally, congress has provided an exemption for recreational flyers known as 49 USC 44809: Exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft.  Under section 44809, your drone operation must adhere to all of the following limitations:

(1) The aircraft is flown strictly for recreational purposes.

(2) The aircraft is operated in accordance with or within the programming of a community-based organization's set of safety guidelines that are developed in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.

(3) The aircraft is flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft or a visual observer co-located and in direct communication with the operator.

(4) The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft.

(5) In Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, the operator obtains prior authorization from the Administrator or designee before operating and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions.

(6) In Class G airspace, the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more than 400 feet above ground level and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions.

(7) The operator has passed an aeronautical knowledge and safety test described in subsection (g) and maintains proof of test passage to be made available to the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.

(8) The aircraft is registered and marked in accordance with chapter 441 of this title and proof of registration is made available to the Administrator or a designee of the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.

If you do not adhere to ALL eight requirements, then the exception does not apply and you can only operate under part 107 and you MUST get a part 107 Pilot Certificate.

Notice requirement #2 states that you must follow the safety guidelines of a Community-Based Organization.  A list of FCC-approved Community-Based Organizations can be found here.  One of the Community-Based organizations is the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA).  The AMA has three affiliated clubs in the Las Vegas area.  

The first is known as the Las Vegas Radio Control Club (LVRC Flyers).  They run the airfields at William Bennett and Hemenway Harbor.  The second AMA-affiliated club is the Las Vegas Soaring Club (SVSC).  They have a flying field in the Red Rock area.  

The third AMA-affiliated club is Propnuts of Las Vegas.  They run the Willie McCool Memorial Model Air Park in North Las Vegas.   

The AMA's safety guidelines are listed in their SAFETY PROGRAM HANDBOOK.

Click here or on the picture above to access the

AMA SAFETY PROGRAM HANDBOOK