From today's news....

[Dave_Trible]

I thought this was interesting

[Dave_Trible]

...

[Mike Griffin]

Merry Christmas Dave

I posted the video of this under my post, THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING.  This thing could have critically  injured this skier if it had hit him. 

Mike

[Dave_Trible]

Hi Mike.  Guess I didn't see it.  Someone at work mentioned it to me and noted it could have killed him.  If they'd have been an AMA member that could have been a big deal for our insurance.  It got me thinking about what it would be like if one came down on the green at the Masters during a championship putt, even if it didn't hit anybody.   Or on the track during a Nascar race.  One thing for sure- it will only get more interesting as time goes on.

Dave

[pipemakermike]

It is clear from the pictures of the item before it crashed that it was a professional unit and we are seeing a lot more of these as the technology firms up. In the UK they are in use all the time at sporting events and can deliver pictures that were not available in the past.  Our television companies have dedicated units operating these things and will have all the necessary insurances and safe operating methods.  For a television and similar things they are a blessing rather than a curse and should not be confused with the recreational use of similar units by untrained/unskilled people.  When RC was in its infancy (pre about 1980) the skill required to operate a model aeroplane for more than a few seconds was completely beyond the casual non-aeromodeller and natural selection quickly grounded them. Our chosen method of flying ensures that the skill level required to operate a controline model remains sufficiently high to discourage the casual person.
It may be that the way forward would be for the AMA and the BMFA in the UK refuse to class these as "model aeroplanes", exclude them specifically from the insurance and leave the government to look after them.

[david beazley]

Those things are like having a running chainsaw (or 4 or 6) flying avove your head.

[Steve Helmick]

Aw, I'm sure OSHA is right on it, and our glorious leader will demand that OSHA become a Global agency.

Unfortunately, people have come to trust the reliability of technology way (WAY!) too much. They fail to realize that Steve

[john e. holliday]

Really,   I mean really, my professional brawler(wrestler) says,  REALLY.