OK, everybody it looks like it's time to vent.
I have made a life and living working in aerospace, and feel very fortunate to have been able to go the places I've been and to do the things I've done as a result of this career choice. I am still working in this field and hope to be able to retire only after it's been forced upon me.
A large part of what led me down this path in my life, was the chance to participate in model aviation. This hobby taught me paticence, persistance, mechanical skills, and more than that, was the beginning of my education in reading and following plans, drawings and instructions in order to successfully construct, finish, rig and fly all manner of model aircraft.
Now, on to the reason for this rant.
As a result of the irresponsible and idiotic use of the multi rotor miniature aircraft that have become so prevalent. Those of us that have participated in this hobby/sport for many generations and decades, are staring down the possibility of being forced to register with the Federal Aviation Administration and comply with rules that are far too restrictive and unreasonable.
You see, there is already a set of rules that us responsible modelers have followed for a very long time. These rules can be found at the Academy of Model Aeronautics web site at https://www.modelaircraft.org/files/105.PDF.
If you take the time to read these rules, you will find that those of us that are members of the AMA are required to conduct ourselves in a safe and conscientious fashion. That we are a social community that are enthusiastic about our hobby and helping others that share similar passions. You will find that those of us that are AMA members only fly our models at dedicated fields that were specifically set up for our hobby/sport. For the most part, the only time we might fly away from a dedicated field, is to do a demonstration for an airshow or for educational purposes at local community schools. Always with safety as a prime consideration.
Contrast this with the new era of the digital "look at what I'm doing on facebook" crowd, coupled with the easy availibility of no the skills required to operate or construct multi-rotor flying machines.
The one thing I have heard from this group more than anything?....They want and to go and fly their camera carrying multi-rotor craft someplace other than a dedicated field for the purpose of taking movies or pictures". Now in some instances this is not a problem and their goals pose no danger to persons or property. Then there's the other group.
These are the folks that show no care or consideration for the safety or privacy of others, and these are the people causing the problems.
Let's get a couple things cleared up. Not all miniature flying machines are drones, but all drones are miniature
flying machines. You see, a "drone" has the ability to operate in an autonomous fashion. A mode that needs no input from it's operator and can also be flown beyond the VISUAL RANGE of the operator. This is done with on-board computers and GPS technology
Those of us that responsibly participate at dedicated fields for model aircraft will not operate a drone in this manner to a point that it is beyond visual range of the operator. Also, there is the relatively new technology of miniature video transmission and reception that allow for what is known as "First Person Viewing". This is also a very popular thing for "drone operators" to play with as they recklessly launch their multi-rotors into the sky.
For us to operate such a "drone" at a dedicated model aircraft field requires that the operator have an "observer" with him at all times during operation of the "drone". The observer is there to assist the operator with calling out any possible hazards and to possibly take over control of the craft using his direct line of sight perspective to prevent any danger to persons or property.
I have hopes that our community based organization, the Academy of Model Aeronautics can find some way to successfully persuade the FAA to make the new registration requirement and the severely restrictive rules that go along with it apply only to those individuals,flying multi-rotor or even more conventional fixed wing or rotorcraft actual "drones" at locations other than those set aside for the dedicated use of model aircraft. And leave the rest of us that have been enjoying this hobby/sport for generations and decades alone.
Don't just assume we are all the same.
I have a few select names I use to refer to the folks that are causing us these problems. The terms, "paste eater", "bed wetters", "bottom feeders", "nun punchers", "puppy kickers" , "seat sniffers" and "window lickers" all come to mind. But I have done my best to refrain from throwing these around in my rant.