[HCRA] FAA Drone Registration

[Alan Dove]

Hey, folks:

I don’t want to turn this into a flamewar about federal regulation, but as a pilot I want to point out that amateur-flown drones present a far greater threat to real aircraft than many hobbyists realize. These things are easily capable of taking out engines and windshields if struck at speed, and the new control systems make it way too easy for folks to stray into controlled airspace with them. The FAA had relied on a “common sense” approach to regulating model aircraft for decades, but a number of recent close calls showed that sense is no longer common enough. As usual, a few idiots made things worse for everyone else, so now all RC pilots need to register. I’m not happy that this was necessary, but it was.

Yes, birds also pose a serious threat to aircraft and always have. The difference is that drones are operated by humans who should know better - and who can and should be held liable for whatever damage they cause. Registration is the mechanism for that.

          —Alan (AB1XW)

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Alan Dove, Ph.D.
Web: turbidplaque.com
Phone: 917.273.0544
Skype: alandove
Twitter: @alandove