Letter to Congress

Dear Senator/Representative (Last Name),

I am writing you in regards to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, specifically Title III, Subtitle B of House Resolution 4. I am concerned regarding the rights of the hobbyist model aircraft provisions laid out. There is potential for many people to lose the ability to participate in a hobby that America has enjoyed for 80 years. I understand that the commercial drone industry has been lobbying for more restrictions for hobbyist pilots. I will always support innovation; however, by limiting the rights of individuals to use the skies, future development would become stagnant.

The commercial drone industry has brought many new technologies into current generation models. However, most of those innovations were wrought from the efforts and abilities of the hobbyist community. One company, or even the commercial drone collective as a whole will never match the ability of the masses to create, test, and implement new technologies.

Why We Need Your Help!

Many of your constituents are model aircraft enthusiasts who participate in many different events as a community. Through the competition of drone racing alone, the companies that provide components for model aircraft have driven the evolution that allow both the hobbyist and commercial drone industry to enjoy lighter, more reliable models. As many of the multirotors that we fly are under the 4.4 pound limit (Micro UAS) it would also limit the ability for competition events by requiring our speeds be under 40 knots.

I also know that up for discussion is remote identification technologies, which at the current time are cost prohibitive for the average consumer to utilize in their aircraft. Requiring this would create a price bottleneck that few could afford to implement. This hinders the ability for the model aircraft community to grow and continue to innovate. Model aircraft, specifically multirotors, have been a major inspiration to current STEM classes as well as new innovations in agriculture and mapping.

I want to thank you for your time. I hope that you will support model aircraft hobbyists so we can continue to pursue our passion. Pursuing this hobby has changed so many lives, has inspired countless people, and continues to fuel innovation.

Sincerely,

(Your Name Here)