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The Prez Sez
Hi Folks,
My sincere thanks
to all that came out for the Father’s Day Fun Fly and Club picnic. Mick
Fox put on a fine feast for all the pilots and their families! And of
course, we always welcome the ladies; every touch of class helps.
My particular
thanks to these folks for their help in putting this event on: Mick and
Sherry Fox for the picnic food; Pete Haring, George Benoit and Don Adams
for their help in the administration, timing and records of the event.
As you know the
events this year were the poker hand, fast fly/slow fly, taxi, and roops,
and the event was open to both gas and electric .25 - .61 class
aircraft. All aircraft that were entered were judged acceptable for
flight. We also tried to start this contest early in order to avoid the
high heat. It is my pleasure to report that the contest started
promptly at 0800 and was finished at 0915.
The poker hand was
won by Steve Mason (with 5 10s), with Jerry West in second place and
yours truly in third.
The fast fly/slow
fly was won by Eric Fisher, with Jerry West in second place and Steve
Mason in third.
The taxi event was
won by Steve Mason, with Jerry West in second place and Eric Fisher in
third.
Roops was won by
Steve Mason with yours truly in second place and Eric Fisher in third.
NEWS: AMA Speaks on Behalf of
Members and Sport
from Jay Mealy, Programs Director
AMA Programs Director Jay Mealy testified
before the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee
on Aviation U. S. House of Representatives regarding unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) and the National Airspace System (NAS).
“From the early days of flight, to the development of jet engines, to
the introduction of helicopters, and now unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
and unmanned aerial systems (UASs), progress continues and the safe
integration of new technologies in the National Airspace System (NAS)
must be assured.”
This is quoted from
the Honorable John L. Mica’s opening statements to the Subcommittee on
Aviation’s Hearing on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and the National Airspace
System, held March 29, 2006, in the Rayburn House Office Building in
Washington, D.C.
Congressman Mica went on to say, “While historically UASs have been used
primarily by the Department of Defense (DOD) in military settings
outside of U.S. borders, there is growing demand for both government and
commercial operations of unmanned aircraft in the integrated NAS.”
Complexities and challenges face numerous government agencies in their
assigned task of accommodating the needs of all the potential users and
most importantly ensuring the safety of the system. Because of the
similarities and much confusion surrounding the definition and use of
UAVs and model aircraft, the Academy felt strongly that it was necessary
for our members and sport to be represented at this hearing.
Jay Mealy, a longtime full-scale pilot, has worked continuously with the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and was invited to testify at the
hearing. Knowing the magnitude of potential impact on model aircraft
activities that could stem from regulation of UAVs, Jay defined our
sport and members for the benefit of the committee and reported on the
long-standing cooperation that has existed between the FAA and the
Academy.
Government agencies and private sector representatives were provided the
opportunity to speak on behalf of their individual interests and the
hearing brought to light the major challenge facing the governing
authorities in allocating uses of the NAS.
In a statement defining the Academy’s position, Jay said, “Our request
to this committee is that model airplanes be permitted to continue
operating within the National Airspace System, as we have for more than
70 years, as we commit to tirelessly working with all pertinent
government agencies—in particular the FAA—as we always have, to
guarantee the safe and sound operation of model aircraft in this
country. We request that model aviation not be innocently sucked into a
black hole of regulation, a place in which based on its long and
successful history, it does not deserve to be.”
To read the entire transcript of the meeting, please click on
www.house.gov/transportation/.
Until next time,
stay safe and have fun!
Bill.
Club Meeting
The next
meeting of the MMRCC is scheduled for July 6, 2006 at 7:00 P.M. The
meeting will be held at the Northrop Grumman facility. Personnel are
required to sign-in and sign out for security purposes.
See you at the
meeting……………….Will
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