Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

Well, the short of it is that I have you beat with more that 40 aviation experience, not counting USAF service.
But, I did register with the FAA, as that seem to become the norm and was getting feed back that clubs I belonged to was going to require the FAA registrations to fly at their fields. One of the reasons I had no problem registering with the FAA was due to the fact that they already had all of my information, thus what more could they add to it ?

I will consider to fly my larger models, but I to have looked at the smaller electrics, especially since during the winter, indoor flying in our area is becoming quite popular. Again, like you I have looked at some U-Control models as I started with U-Control and may very well end up with them. I may be wrong with this question, but I thought you also had to register U-Control with the FAA ?

Will definitely agree with you that it is a sad state of affairs for our hobby, but I think that it is even sadder for the country.

I just hope that somebody out there ......... DUMPS TRUMP ! Hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

Just because you can pilot full size aircraft does not mean you can pilot RC aircraft. I worked for many years at a national hobby chain store, and many times tried to talk a full size pilot out of starting in the RC hobby with the WW2 fighter. And most of them came in the next time crying about how fast it hit the ground and smashed. I am not saying that I like the idea of passing a flying test, but I have no fear of my flying skills or ability to pass it. I would just hate to think about the long wait to find a person to give me the test.

pkoury

My Feedback: (7)

Control line models only require FAA registration if they are using an RC link to control any feature on the model i.e. a scale model with retracts, flaps, throttle, bomb drop etc. Free flight, standard control line models, and RC models flown indoors are not required to register.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

THIS! So true. Some of the scariest RC pilots I've seen are scale pilots. They understand flight from a left seat perspective, not from a right and left thumb perspective. Some come around, some don't. And always with a warbird too....

049flyer

My Feedback: (18)

Been flying RC for over 45 years and control line before that. After 40 years of flying full scale aircraft, I don't need anymore FAA intrusion into my life.

Modelng is supposed to be fun, and FAA involvement removes all of the fun for me.

I certainly don't want to risk a violation against my license over a model airplane. If I was retired I wouldn't worry about it. If I wasn't flying for a living, I wouldn't worry about it.

And yes, my part of the hobby HAS been severly limited since February. And I'm REALLY mad about it!

The AMA let us down in their quest for money and members. Instead they may go broke paying lawyers to fight the FAA.

They should have drawn a demarcation line to seperate us from the drone/FPV crowd. Such as, any flying machine with any type of camera is not a traditional model airplane and requires further regulation and control.

Rant over. Sorry gents. I'll go back to building my 8.8 oz glider and my Cox .020 sport plane.

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

I will agree with you to a certain extent as to just because I can fly full scale does not mean that I can fly RC. BUT !! I CAN FLY RC !! I built RC models for years, even before I learned to fly them. I just liked building them and just sold most of them or gave them to friends. Finally decided if I was going to build them, I might as well learn how to fly them, thus I did. I'm 73 years old and have building since the age of 8 . Think that I can say I have mastered both the building and flying of RC models.

Not saying that it was any easier for me as it was not, but I did master the RC Hobby. Part of the problem that full scale pilots have with learning RC is that in full scale you feel the aircraft and in RC their is no feel.

If you really want to see some bad pilots in full scale and RC, take a look at Doctors and Lawyers. They think they know everything ! LOL

P.S. You might want to come up to date with all of the proposals and my was sent to the " AMA " and not the FAA for a reason. From what I have been told and the information that I have gathered is that you do not have to worry about a FLIGHT TEST. I have been informed that it would be an " ONLINE TEST " administered by the AMA. Now go figure that one !

If it was to be a FLIGHT TEST administered by the FAA, it would have to be given by an FAA CHECK PILOT. Now, how and where do you think that the FAA could come up with so many qualified personnel ?

fly24-7

As someone who's been a club instructor for many years, I can attest from first hand experience that holding license to fly full scale aircraft does not automatically make one proficient to fly a model aircraft. In fact, a couple of my students that took the longest to get the hang of it were full scale pilots. They found difficulty from always thinking through the "lens" of a first-person perspective (differences in judging position, banking, decent rates, etc. from behind the windscreen). Also, two little transmitter sticks do not equal a control yoke and foot peddles.

At our club, we have a proficiency requirement. EVERYONE is required to demonstrate proficiency and good judgement in operating their models. From the moment they assemble them for flight to the moment they're done flying for the day. Without this check-off, you fly on a buddy box. If ever I heard, "I don't need this sign-off, I'm a licensed ATP." My response would be, "Then you should be able to pass this proficiency evaluation in your sleep, right?" Then, I worry they have something to hide. If you're a proficient practitioner of model aviation, then you should be willing to demonstrate such.

I recently moved from Chicago to Massachusetts and joined a new club. This rule was applied to me as it would be to anyone else. They didn't know me or have any idea if I knew what I was doing. I had no qualms of demonstrating proficiency. A 20 minute time investment on a Saturday morning took care of that. Now, I start the process of demonstrating that I'm a proficient instructor...

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

OK ......... thank you for the information. May just go back to U-Control. Hell, I can fly that in my yards .........

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

As far as I know, all AMA CHARTER clubs have the same requirements and evaluation. Nothing new !

I am a certificated ATP. BUT !! I also knew my limitations and had no problem with taking any and all instructions to forward my ability to fly RC models. Perhaps many do not know their limitations, but I learned very early in life, that no matter how good you think you are ....... THEIR IS ALWAYS SOMEBODY BETTER !

fly24-7

Unfortunately, the club I belonged to back in Chicago did not have such an approach. I recommended instituting such a policy and my fellow board members decided that they were more worried about offending members than ensuring that everyone knew what they were doing. And we had members who's checkbooks trumped their skills and sensibilities. The equipment they flew far exceeded their skills and you always headed "under the pavilion" when they flew. We also had members who were excellent pilots that I learned a lot from over the years...

I also had the opportunity to engage in lengthy discussions with Dave Scott, who I met through a mutual friend. Dave runs an RC school in Wisconsin and is an instructional editor for Model Airplane News. I learned a tremendous amount from him as well, particularly on instruction techniques. There are a lot of great resources in the RC community if one is open minded to continued learning.

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

One thing that I learned very early in life and happy that I did, because I have applied it to real life, full size aircraft piloting and RC Model flying.

The one thing is ........ especially in aviation is that you ............. " NEVER STOP LEARNING "

jeffEE

My Feedback: (5)

All of this FAA registration crap reminds me of the line from the movie "The American President".... " Well then, congratulations. It's only taken you three years to put together crime prevention legislation that has no hope of preventing crime." Substitute Drone for crime and it works pretty good.

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

SO TRUE !

Good movie and now they make them with " Camera Drones ". LOL

RCFlyerDan

My Feedback: (54)

I think some of us are getting too old to be going around in circles!! Especially if some of you have been in this for 40+ years! Good way to fall on your ***** and hurt yourself! I wouldn't want to go back and fly c/l. I am too invested in turbines and large IMAC style planes to give it up. Fortunately, I am also retired and don't have to worry about my certificate or medical to make a living anymore.

astrohog

My Feedback: (1)

Astro

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

Does everyone bagging on the FAA realize that it's not an FAA rule or even proposal y'all are griping about?

It's CONGRESS that (may or may not depending on the final bill) will shove this down the FAA and our throats? Do you think the FAA wants to devote their time and money to administering tests so that we can fly model airplanes?

MTIPilot

My Feedback: (121)

Hi Porcia,

I really don't think a "ban drones" movement is an answer. Instead, as another member stated, the AMA, right off the bat should have educated the FAA, Senate and even the general public on these vast differences. Instead, they took the approach that :"we're all modelers and although we fly different things, we all deserve the protections that the AMA offers. Sounds great, but they really missed the boat with regards to the enhanced capability of autonomous drones. They should have approached them separately, kind of like what they're are trying to do now. Now they're trying to make a distinction between traditional model aircraft and autonomous vehicles, but it's a little late.

rcmiket

Wasn't the FAA directed by Congress to actually come up with a solution to the "drone" issue? Seems like they would have had to have some input as to the content of the bill .

Mike

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

One would think but they didn't have any input on the exceptions we got out of the last reauthorization bill so....who knows.

I can't see them wanting to take on setting up testing for model airplanes.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

No, they don't. (on both accounts). It's easy to place the blame at a federal agency just as it's easy to blame all this on the AMA as well. There always has to be a badguy. As for the FAA, of course they don't want to do this. They have far bigger priorities, much more important things to deal with. People seem to think they are this autonomous entity that just cooks up schemes to get more power. My favorite is when people think they are doing this for money...as if they see a penny from any of these programs. They aren't funded by us...they are funded by yes you guessed it, congress!

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

I agree...banning "drones" would have been useless, and futile. I'll disagree on the rest. I've pointed out previously all the steps the AMA has taken in regards to this issue...the fact is nothing they do or have done will ever be enough for most of the folks here. That's just the way it is. Just like the misdirected anger at the FAA, the AMA gets blamed for all the issues now, as if they could have controlled much of what has happened. It's ironic to watch them get hammered for being to small and not sufficiently funded, yet in the same complaint hammered for not being effective enough. As for educating the public...doesn't matter. The public isn't doing much of anything regarding drones, or our hobby...never have, and probably never will. It's a few select politicians that are doing that, and not because of public outcry, but because of big business.

I don't fault the FAA one bit for getting involved and attempting to get their heads around the concept of thousand and thousands of these things screaming around our collective heads. Left unchecked, is there any doubt big business would take EVERY advantage and put their shareholders and their profits ahead of our safety? The problem is our hobby got involved in this NOT because of what we did or didn't do, but because of what we all fly, and the fact that we are in the national airspace as well. That is where the AMA has come into play...working to get exceptions carved out for the membership. Nobody else is doing that, and considering the size and scope of the AMA, in my personal opinion they are doing everything they can on our behalf. Obviously...that's not an opinion shared by most, at least not here.

porcia83

My Feedback: (8)

Right, to some degree it's a partnership. Do you recall what has happened in the past when agencies just like the FAA have submitted their findings to congress. At times, they are ignored. Is that the fault of the agency doing the work, or the Congress?

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

PLEASE, don't hold me to this statement as I only heard it once this past weekend. But, I was told that their is a way to fly U-Control without standing in the middle of the circle. I was TOLD that the lines are connected to a pole in the middle of the circle and the person / pilot flying the model is on the outside of the circle, flying the model by remote control. It is an RC model, just connected to a pole to keep it going around in circles.

Would love to hear is this is true, or the person that told me about it was just blowing smoke up you know where.

Gizmo-RCU

My Feedback: (27)

In most cases an agency will bring up a proposal to the law- making body and if they(congress in this case) thinks it a good idea they direct the agency to come up with guidelines. Does anyone actually think Congress would come up with
regulations entirely on their own, get serious!

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

If you watched any of the hearings you would know what was going on.