‘‘§ 45507. Special rules 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 Adminis-trator 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 with9
in the programming of a 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
23 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) COMMERCIAL OPERATION FOR INSTRUCTIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.—A flight of an unmanned aircraft shall be treated as a flight of a model aircraft for purposes of subsection (a) (regardless of any compensation, reimbursement, or other consideration exchanged or incidental economic benefit gained in the course of planning, operating, or supervising the flight),
if the flight is—
‘‘(1) conducted for instructional or educational purposes; and
‘‘(2) operated or supervised by an eligible not for-profit organization.
‘‘(c) STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may 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.
‘‘(d) ELIGIBLE NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION DEFINED.—In this section, the term ‘eligible not-for-prof23
it organization’ means an entity that—
‘‘(1) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the In----25
‘‘(2) is exempt from tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
‘‘(3) the mission of which is demonstrably the furtherance of model aviation;
‘‘(4) provides a comprehensive set of safety guidelines for all aspects of model aviation addressing the assembly and operation of model aircraft and that emphasize safe aeromodeling operations within the national airspace system and the protection and safety of individuals and property on the ground;
‘‘(5) provides programming and support for any local charter organizations, affiliates, or clubs; and
‘‘(6) provides assistance and support in the development and operation of locally designated model aircraft flying sites.
