clifwlkr
United States
Offline
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If they actually required you to pass a simple online quiz, I might see some value in this. Also, if they did not require a credit card, I could also more buy into this. Simply go online, take the test, and get your number and id card saying you passed the test. I could build this site to do that for them for a few thousand dollars, not millions. It really is that easy when you remove the financial processing from it.
Instead, we are going to spend millions of tax payer dollars to create this bloated system that will have zero effect. It really does remind me of the FCC and CB licensing. No one bothered, and how many cops arrested people for CB violations? I see this being used very selectively against people that law enforcement does not like for whatever reason, or by a few officers who have a chip on their shoulder about drones.
The reality is the model aircraft hobby used to be expensive, with crashes very likely making it more expensive. Technology has now made it easy to fly, and the barrier to entry is low. So we have more people doing it. If you notice, you can still actually build your own ultralight airplane and fly it with zero registration and training. I know, I have done it. I can still fly my craft full of 5 gallons of gas up into the airspace without so much as any piece of paperwork. Again, the cost of entry is high so they don't care.
I see this first effort being a bomb, and sucking down more of my tax dollars. I am sure there will be follow on steps as they try in vain to reign this in. Meanwhile, the 'big danger' we are trying to prevent is a tiny drone falling onto the white house lawn (recall that someone actually landed a full size ultralight there not that long ago), or claims of 'near misses'. The media just loves banging on drones because it feeds the paranoia that people seem to crave. No one is spying on you with a drone, as you look like an ant unless the thing is up in your face.
All of this 'bad drone operator' hype is just that, hype. Far more people are in danger from cars driving down the street, or a baseball hitting them during that game, than from a drone falling out of the sky.
I really just can't see how any of the proposed rules actually accomplishes anything, is my main problem. I would be the first to sign up (I do for ham radio) if I saw something it would accomplish. |
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