So many have come to think of hobbyist drones as a threat to the security of our nation, when in truth the true threat is elsewhere. Also commercial interest in delivery drones has caused much pressure against regular Americans who like to fly these miniature aircraft.
The latest gobbledygook is that all drones must display their FAA license number on the outside of their aircraft. When previously the number could be inside of the battery compartment. Per Engadget, “officials from other agencies were concerned about the risk a concealed explosive device poses to first responders who must open a compartment to find the small unmanned aircraft’s registration number.”
To me this is just silly as what is going to prevent the application of a fake number and depending on the size of the lettering and its placement the first law enforcement personnel that come upon the scene may not be able to find the drone’s FAA number.
What is even more stupid is the assumption that explosives would be planted inside of drone, such as the ones that most hobbyists fly. These aircraft are already are crammed full with electronics inside their shell with no real room for any significant amount of explosives. While it is possible on the large hobby aircraft and I mean large! It is very unlikely for even these large models to have much room either.
This is all about the uninformed public officials not being very realistic and fantasizing about something that has been seen in fictional stories for years. Just because someone thinks that it is possible does not mean that it will work well enough to be effective.
Another excuse is that, it is “to help law enforcement and security officers identify drone owners easier and faster.” Why is that going to help? It is just as easy not to put a valid FAA number on as it is to put a real one on. The assumption that this will help with identification of a terrorist equipped drone vs. an innocent hobbyist one is just ridiculous!
And just to clarify what a drone is to the FAA, they call them Unmanned Aircraft Systems and define them as follows, “Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) come in a variety of shapes and sizes and serve diverse purposes. They may have a wingspan as large as a jet airliner or smaller than a radio-controlled model airplane.” What the public thinks a drone is really a weapon of war used by our armed forces for reconnaissance and as an attack aircraft controlled remotely. Not exactly what a hobbyist flies is it?
So it is time to stop this hysteria and cutback on these panic button rules. Common sense should be used and not wild fantasizing.
That is my opinion- Jumpin Jersey Mike
