This will probably get a bit long but if people want to understand the history and why we are where we are now then read on. We as a community need to do something!
For many decades the AMA existed with fixed wing airplane flying at sanction fields under specific guidelines and really there were no major newsworthy issues, this extended well into the 80s. In the late 80s beginning of the early 90s helicopters became one of the new fads and the fixed wing aircraft people at the fields sanctioned by the AMA for the most part did not care for them. There were groups of Heli pilots but they were not openly accepted (even in some places to this day still) into the fixed wing world at the fields. Many even started their own sanctioned AMA fields just for Heli's because the old-school people did not care for them. Now 20 years later we have the introduction of drones. They fall under the same premise as RC aircraft so they have been bunched in with the RC helicopters and planes of the past. The problem that has occurred is that they are not really flown the same way that people have been flying conventional RC aircraft for decades. With the drone explosion and the inception of cameras and such a stable platform where anyone can learn to fly within minutes instead of having to take weeks to build and then months to learn how to fly it changed the entire dynamic of RC aircraft forever. For the most part up until this point people flew at sanctioned AMA fields within the control line area and away from people. Now there are people taking drones out everywhere in areas that are safe and areas that are unsafe and flying them in ways which at times can be unsafe. Couple that with the fact that they now have cameras and there are millions of people out there who feel like their privacy is being invaded by these devices and it has brought a lot of negative attention to RC aircraft in general. The reality is the technology that is packed into these new drones make them a product that is not really geared for flying back-and-forth doing aerobatics at a controlled field. They are a unique device that allows people to expand their horizons in videography and photography from an aerial point view as well as enjoy FPV.
So now let's split this into two separate issues; first you have the AMA people who have now had their lives turned upside down due to this new technology and yes there are many that are not very accepting of it. It is progress and it is not going to go away so for that matter there has to be some type of middleground. But you will never take away the animosity that many people have because of the history and the changes that have now occurred to something that they have been doing their entire lives with no issues or no involvement from the government.
Your next major issue is that for the most part drones as we see them especially with a camera platform are not meant for the same type of flying as a remote control helicopter or plane has been made for in the past. There are new obstacles that now must be addressed because what good is a camera on a $1,000 platform flying around looking at an open field with a bunch of people parked in a line at the bottom of it. The power that these new devices have open up a whole new world for people to view and it is a challenge that must be addressed separately but is now being bunched in together with the devices that were not really intended for that purpose.
The people that are buying drones are not interested in the same type of flying as the people that are flying at sanctioned AMA fields with their helicopters and airplanes. Even though all these devices are RC aircraft they are two completely different worlds and everyone seems to be missing that point.
There really is no way for the FAA (or ama) to be able to say RC helicopters and airplanes do not have to register when drones do. They are up against it for the simple reason that they cannot with a viable reason make a distinction between RC helicopters and planes and drones. To them they are remote control devices that are flown in the air. The whole line of sight issue is another topic completely.
So basically what now has occurred is the only organization out there that has dealt with remote control aircraft for decades (Ama) is now trying to deal with this issue and the fundamental things that they don't realize is even though they are all remote control aircraft you are talking about apples and oranges. The AMA is not a bad organization. They have their pros and they have their cons but for what has existed prior to this drone invasion they have done a great job at keeping things in line and keeping the government out of what is considered a hobby. There now needs to be an adjustment for this because the new technology has surpassed the laws and regulations and guidelines which people have been following for decades. I completely understand how the people that are flying drones today do not see any benefit of the AMA. In all reality for the type of flying that they do the AMA guidelines are restrictive. There is no organization fighting for what guidelines should be set for these people. But the reality of it is there is no one fighting for these people so the AMA has taken them under their wing and is trying to do what they think is best. Is it what's best, that is surely an opinionated question that has thousands of answers.
The bottom line is that whether you agree with the AMA or you disagree with them and you agree with or disagree with the registration, something needs to be done in regard to the way that many bad apples have been flying the drone's and putting people in danger. It has now caused a level of concern due to where people are flying and the fact that these devices have cameras which people have a great misconception about. That is and will always be a recipe for regulation.
Everyone can sit here and agree or disagree about all of the pending issues including our rights, regulation and security. Whether people want to admit it or not terrorism in the world has changed the way we live forever and that just throws fuel on this fire. Unless some type of organization, whether it be the AMA or someone else, does something to address this issue in an organized fashion the people flying drones today will be whipped around by all of the arguing and laws and regulations and will end up where the dust settles simply because there is no organization or financial backing to fight for anything different.
So where do we all go from here? Well I can tell you this we are all going nowhere sitting here arguing with each other while everyone else, whom no one agrees with, is fighting the battle.
The bottom line is with the new capability of these drones from a ease a use perspective and a privacy perspective with the cameras that they have attached they are without a doubt going to be regulated due to all the millions of people out there who have not taken the time to understand what they're real capabilities are. Unless we as a community can find someway to team up with manufactures or some other entity with the financial backing we will be herded like sheep into the regulated pasture of our lives as drone pilots. With us now all of the AMA helicopter and airplane pilots will also be put into that pasture and that now will cause a bias between the two communities that will last for many years. Just as there is still 20 years later a bias towards helicopter pilots at some aircraft fields.
Follow the dollar everyone and you will come to the end of where things will be because that is what drives everything these days.
Whew.... I wouldn't really call that a rant but that IS the reality of things.
Now please everyone take a deep breath go out and fly to remind yourself of why we are all here!
For many decades the AMA existed with fixed wing airplane flying at sanction fields under specific guidelines and really there were no major newsworthy issues, this extended well into the 80s. In the late 80s beginning of the early 90s helicopters became one of the new fads and the fixed wing aircraft people at the fields sanctioned by the AMA for the most part did not care for them. There were groups of Heli pilots but they were not openly accepted (even in some places to this day still) into the fixed wing world at the fields. Many even started their own sanctioned AMA fields just for Heli's because the old-school people did not care for them. Now 20 years later we have the introduction of drones. They fall under the same premise as RC aircraft so they have been bunched in with the RC helicopters and planes of the past. The problem that has occurred is that they are not really flown the same way that people have been flying conventional RC aircraft for decades. With the drone explosion and the inception of cameras and such a stable platform where anyone can learn to fly within minutes instead of having to take weeks to build and then months to learn how to fly it changed the entire dynamic of RC aircraft forever. For the most part up until this point people flew at sanctioned AMA fields within the control line area and away from people. Now there are people taking drones out everywhere in areas that are safe and areas that are unsafe and flying them in ways which at times can be unsafe. Couple that with the fact that they now have cameras and there are millions of people out there who feel like their privacy is being invaded by these devices and it has brought a lot of negative attention to RC aircraft in general. The reality is the technology that is packed into these new drones make them a product that is not really geared for flying back-and-forth doing aerobatics at a controlled field. They are a unique device that allows people to expand their horizons in videography and photography from an aerial point view as well as enjoy FPV.
So now let's split this into two separate issues; first you have the AMA people who have now had their lives turned upside down due to this new technology and yes there are many that are not very accepting of it. It is progress and it is not going to go away so for that matter there has to be some type of middleground. But you will never take away the animosity that many people have because of the history and the changes that have now occurred to something that they have been doing their entire lives with no issues or no involvement from the government.
Your next major issue is that for the most part drones as we see them especially with a camera platform are not meant for the same type of flying as a remote control helicopter or plane has been made for in the past. There are new obstacles that now must be addressed because what good is a camera on a $1,000 platform flying around looking at an open field with a bunch of people parked in a line at the bottom of it. The power that these new devices have open up a whole new world for people to view and it is a challenge that must be addressed separately but is now being bunched in together with the devices that were not really intended for that purpose.
The people that are buying drones are not interested in the same type of flying as the people that are flying at sanctioned AMA fields with their helicopters and airplanes. Even though all these devices are RC aircraft they are two completely different worlds and everyone seems to be missing that point.
There really is no way for the FAA (or ama) to be able to say RC helicopters and airplanes do not have to register when drones do. They are up against it for the simple reason that they cannot with a viable reason make a distinction between RC helicopters and planes and drones. To them they are remote control devices that are flown in the air. The whole line of sight issue is another topic completely.
So basically what now has occurred is the only organization out there that has dealt with remote control aircraft for decades (Ama) is now trying to deal with this issue and the fundamental things that they don't realize is even though they are all remote control aircraft you are talking about apples and oranges. The AMA is not a bad organization. They have their pros and they have their cons but for what has existed prior to this drone invasion they have done a great job at keeping things in line and keeping the government out of what is considered a hobby. There now needs to be an adjustment for this because the new technology has surpassed the laws and regulations and guidelines which people have been following for decades. I completely understand how the people that are flying drones today do not see any benefit of the AMA. In all reality for the type of flying that they do the AMA guidelines are restrictive. There is no organization fighting for what guidelines should be set for these people. But the reality of it is there is no one fighting for these people so the AMA has taken them under their wing and is trying to do what they think is best. Is it what's best, that is surely an opinionated question that has thousands of answers.
The bottom line is that whether you agree with the AMA or you disagree with them and you agree with or disagree with the registration, something needs to be done in regard to the way that many bad apples have been flying the drone's and putting people in danger. It has now caused a level of concern due to where people are flying and the fact that these devices have cameras which people have a great misconception about. That is and will always be a recipe for regulation.
Everyone can sit here and agree or disagree about all of the pending issues including our rights, regulation and security. Whether people want to admit it or not terrorism in the world has changed the way we live forever and that just throws fuel on this fire. Unless some type of organization, whether it be the AMA or someone else, does something to address this issue in an organized fashion the people flying drones today will be whipped around by all of the arguing and laws and regulations and will end up where the dust settles simply because there is no organization or financial backing to fight for anything different.
So where do we all go from here? Well I can tell you this we are all going nowhere sitting here arguing with each other while everyone else, whom no one agrees with, is fighting the battle.
The bottom line is with the new capability of these drones from a ease a use perspective and a privacy perspective with the cameras that they have attached they are without a doubt going to be regulated due to all the millions of people out there who have not taken the time to understand what they're real capabilities are. Unless we as a community can find someway to team up with manufactures or some other entity with the financial backing we will be herded like sheep into the regulated pasture of our lives as drone pilots. With us now all of the AMA helicopter and airplane pilots will also be put into that pasture and that now will cause a bias between the two communities that will last for many years. Just as there is still 20 years later a bias towards helicopter pilots at some aircraft fields.
Follow the dollar everyone and you will come to the end of where things will be because that is what drives everything these days.
Whew.... I wouldn't really call that a rant but that IS the reality of things.
Now please everyone take a deep breath go out and fly to remind yourself of why we are all here!
