SteveMann said:
the AMA is the organization that you should belong to if you are a a hobby, park flyer. But if you expect the AMA to represent UAV flyers to the FAA, you will be the first to be thrown under the bus when it benefits their core members.
That is a little harsh. In fact, AMA is working towards getting the FAA to allow what they call "purposeful use." Meaning that if you are a farmer, and you are the one who owns and flies a drone, then there is no reason you cannot use it yourself. However, you would not be able to do it for your buddies. That seems like a decent compromise. But I see no reason why anyone wold expect the AMA to represent anyone other than their members. By that logic EAA should represent corporate jet pilots.
Their middle name is "model" and our multi-rotor aircraft aren't a model of anything.
Exactly. I keep saying that multicopter AP is a great hobby, but it is NOT model aviation as it has been known for almost 6 decades now.
There is nothing the AMA could do. They have historically been reluctant to change, reluctant to accept multi-rotor aircraft, reluctant to support new technology, but, at their core, they will never say or do anything that might promote commercial use.
Perhaps. As I noted above, they are looking favorably on personal commercial use. Realtor using his Phantoms, etc. But if you want to fly pipelines, for Hollywood, etc., that is a different thing.
As I have tried to say several places, I strongly encourage people to come to the AMA Expo in Ontario, CA this weekend. All but one speaker is a drone oriented person and there will be TONS of multicopter stuff there, way more than the pitiful "LA Drone Expo" that we got reamed $45 to attend.
For the record, I guess I am an old fart. I have been in the AMA for 48 years. I served as an Associate VP in District X for several years and have run nearly 50 contests of various kinds. I've flown giant scale aerobatics, pattern, IMAC, helicopters (nitro and electric), soaring (slope racing, thermal, scale), and just plain sport flying. I have two Phantoms, and I like them as a tool, but they are a snooze to "fly". I never feel like I am flying them, I merely operate them. But I love taking photos and video with them. It augments my second hobby of photography. Maybe someday I'll get an airframe that I can take my Canon 5D up on!!