“I’ve been flying RC aircraft for more than 50 years. Why do we just need FAA regulations now if it hasn’t been a problem for half a century?”
I’ve been flying full size aircraft for nearly forty years. Only once did I have a problem with an RC aircraft. I was in the traffic pattern for the airport, and I had a RC P-51 Mustang flying next to me.
I hate additional regs, but drones are the hot commodity and irresponsible people are getting their hands on them. We’ve always had regs about drones. The regs prohibit aircraft operating in certain areas, such as restricted, prohibited, or areas where ATC communication is required. So if you operate an aircraft (drone or otherwise) in those areas, you are violating regs that have been around for decades.
Do we need new regs? I dunno. But the guy who flew one toward the White House was probably in violation from the moment it departed due to the proximity of the regulated airspace surrounding the White House.
“Do we need new regs? I dunno. But the guy who flew one toward the White House was probably in violation from the moment it departed due to the proximity of the regulated airspace surrounding the White House.”
Exactly! It’s already heavily regulated airspace in the vicinity of the White House.