ORIGINAL: khodges
I haven't posted in this section of the forum before; I've tried following the different threads in order to try and understand where our hobby is going, but it gets too political for me most of the time. I don't doubt the necessity of rules, regulation, and their interpretation, I think there has to be a certain amount of order and consistency. I don't really know where I am going with these thoughts, so I'll address some thoughts from the above, and from these other posts.
I don't know what the "new rule" states, regarding autonomous models, but it sounds like before long, all models will have to have some sort of tracking mechanism on board. Would a model aircraft, using the traditional meaning, that has an on-board video system that enabled the operator of said model to fly it beyond his "normal" visual limits, or out of his direct line of sight, then be classified as an UAV? How about the limited range of our transmitter/receiver system as a determinant of what is a model and what is an UAV? What about flight altitude? I can't see models as much of a threat to FAA controlled aviation when we rarely fly more than a couple of hundred feet high and within a fairly restricted boundary, this in itself seems a good separation of what is a model vs. an UAV. At most that could be handled in the same manner as model rockets have been for years, with FAA waivers into controlled airspace and areas specified on aeronautical maps.
I'd probably think of other scenarios given time. I just worry that regulation of this sort will hurt the hobby by driving some people away, and discouraging others from starting. Most of us just want to buzz around the patch on sunny weekends "in" our stick and cloth contraptions. Mavbe those who want more should consider another level of the hobby, with more regulation and a minimum requirement of expertise, also similar to what has happened to high power rocketry over the last ten years with certification levels as one desires to fly bigger and higher. I hope I haven't completely missed the point.
khodges-
You haven't missed the point at all; in fact you seem to have a much better than average grasp of it. The safety code was recently overhauled by a few of AMA's most able and respected, and they did a fine job. Not perfect, as there were limits and constraints placed on their charter, but in my view they stretched those conditions to the limit of what could optimistically be expected to gain approval to make it less restrictive and less ambiguous. WRT autonomous operation of models in particular, the new rule goes beyond my expectation toward reason than I thought possible in the current administration. I thought what resulted was entirely consistent with what major proponents of autonomous model flight have publicly stated they were seeking. A few, including one that that has long been an icon of modeldom and inspiration for me, are not yet satisfied with it though, and I'm looking for them to post specifics regarding what more needs to be done to give them the freedoms they seek.
Abel