Jim,
When you said the following
What is being hidden behind the smoke screen is pilot qualification. Think about it a moment and review the waiver issue with that in mind. The problem the AMA (and me for that matter) have with raising the weight limits is that there is NO way to insure Fred Flightpack has the skills necessary to fly at those weights. The waiver process allows for that consideration without mandating it for all folks in the hobby.
I hope you weren't talking about me because I am all for installing safety measures that support pilot profieciency. This is my whole point in fact. Why limit all models based upon the skills or lack there of, of some modelers. In addition when the AMA has in the past tried to initiate such a program (turbine waivers) it started out as a complete failure to obatain its objectives. The original turbine waiver was more focused on you knowing how to start up and shut down a given turbin engines rather than focusing on the real issue - Pilot Ability.
In another thread some time ago I saw a poster who actually suggested that all the waiver system did was to give its holders and ego boost! As if you spend all that time, effort and money to learn to fly jets so that when you go to an event (the only time you need to pull out your waiver) you can wow people. Thats crazy. With that said I would expect to see a movement AGAINST a certification system to allow pilots to fly different (dare I say it) Levels of models.
Also, the current experimental waiver that allows heavier-than-55 pound models has been changed to exclude all competition models and the model in question must be flown alone if I am not mistaken. I got a waiver for a 75 pound model to fly in competion in 98 and even with the AMA in attendance there were protests due to all of the loop holes and unanswered questions in the waiver. Seems the waiver left out a few words that left the legitimacy of my model in question to those that choose to interpet the wording in a different way than it was meant. It was almost as if I was watching those famous words "it depends on what the meaning of "is" is"
JR,
I agree totaly with what you said here
I think the AMA should have a certification program for pilots. One level should be for the newbie. One level at something around 20-25 pounds and finally one for jets. There should be a test of ability. Not something subjective, something concrete that is pass or fail in front of those who may certify. If you want to throw in a written test, fine. My own prejudices are based on the fact that we do have some members who are not capable of safe operation of larger or faster planes. I think we have all seen, at one time or another, a new pilot who should not be flying solo, or a bigger plane or a jet. When it comes to any of these certifications, I don't care if it takes the pilot 2 days, 5 years or he never learns. A buddy box seems to be the only way to insure training at any level in a truly safe manner. The pilot must pass or stay at the level he is at.
In fact when Bob Violett wrote up his first draft of his test for pilot experience in order to fly jets I thought it was dead on. Astoundingly a majority of jet pilots thought it was excessive and it went no where.
However for those that want to fly bigger and heavier models and jets too, they would actually expect to see such a system in place if they are qualified to do so, since by the time you are capable of flying such a model you can reflect on what you have learned and what it took to get there and expect to see others who wish to get there follow in similar footsteps.
Regards,