dklassen said:
Don't forget that the FAA's main beef is flying for compensation, not hobby or park flyers. Flying a quad is no different than flying a helicopter, fixed wing, gliders, etc. Where we've gone astray is with the terminology. Drones, UAV, UAS, blah, blah, blah. We're still flying model aircraft anyone can buy from your local hobby store. Sure, the technology is more advanced these days with FPV, GPS and all that but they are still hobby aircraft, not much different than 40 years ago.
Personally I don't give a crap what the FAA does. I'll keep flying just like I always have.
No-that's not their main beef. And, WE, members on this website, aren't their main problem.
Think about it; there are roughly 7000 of us here-and for the most part, we're here because we are conscientious, safe pilots. We are here to educate and be educated.
However-DJI probably sold close to a Million Phantoms!!! So, the problem is with the other 993,000 people, that are NOT on any website.
They're the ones that take the Phantom out of the box, charge the battery, go out side, fire it up, and start to fly. When they crash-sometimes they come here.....but it's usually the same story. When asked; "What color were the flashing lights on the back?"...the answer is usually; "what flashing lights?"...."what warm up?"...what's a "compass dance?"
WE, are not the problem......but, WE can be a solution. The FAA isn't our enemy. But, they are looking out for everyone's "best interest". What you saw-was a "knee jerk" reaction by them. They tend to do that, a lot. Typical Government Agency(OH, we were supposed to knock on the door first? not kick it down??).
And, the original poster, I believe was a total Troll. I can pick up the phone and call that FAA FSDO office anytime I want. All he had to do was give me a name of who contacted him, and I could have confirmed or denied it, with 1 phone call. He hasn't been seen since.
WE, need to set the example. I know it's easy to come on here and bash the FAA-I'm very guilty of doing that-often. But, I've dealt with them throughout my entire career.
Take a look at DJI's latest firmware release for the new Phantom 2Z(the one with the 3 axis gimbal), and look at the flight restrictions. Nobody asked them to do that....it's called "Corporate Responsibility".
Again-WE aren't the problem. There are 1000 times more people not on THIS site, and some of them, are a problem.