Originally Posted by
ira d
There is no reason that a modeler should have to try to contact a airport that may be five miles from them in order to fly if at a rc site. Now as for clubs that are within five miles
of a airport they should send a letter to the airport informing them of their location and then it should be the airport informing incoming and outgoing traffic of the rc site.
I do think if someone is not at rc site and they know there is a airport within five miles of where they plan to fly they should contact the airport. I also think the AMA and
the FAA should work together to identify all rc sites that or within five miles of each other and the FAA should provide contact info for the airports.
I also think that most airports would not welcome the increase in phone traffic if every body was to call to inform them they are going to fly.
Unfortunately,
ira d, you and I do not have the choice when it comes to Hobby / Fun / Recreation, etc over the government's prevention programs, when HARM to PEOPLE is the possibility code.
Be honest with yourself, would you really want to trust some letter of maybe months ago placed away in a computer or file to be the
item that is the Personal Safety machine for Real People in REAL Airplanes? As a flier of real people carrying machines - sometimes just me - but mostly after the USAF time, it was with real people that trusted my expertise to get them safely to a destination, I can do whatever is required to keep RC flying a safe operation for those people. (41 years total, 28 airline) In
my opinion this love of the drones, etc,, especially FPV, has made the system far more liable to hurting people than prior to the drone's initiation into the skies.
As a long time aero-modeler, and full scale flier, I personally can live with some minor reporting of position when it is for the safety of other persons. Been there done that in a number of situations, both military and airline. It is almost painless. For certain grabbing the phone, calling a number and asking if RC is OK today, well heck if it ain't, O.K. so beer-call comes early. As Scarlet O'hara said, "Tomorrow is another day!" This note could go on all day, but for me the buck stops right here.
Enjoy your FOURTH!
