Through all this AMA/FAA discourse, the safety record of the RC world has been mentioned time and time again as an argument against any new regs, laws, etc. And I will admit, the 80 history of the AMA is a record to be proud of but, it's not perfect.

So let's just consider something.

How many RC (drones) models were flying on any given day 80 years ago?
What percentage do you think might have been associated with the AMA at the time?
And how many full size were flying on any given day 80 years ago?
And how many RC flying fields were within 5 miles of an ATC controlled airport?

Now, how many RC (drones) models are flying on any given day today?
And what percentage do you think are associated with the AMA today? (20% based on FAA drone registrations compared to AMA membership)
And how many full size do you think are in the air today? (5000-8000 over the US on any given day)
And how many RC flying fields are within 5 miles of an ATC controlled airport today?
What do you think the chances of an model to full size accident are today compared to 80 years ago?

Point is, safety record be damned, the risks have gone up considerably. And the last thing the FAA, Congress or even the AMA want is several hundred passengers dead due to some idiot with some kind of RC Aircraft.

I`m certain the last thing any of us decent people want is innocents dying at the hands of idiots. 911 comes to mind and I think those who are fighting the good fight knew the ones who pulled off such a horror were not idiots. So those of us who want to fly unmanned aircraft for fun are tasked with ever increasing patience when it`s called for in order to preserve the privilege if at all possible. I`m just saying I think the world is a far more dangerous place in a lot of ways than it was 80 years ago.