[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14607-14608]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07215]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 91

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0396]


Interpretation of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft; Withdrawal

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of interpretation; withdrawal.

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[[Page 14608]]

SUMMARY: This action withdraws the FAA's interpretation of the special 
rule for model aircraft. That interpretation no longer is valid or 
necessary because Congress repealed the special rule for model 
aircraft.

DATES: The interpretation published on June 25, 2014 (79 FR 36172) is 
withdrawn as of April 11, 2019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan W. Cross, Regulations 
Division, Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Aviation Administration, 
800 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone 202-267-
7173; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and 
Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA) established the special rule for model 
aircraft (Pub. L. 112-95, Feb. 14, 2012). On June 25, 2014, the FAA 
published an interpretation of that special rule with a request for 
comments (79 FR 36172). The interpretation clarified, among other 
things, that: (1) Model aircraft must satisfy all criteria of section 
336(a) to qualify as model aircraft and be exempt from future FAA 
rulemaking; and (2) the FAA retains enforcement authority against 
operators who endanger the safety of the national airspace system. The 
FAA received more than 18,000 comments from organizations and 
individuals to the interpretation.
    Section 349 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 repealed section 
336 of FMRA and replaced it with a new exception to conduct limited 
recreational operations of unmanned aircraft without FAA certification 
or operating authority (Pub. L. 115-254, Oct. 5, 2018).
    As a result of the repeal of the special rule for model aircraft, 
the FAA's June 25, 2014, interpretation is no longer valid or 
necessary. Accordingly, the FAA is withdrawing the interpretation. 
Because that interpretation is withdrawn, the FAA will take no further 
action to respond to any comments to the interpretation.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 12, 2019.
Daniel K. Elwell,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-07215 Filed 4-10-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P