Originally Posted by
MTIPilot
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.
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.