I see nothing wrong in prohibiting "Remote Controlled Aircraft" in the same venue where families come to picnic, and where small children can play on the grass. (I also like to see parks where dogs not allowed where children play).
Someone mentioned Columbus Park, in Tucson. This is a dedicated model aircraft (and boats) facility. People do not go there to picnic on the grass. That makes it safe for model flying.
Well, that sounds good from a liberal point of view but like most things liberal it simply isn't true.
The facility at Columbus park in Tucson is a true "Multi-Use facility". There is a picnic area and a Covered area with tables immediately adjacent to the modeling area. Also the Dog pound area volunteers use the area to walk dogs from the pound every day. We modelers have priority in certain areas at certain times and are permitted, like other users, to reserve the entire area during certain times like a contest etc. However other groups like Dog show clubs also reserve and use the area during certain times. There is even a Car Club that has reserved the area a few times for fancy car shows!
It should also be noted that even during contests sometimes there will be people on blankets etc. on the grass adjacent to the flying area (outside the temporary ropes we provide of course) enjoying being spectators and often lunch!
All it takes for this to work is simple cooperation on the part of the parties involved. I won't say there has never been any problems but certainly none that couldn't be worked out with cooperation!
We here are blessed with a Parks Department that tries very hard to understand different requirements of different groups and makes an effort to abide those requirements.
Also each group that uses the area has adopted an attitude of cooperation and tries to accommodate the others. For instance the Dog users are very careful to police their droppings etc. and generally do a very good job. Even though there are dozens of dogs walked there daily there is almost never any "residue" left from their accommodation.
Likewise, we modelers try very hard to always police our trash etc, after any sessions, especially contests.
Recently a portion of the area has been designated for use by the Quad Copter folks during certain times and it has not presented any real problems to date. It turns out that those folks are mostly very nice people also!
Multi-use facilities can work very well providing the organizers and property management adopt an attitude of cooperation rather than and attitude of Usurpation of privileges and simply banning what they don't understand.
It has always astounded me that the very people who like to think of themselves as "Liberals" seem to be the most likely to immediately adopt this attitude toward things they disagree with!
I would of course add that the only thing not permitted in this venue is the flying of fixed wing R/C type aircraft. This certainly makes sense due to the restricted area and lack of space for "flyout areas". There simply isn't enough room and there are several very good facilities close by in Tucson for that type of aircraft.
Randy Cuberly
Topic: Just glad I dont live here (Read 2057 times)