The Experimental Aircraft Association has thrown its support to the new remotely piloted aircraft safety campaign, “Know Before You Fly,” during the 2015 Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Expo.
The campaign provides prospective operators of remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) — also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — with the information and guidance they need to fly safely and responsibly.
The effort is being spearheaded by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and the Small UAV Coalition in partnership with the FAA.
“There are tremendous opportunities to discover flight within the unmanned aircraft community, and we welcome initiatives that emphasize the responsibility that comes with this freedom,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “EAA has always maintained that education is more effective than regulation, and the ‘Know Before You Fly’ campaign is a great step toward ensuring that this new technology does not disrupt the vibrant aviation activity already in place in America.”
The founding organizations of the campaign represent the vast majority of RPA users and manufacturers. It is the organizations’ hope that the campaign will help ensure the safety of the skies for all aircraft, both manned and unmanned, according to officials.
“AMA represents approximately 175,000 modelers and 2,400 flying clubs around the country, and safety for us has always been a core principle,” said Bob Brown, president of AMA. “As a co-founder of the campaign, this is a unique and important opportunity to show others that flying model aircraft can be a fun experience and best when done as safely as possible. We are thrilled that EAA has decided to join us in our campaign.”
“There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm around UAS, and we are pleased to see the campaign continue to grow as we spread the word about safe and responsible flying,” said Michael Toscano, president and CEO of AUVSI. “We want to ensure that all prospective operators know what they should and should not do with an unmanned aircraft, and the ‘Know Before You Fly’ campaign will serve as an important educational tool in that effort.”
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) also recently signed on as a supporter. The campaign plans to team up with manufacturers and distributors to inform consumers and businesses about what they need to know before taking to the skies.
The campaign includes a website, educational video, point-of-sale materials and a digital and social media campaign to ensure that prospective operators have the information and guidance on what they need to know before they fly a UAS.