anyone know the biggest rc plane you can make without a license?

Bricks

Master member
Bricks, this is not correct. A FRIA only provides exemption from remote ID rules. We are required to comply with all other FAA regulations in a FRIA. The max size of a small UAS is 55 pounds. This is also the limit of AMA club guidelines.
There are waivers that you can apply for thru AMA if you want to be totally legal. There are many 1/4 scale and up that are way over 55 pounds being flown.
 

Piotrsko

Master member
Regs say faa administrator approvals, nothing mentioned about AMA submission, although they could have one in their back pocket for quick applications
 

Bricks

Master member
Regs say faa administrator approvals, nothing mentioned about AMA submission, although they could have one in their back pocket for quick applications
It is for flying in FREA fields you mean to tell me your field does not have large scale planes over 50lbs? Go on YouTube many videos of large RC aircraft try Flying Giants forum, not near as busy as it used to be.
 

Houndpup Rc

Elite member
Not all people follow the laws..... go on youtube and you can find all sorts of airframes which are to heavy and drone that are faster than 100mph ect.
 

Mid7night

Jetman
Mentor
Bricks, this is not correct. A FRIA only provides exemption from remote ID rules. We are required to comply with all other FAA regulations in a FRIA. The max size of a small UAS is 55 pounds. This is also the limit of AMA club guidelines.

There is not a hard 55lb limit on hobby-RC planes, that's precisely why the AMA has safety guidelines to help people build and fly large models safely.

The only FAA requirement for RC-hobbyists, NOT operating for profit, is that they operate in accordance with the safety guidelines of a Community Based Organization.

The Flite Test Community Association (FTCA) is also a CBO, and if you fly in accordance with the FTCA Guidelines, you are following the law. No need to both with anything AMA related.

RemoteID is separate from any CBO requirements.

So if you fly at a FRIA and are a member of the FTCA (and fly according to their guidelines), you don't need a RID module and you can fly over 55lbs legally, so long as you are NOT operating commercially (that would make you NOT a hobbyist).
 

Thomas B

Member
If I might offer a differing opinion on the over 55lb issue.

The AMA has a large model aircraft program that is used to help models over 55lbs be safer. This program for LMA-1 (over 55lbs) and LMA-2 (over 77lbs to 125 lbs) is considered as part of the AMA CBO safety programming and the FAA allows compliant AMA members to fly aircraft over 55 lbs under this safety programming.

There are no large model aircraft rules tied to a FRIA, so they could be flown at any non FRIA site with an RID as well as at a FRIA without RID.

If FTCA does not have a similar program, I doubt that you can operate large and heavy models over 55 lbs under the FTCA safety programming.
 

DaveM

FPVFC President and CEO
There is not a hard 55lb limit on hobby-RC planes, that's precisely why the AMA has safety guidelines to help people build and fly large models safely.

The only FAA requirement for RC-hobbyists, NOT operating for profit, is that they operate in accordance with the safety guidelines of a Community Based Organization.

The Flite Test Community Association (FTCA) is also a CBO, and if you fly in accordance with the FTCA Guidelines, you are following the law. No need to both with anything AMA related.

RemoteID is separate from any CBO requirements.

So if you fly at a FRIA and are a member of the FTCA (and fly according to their guidelines), you don't need a RID module and you can fly over 55lbs legally, so long as you are NOT operating commercially (that would make you NOT a hobbyist).
The FAA Does indeed have a 55 lb limit in regulations. The small UAS which includes RC airplanes has a weight range from 0.55 to 55 lbs.
 

Piotrsko

Master member
While local organizations ranging from HOA's to city councils may append Faa regs otherwise, @DaveM is correct. Myself, I would worry more about the Feds, since they get all excited about penitentiary incarceration that city councils cant access. From what I have heard a city jail is a luxury hotel compaired to fed incarceration.
 

Thomas B

Member
The FAA Does indeed have a 55 lb limit in regulations. The small UAS which includes RC airplanes has a weight range from 0.55 to 55 lbs.
That is the limit, UNLESS you are operating under the programming of an approved CBO that has a system that has additional criteria for the safe recreational operation of large model aircraft, as the AMA does.

Other CBOs could set up similar programs if they wanted to.