In the Amateur Radio Operator (Ham) world, Operators are licensed by the FCC and you have to show proof of that license before you can buy equipment from reputable dealers. In the past, this has contributed to eliminating most of the "Problem Children" from abusing Ham privileges. However, being able to buy Ham gear via the internet has somewhat degraded the control of access to the equipment by unlicensed operators. In spite of easy access, the problems are still relatively minimal and the FCC deals with the extreme "Problem Children" w/o threatening the hobby or the remaining operators.

A licensed Ham Radio Operator has to prove knowledge of the applicable rules and regulations and understands that if they are violated, the license may be taken away. The license is a privilege! In the good ol'e days you had to be a Ham to use RC equipment. I am not sure why they ever stopped that. But, ... Is what we are seeing today with these RC Idiots a direct result of taking the licensing requirement out of the RC picture?

Also, Hams do not hesitate to correct other Hams when mistakes are being made. If need be, they also bring extreme matters to the attention of the FCC. Hams are essentially "self-regulating," except in the most persistent problem cases. When was the last time you were NOT reluctant to correct some RC bonehead? When someone corrects you for doing something wrong, how do you react? And, then, ... when someone else brings up a legit but unpopular issue, when was the last time you supported the presenter of the issue? We need to overcome these tendencies to be self-regulating.

I am not advocating the FAA licensing us. I do think maybe something along the lines of a turbine wavier (RC Pilot Cert) process could help. Maybe the AMA could run this? Maybe each state (or club) has their own Cert Org which meets the intent of a standard generic set of requirements, etc.? Also, the suppliers need to tighten up who gets their products. No RC Pilot cert (or maybe at least club affiliation) = no RC Planes, etc. With these two steps in place, not only will many of the problem children be averted, but our legitimate flyers will be a lot smarter, and we could be well positioned for "self-regulating." As it stand now, we are not seen as ready for self-regulating. What are you personally going to do to change that perception?