Q-138: I purchased a new RC system that operates on one of the 50 MHz (six meter) recommended RC channels for people who hold the proper Amateur Radio Service (HAM) license. I was led to believe that when using any of the 50 MHz channels that I’m supposed to display a black colored wind streamer at the top of my transmitter’s antenna. This would be comparable to the red streamer that we see on the top of all 72-73 MHz RC channels. I tried to confirm this requirement for black and red streamers in the current AMA Membership Manual, but can’t find any reference to it. What’s the story? Are they still required?
A-138: When the new set of 80 frequencies was assigned to RC two decades back, it came with new restrictions. Fifty frequencies were assigned for AIRCRAFT USE ONLY and thirty for SURFACE USE ONLY. At the time, AMA felt that it was necessary to take extra measures to educate and remind the RC user of this new restriction. The "education reminder" was a red wind streamer for AIRCRAFT and a yellow streamer for SURFACE, appropriately inscribed with the restriction.
Since the newly assigned 50 MHz channels were not so restricted, a black wind streamer without an inscription was employed. If you have a 2001 edition of the AMA Membership Manual, you will see the reference for these streamers (Page 17, paragraph 2.2.3.2.). When the RC portion of the AMA Membership Manual was revised, the wind streamer recommendation was deleted. After two decades it was felt that the aircraft/surface use-use-only restriction no longer required a reminder. The 50 MHz black wind streamer was deleted at this same time.
The current edition of the AMA Membership Manual can be found on the AMA Web site (www.modelaircraft.org) under Publications and finally under 2005 Membership Manual. In this current edition (pages 18 & 19), the requirement for the colored wind streamer is gone. So technically speaking you no longer have to use this streamer. Eventually the RC manufacturers will stop supplying these streamers with new RC systems.
Many of us liked having that wind streamer on top of our antenna to check wind
direction before launching or landing an aircraft. Feel free to go right on
using the streamer. Local clubs may still include the use of these wind
streamers in their local field safety rules. If this is the case, local rules
apply and you are obliged to follow them. A good question and I thank you for
bringing it to my attention.