Interesting thing happened to me.

Shepherd said:
Every radio control club that I have ever belonged to has mandatory airspace briefings every month at the scheduled meetings. If there are any changes, such as TFR's etc, those notices get sent to members, and are posted at the club flying field.
In addition to FAA regulations, we have AMA regulations, and local club regulations that are rigorously enforced.
With the exception of other RC fliers on the site, I'll bet there isn't a single pilot here who can name a single regulation related to RC aircraft.
Did you know that there are occasionally requirements for full scale aircraft to give way to models? Never covered that in the written exam, did they.
I rest my case.
Click to expand...

I did not know that. When would I yield to an RC plane?
 
It seems to me that the FAA is trying to hold their ground right now and make it known that they can regulate recreational model aircraft. Kind of interesting since the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (now public law) contains the following:
Section 336 said:
SEC. 336. SPECIAL RULE FOR MODEL AIRCRAFT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law
relating to the incorporation of unmanned aircraft systems into Federal
Aviation Administration plans and policies, including this subtitle,
the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may
not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft,
or an aircraft being developed as a model aircraft, if—
(1) the aircraft is flown strictly for hobby or recreational
use;
(2) the aircraft is operated in accordance with a community-based
set of safety guidelines and within the programming
of a nationwide community-based organization;
(3) the aircraft is limited to not more than 55 pounds unless
otherwise certified through a design, construction, inspection,
flight test, and operational safety program administered
by a community-based organization;
(4) the aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere
with and gives way to any manned aircraft; and
(5) when flown within 5 miles of an airport, the operator
of the aircraft provides the airport operator and the airport air
traffic control tower (when an air traffic facility is located at
the airport) with prior notice of the operation (model aircraft
operators flying from a permanent location within 5 miles of an
airport should establish a mutually-agreed upon operating procedure
with the airport operator and the airport air traffic control
tower (when an air traffic facility is located at the airport)).
(b) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall
be construed to limit the authority of the Administrator to pursue
enforcement action against persons operating model aircraft who endanger
the safety of the national airspace system
Click to expand...

Of course Paragraph B is kind of a cop out that pretty much lets them do whatever..but clearly the intent wasn't that they would be spending money and resources trying to regulate recreationally operated RC aircraft.
 
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