Comment by Joel on December 9, 2010 at 8:43pm

I'm not agreeing with the fact that the Air Traffic Controller was not notified, because they should have been... but seriously, a small foam wing, which isn't flying higher than any buildings!? the only reason a plane would be that low at that location would be if it were already going down!

Comment by Duane Brocious on December 9, 2010 at 8:50pm

Why can't I walk or ride my bicylce in the car lanes?

Why can't I throw water ballons at cars?

Why can't I skateboard in the Mall or on the sidewalk?

Answer those and you will understand why a faomie is a potential hazard.

Comment by Joel on December 9, 2010 at 8:58pm

A kite is a potential hazard. It could divebomb into a car.

A real plane is a potential hazard.

A real heli is a potential hazard.

A bird is a potential hazard.

Going to a baseball game is a hazard(ball flying at you at 80++ mph.

Going outside getting sun related cancer is a hazard.

Pollution is a hazard.

 

I agree it is a potential hazard. When I went to an AMA airshow a few months ago I made my son(2 1/2 years old) stand behind me while some things flew(mostly close rc helis). They were hazards. Life is full of hazards, but flying a small foam plane which isn't even going much higher than a building and is a pusher would not be considered any more hazard than the others I mentioned.

 

As I said, IMO he should have contacted the airport just to let them know. I'm pretty sure if he called them and said "Um yes i'm going to be flying my toy radio controlled plane above the river" they would have said yeah sure okay, thanks for letting us know.

Comment by Joel on December 9, 2010 at 9:02pm

The only reason the FAA is making these regs is because commercial and public use is needed. We just happened to get affected as well or it "wouldn't be fair"

Comment by Joel on December 9, 2010 at 9:03pm

Driving a car. Airplanes. I won't even attempt to add up the amount of deaths related to those lol. but both seem to be legal...

Comment by Duane Brocious on December 9, 2010 at 9:36pm

300 million cars driven daily vs a few hundred recrational FPV users. I hope there would be less incidents. Space flight has even less accidents. Apples and Oranges.

Just a few years ago the AMA lost a multi-million dollar lawsuit when a control line plane crippled a spectator. The reason was the "AMA safety test" damaged the control arms.

Then there was the girld disfigured in Fla by an RC helicopter.

Don't pretend these things are not dangerous. You are just giving the FAA more fuel for the fire. FAA, "These guys havenl't a clue about safety. Let's shut them down."

Comment by Greg Fletcher on December 9, 2010 at 9:37pm

Chill Duane, If I drove a little monster truck down  a busy side walk or in the mall I would be made to stop. There are all ready general purpose laws for this like disorderly conduct or what ever. You can still get water balloons and skate boards and they are still legal. Yes this guy was really pushing the edge with this stunt, but as he said it was to prove a point. You just don't get the point.. He wasn't flying in the mall and wasn't buzzing people on the side walk or street, was he. If you were in Miss Liberty's crown you might have noticed it, but no one got hysterical and called the DHS.I agree 100% with Joel. You can go to the local hobby shop and get rocket moters. Hmm ,what could a creative and dastrdly person person do. Rocked motors are not banned, but if you want a realy big one you need a certification from other rocket people, like HAM radio operators do. That is the model that should be taken, not a legal or not issue. Times are different now than when they were formed, and I don't have much hope for a reasonable regulations. I hope I'm wrong.

 

Comment by Joel on December 9, 2010 at 9:41pm

So yes, as you pointed out again, there is a potential hazard. Just as everything else.

 

Pointing out that there is a hazard, but there are hazards with many things which are legal does not fule the fire. It will show the FAA that we understand the potential hazards and are willing to take steps to minimize them(such as airbags on a car).

 

Even at an AMA event there are potential hazards. All I am saying is that certian people make rc planes to be very dangerous. It is not very often you see anyone get hurt. If you look at the percentages of car injuries vs rc injuries you will see this...

 

Keep in mind it will be hard to find an actual percentage of RC related injuries because they do not happen often, but if you do a google search, i'm sure you can get some good statistics on car related inuries.

Comment by Greg Fletcher on December 9, 2010 at 9:42pm

Duane, Just who do you mean when you say "shut them down", and how would you propose they  (us) be shut down?

Comment by Joel on December 9, 2010 at 9:44pm

BTW, i'm not just talking FPV, i'm also talking regular rc users. FPV is equally dangerous in my eyes. And actually if you try a flight sim, FPV makes mroe sense because you are flying from the point of view of a pilot. With a regular rc plane you have to keep in mind orientation from your position. nose in, nose out etc.

 

(assuming the FPV pilot stays within line of site. If he leaves that then yes you can deal with loss of signal etc. But if he stays within LOS then he has the same possibilities of failer as the regular RC pilot.

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