CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing new laws that could affect business for one Champaign-based company.

The rule changes would apply to unmanned aerial systems. The FAA puts both drones and remote-controlled model planes into that category.

Horizon hobby in Champaign manufactures many remote-controlled products, and model airplanes are one of their most popular. But the FAA is making it harder for the hobbyists who purchase them to use them.

“The big problem is that they’re just going to lose people that buy their products,” says lifelong hobbyist Chris Lyons.

Right now, it is legal for people in rural areas to fly them in open spaces, like their backyards.

FAA proposed regulations will change that if passed. The rule would ban amateur model aircraft from flying in non-designated areas, and would stop adding approved areas where they can do it unless they have remote ID and internet technology. But most manufactured or hand-made ones don’t.

“The FAA is wanting to control the national airspace for safety reasons so that drones don’t collide with full-scale aircraft, and also for commercial reasons so that companies like amazon can deliver packages using unmanned aerial vehicles,” says Lyons.

The FAA gave amazon permission to test drone-delivery service over the summer, and UPS already has full approval for it.

Lyons also says drones and model planes are different, and should not be lumped together under the same regulations.

The FAA is accepting feedback to the proposed regulation changes until March 2nd.

One Horizon Hobby employee we spoke to over the phone says these proposed changes do pose problems, but they are working through ways to meet new regulations if they do go into effect.