Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 East Memorial Drive Muncie, Indiana 47302

(800) 435-9262 | Membership Services | www.modelaircraft.org

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5161 East Memorial Drive Muncie, Indiana 47302 

(800) 435-9262 – Membership Services

www.modelaircraft.org

“SEE	AND	AVOID”	GUIDANCE

A.	General:

1.	The	primary	means	to	avoid	collisions	between	all	aircraft	flying	within	our	National	Airspace	System	

(NAS)	is	“See	and	Avoid.”

2.	Vigilance	must	be	maintained	by	each	person	operating	an	aircraft	(whether	model	or	manned)	so	as	to	

“see	and	avoid”	other	aircraft.

3.	Model	aircraft	must	avoid	manned	aircraft.	Our	privilege	to	fly	model	aircraft	in	the	NAS	depends	on	our	

commitment	to	remain	“well	clear”	of	manned	aircraft.

4.	Simply	avoiding	an	actual	collision	is	not	enough.	A	“near	miss”	is	not	acceptable.

5.	Unless	flying	at	a	mixed-use	site	where	manned	and	model	aircraft	routinely	share	airspace	through	

their	own	site-specific	rules,	model	aircraft	must	fly	sufficiently	far	away	from	manned	aircraft	so	as	not	to	

create	a	collision	hazard.

6.	Model	aircraft	flying	must	not	only	be	safe,	it	must	be	perceived	to	be	safe	by	the	greater	manned	

aviation	community.	Modelers	must	continually	demonstrate	their	respect	for	the	safety	of	manned	

aircraft	by	remaining	vigilant	and	well	clear.

7.	Whenever	a	potential	conflict	arises	between	model	aircraft	and	manned	aircraft,	the	pilot	of	the	model	

aircraft	must	always	give	way	to	the	manned aircraft.

8.	The	pilot	of	a	model	aircraft	must	never	assume	the	pilot	of	a	manned	aircraft	can	see	the=	model	or	will	

perform	any	maneuver	to	avoid	the	model’s	flight	path.

9.	Visual	Line	of	Sight	is	required	by	the	Safety	Code.	It	means	that	visual	contact	with	the	aircraft	must	be	

maintained	without	enhancement	other	than	by	corrective	lenses	prescribed	for	the	model	aircraft	pilot.	

All	RC	flying	must	remain	clear	of	clouds	smoke	or	any	other	obstruction	to	the	line	of	sight.

10.	“Blue	Sky”	is	a	term used	to	explain	the	method	used	to	increase	separation	between	a	model	and	a	

manned	aircraft	in	the	same	vicinity.	The	modeler	should	maneuver	the	aircraft	in	such	a	way	as	to	

increase	the	amount	of	blue	sky	perceived	between	the	model	and	the	manned	aircraft.	By	increasing	the	

blue	sky	separation,	the	question	about	depth	perception	is	taken	out	of	the	equation	and	the	modeler	

need	not	worry	whether	the	model	is	closer	to	him	than	the	manned	aircraft	or	further	away.	Increasing	

the	blue	sky	between	the	model	and	the	manned	aircraft	automatically	increases	separation	between	

them.
Academy of Model Aeronautics 5161 East Memorial Drive Muncie, Indiana 47302

(800) 435-9262 | Membership Services | www.modelaircraft.org

Academy of Model Aeronautics

5161 East Memorial Drive Muncie, Indiana 47302 

(800) 435-9262 – Membership Services

www.modelaircraft.org

11.	A	modeler	should	never	place	any	consideration	for	the	well-being	of	the	model	aircraft	above	the	

safety	of	manned	aircraft.	Maneuvering	to	avoid	the	conflict	may	require	that	the	model	aircraft	be	

sacrificed.

12.	Free	flight	models	should	not	be	launched	with	relatively	low	altitude	manned

aircraft	in	sight	and	downwind	or	headed	downwind	from	the	launch	site.

B.	Spotters:

1.	Before	a	flight,	the	pilot	must	insure	that	the	spotter	understands	his/her	duties

and	expectations.

2.	A	spotter	should	be	used	to	assist	in	monitoring	the	surrounding	airspace	for	manned	aircraft	whenever	

a	flight	is	expected	to	exceed	400	feet	above	the	ground and	that	operation	is	expected	to	be in	proximity	

to	known	manned	aircraft	traffic such	as	at	a	mixed-use	facility	or	within	three	miles	of	an	airport.	The	

spotter	must have	sufficient	visual	acuity	and	be	mature	enough	to	take	this	responsibility	very seriously.

3.	A	spotter	should	also	be	prepared	to	assist	his/her	pilot	in	the	event	that	another	model	aircraft	or	

spectators	become	endangered	or	in	turn	are	perceived	to	be	a danger	to	the	pilot	or	the	pilot’s	model	

aircraft.

4.	If	a	model	aircraft	pilot	experiences	what	he	or	she	considers	a	near	miss with	a	manned	aircraft,	that	

model	aircraft	pilot	should	notify	AMA	Headquarters with	a	written	report	of	the	incident,	including	action	

taken	by	the	model	aircraft	pilot to	avoid	the	manned	aircraft.	This	report	is intended	to	help	the	modeler,	

the	club, and	the	AMA	capture	as	much	detail	as	possible	so	that	it	may	be	used	to	assist	all parties	in	

recalling	the	particulars	of	the	incident	at	a	later	time.	Call	1-800-435-9262 (1-800-IFLYAMA)	extension	230	

or	251	for	assistance	with	this	report.