well Mongo...if you look at some of my other recent posts on various threads following safety concern issues, I'm sure you'll see my views. But I guess being concise here is kind of hard for such an important issue. I'll try
I have a few different feeling. First, I don't think that rules targeting different specific segments are that great of an idea. As shown they are doing a LOT to divide the membership. Bad Juju man. The whole 'targeting' segments thing in my opinion, and this is just my opinion, smacks a small bit of favoritism and mis-understanding/fear, coupled with solving insinuated liability issues (percieved or not...I'm no expert) and a desire on the part of the EC to 'right' some perceived safety issues with-in the RC community. That being said.........I do believe that some reg. is a given. Can't get around that one. Could some of these issues be boiled down to blanket regulation which could be applied to various groups w/safety concerns??....I'm sure they could and will. Plus you can't really enact every regulation at the same time, so one type of reg. concerning certain segments of the community before others is only to be expected I guess (ie-jet waivers). When groups point and say...'that's dangerous too'....I think it's only a matter of time before that too may be regulated. Is it a vicious cycle...?? Maybe.....

As far as how much danger I'm personally willing to accept (my 'assumed risk')......well personally I'm a daring kind of guy, so my level may be considerably higher than the average Joe. But I don't think that because of this that others should be subject to my standard. I do, however, believe that the safety of all others aside from those taking that 'assumed risk' is paramount to the survival of our sport!!!!! Some things are worth rules, and I think that no matter who you are and what risk is involved for the modeler, protecting the general public should be a big part of any 'safety rules'. I assume the risk going to the field. That risk includes anything from fliers period (newbies, warbirds, jets, helis, 3D/acro, Giant, etc...), to open props, weather conditions, and yes....even falling down and hurting myself (the majority of all claims!!)

I feel that the biggest mitigating factor that can reduce my assumed risk in going to a fly site would be distance. This would be the only regulation that I would desire....safe distance to me. I mean....if anyone wants to go out and stand next to their heli or 3d while doing a maneuver......that's all them. They're assuming that risk. If someone wants to go out to the flight line, or be with-in a dangerous distance when a newbie is flying...or a warbird is doing a low/fast pass....or a jet....or whatever....that's their prerogative. If I don't ...I'll wait!! [8D]

OK....rambled too long......
sorry if I missed anything....it's sleepy time <yawn>
next

Brian

Brian