green, Larry, and Phoenix, I am pretty much in agreement with your posts. My first thought was the gun registration battle that has been raging for years. I own multiple weapons, am a certified (USMC) expert with all of them, and have no problem with registering them even if it is not legally required yet. My dear brother can say much of the same (I hate to admit it but he is a better shot), except he is diametrically opposed to any registration. (My sister-in-law will not allow a gun registration conversation in the house!) We could continue to use the gun analogy, but I believe motor vehicle registration is a more appropriate point of reference; and we can avoid the passions that gun control discussions bring out in people.
What I heard during the presentation was an exercise in avoiding answers and avoiding responsibility. I also heard a bunch of high paid federal government employees trying (but failing miserably) to justify their reason to be as well as making an enormous power grab. I have had to deal with the VA for a number of years, so it wasn't too difficult to spot the BS.
What bothered me most of all was references to coordination/involvement with law enforcement-local and federal. We have way to many examples of escalation of routine police-citizen encounters which have led to death of the citizen over some really petty offenses--like flashing high beams. Right now, the FAA has civil jurisdiction over aircraft and US air space. These folks want to criminalize what most of us consider to be a hobby (I have no idea what the ratio is between commercial users and recreational users. Anyone that does would do us all a great service by posting that information.) That bothers the hell out of me. I can easily envision violent encounters due to misunderstanding and misinterpretation of hazy vague laws and regulations, and/or just plain abuse of power by some LEOs who shouldn't have the job to begin with. When you have potentially thousands of dollars on the other end of a radio signal, being harassed by some Dudley Doolittle or Barney Fife or worse yet-Roger Ramjet who doesn't know or understand civil aviation laws and regulations or harbors a personal bias against the sound or perceived privacy violations, the potential for an escalating confrontation increases by the second.
From the beginning of my involvement with my UAVs (P2V+), I have resented having them referred to as "drones." For the last decade, the nightly news has been saturated with FPV of military drones (the proper use of the term--drone) raining death and destruction on unsuspecting people from above. Unfortunately, recently substantiated revelations show that only 1 in 9 of the persons killed by military drones were the actual targets. Due to the general public's ignorance, fueled by what I believe is an intentional effort to demonize the term "drone," these bureaucrats (many of which know far less than the average PP member) are going to run amok with regulations and restrictions to the point that our UAVs will rapidly become virtually unusable legally. We are going to be continually bombarded with unsubstantiated statistics like those referred to in the linked article. On top of all there is the Audi A6 ad showing people being attacked by hoards of small black UAVs. There will be a slew of anecdotal incidents reported like the airline pilot who supposedly observed a UAV flying far below him while his speed was something like 250-300 mph--yeah right!
Owners are not completely blameless in this as some have done some really really stupid (read reckless and unsafe) things and then posted them on YouTube and Facebook. We, as reasonable and responsible pilots, need to call them out when given the chance. I recently saw a YT video of an owner of a new P3 flying the damned thing inside what looked like an apartment with his children running around at the same time. I called him out on it, and he responded by saying he was a very experienced UAV pilot so his children were not in danger. BS! We all know every DJI product is perfect when it leaves the factory, right? No chance that he might lose control through no fault of his own and injure his children, right? Naturally, I got flamed big time.
So initially I wouldn't have a problem with registration or even with a safety class or two; but I just know it won't stop there. Licenses, liability insurance, maintenance records, flight logs, medical (eyes) exams if LOS is rigorously enforced, and airworthiness certifications will all follow at some point. A perfect example is the current fight over private citizens' data encryption on their personal digital devices. Apple and Google are fighting the DOJ's demand for a back door, but do you honestly believe DJI would do the same? Another is the DMCA which gave private companies the authority (as opposed to the right) to enter your home and confiscate your computer if the copyright owner believes you (or just someone with access to your IP) had illegally downloaded the last episode of G of Thrones. If you really want to get your panties in a twist, actually read the unclassified version of the Patriot Act. If your hair isn't already gray like mine, it will be by the time you finish. Historically, societies have not had their rights forcibly taken from them very often; the norm is to voluntarily relinquish rights one or two at a time frequently based on irrational FEAR of some perceived or purposely manufactured threat. With our government so completely dysfunctional (the yo-yos making this announcement are living breathing proof of it), we are in a severe cycle of doing just that. While mandatory UAV registration isn't a horrific civil rights violation, a full blown revolution starts with a single shot; and we're way past that point!
I'm not much of a joiner, but with this regulation crap on the horizon, I am looking for the best (politically strongest) organization to join and support. Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Semper Fi!