This has been an interesting discussion thread. I'm going to add my two cents worth.
As someone who used to have a private pilots license, I have a lot of respect for the process and responsibilities associated with piloting a plane.
While our drones may be small, they are still capable of entering the national airspace and interacting with manned aircraft. The potential for fatal outcomes associated with this interaction is real and serious.
I am totally OK and in compliance with the new FAA rules for the recreational use of my drones. I believe any responsible adult should be too.
All in all, I think the FAA has done a good job of limiting the brain damage associated with this process. Its registration site works smoothly and is easy to complete. Quite frankly, I get tired of hearing old ideological arguments about government incompetence being used to avoid compliance. They aren't relevant here.
We should be constructively encouraging the FAA to move towards an automated notification system that works as well as its registration process. This really isn't as hard to do as some here might think. It may be just an extension of the existing system that is used to file flight plans. Again, for those who insist the government cannot do anything right, I would suggest that the FAA's flightplan system is an elegant and efficient retort.
Thanks for listening…
Sent from my iPhone using PhantomPilots mobile app
I thought pilots licenses were for life unless surrendered or revoked?