President s PERSPECTIVE /7NF7/Y Advancing technology friend foe Since dawn time advancing technology has driven us higher faster farther man learned start control fire new danger arrived sceneburned fingers dont think took too awfully long after wheel invented someone run over someone elses toes Sticks gave way bow arrow gave way gun Sails replaced oars later replaced steam diesel nuclear Time technology march its own inevitable way advancement technology comes different problems new risks Sometimes dealing risks much greater challenge development new technology Another problem situations risks recognized until significant amount time has passed todays society ones create biggest settlements just think asbestos silicone implants cigarettes name few delicate balance between desire take advantage latest technology desire ensure safety its use side balance people promoting use new breakthrough other side responsible ensuring its safety Nothing completely safe safety side times matter being convinced new technology reasonably safe risks known part creates problems rare risk properly assessed found acceptable causes great problem commonly risk unknown covered up creates huge problem later am reminded period shortly after WW II Atomic Age latest breakthrough promised virtually unlimited energy clean safe importantly cheap US Government created Atomic Energy Commission promote regulate newest advancement technology probably doomed nuclear energy process problem having responsibility both promotion regulation nuclear energy AEC slave two masters let its task promoting nuclear energy dominate its task regulating easy public clamoring new source unlimited energy cart got way out front horse inevitable crash cost billions dollars set back nuclear power half century forever What does have AMA ask think about AMA tasked both promotion regulation aeromodeling dont understand implications reread last paragraph facing advancements technology available aeromodeler public clamoring take advantage Higher faster farther part heritage advancement aeromodeling technology major purpose existence AMA after Academy Model Aeronautics must however recognize allow clamor use new technology outrun knowledge risks might aeromodeling what AEC did nuclear energy last fear makes difficult embrace new technology reservation Compounding problem insurance situation addition promoting regulating aeromodeling major AMA function has become providing insurance modelers chartered clubs site owners Insurance benefit membership applied equally members members higher faster farther scene yet under current system share equally cost increased risk Its obvious solution easy just separate insurance membership charge higher risks sounds easy comes lot costs would drive price higher higher Insurance universal benefit membership entirely different matter regulatory sense selling insurance might able provide base insurance policy restricted normal activities whatever might defined various riders extend policy cover higher risk activities would have would figure out cover clubs site owners making vulnerable target lawsuits Hmmmmn apologies Bard embrace latest technology embrace latest technology question real question isnt whether embrace latest technology will handled New technology integral part aeromodeling hobby will wither up die Its up us figure out regulate its use ensure its safety pay increase risk Till next month 9oJLLc Dave Brown AMA President dbrown@dbproductscom May1998 7