Aero Mail - 2011/06

Aero Mail
Under the Guise of National Security
I just read your article in the April issue of Model Aviation.
Before I go into comments on the FAA model aircraft subject, I
have to give you a little about my background.
I am now 66 years old and retired. Life is starting to slow down
for me. My career started when I was about 8 years old. I used to
watch DC-3 aircraft flying over my house en route from Chicago
to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was always interested in “how did
they stay up there?”.
I built many static model aircraft, which led to rubber
powered, then gas C/L. During that same period I became interested in
electronics. That led me to getting my ham radio license. I now had the two growth seeds for
my career and didn’t even know it. I went to engineering school and there met others interested
in radio electronics and flying.
Cut to the end, I came out of college with a BSEE [Bachelor of Science in Electrical
Engineering], a Private Pilot’s license, Extra Class ham radio license, and a First Class FCC
Commercial radio operator’s license.
And, where did I go for my first job out of college? I put it all together, the love for flying,
electronics, and ham radio. I joined Collins Radio Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. There I
worked as a development engineer in the Avionics Division. I worked on radios that went into
all types of aircraft from Army helicopters to Boeing 727s. One day I even got to go to the
Collins hangar at the airport and watch the USAF Thunderbirds fly in for a radio swap out. Here
I was standing right next to the famous flight team and its pilots. Exciting stuff for a 22-year-old
young engineer fresh out of college. All started with those model airplanes and love of flying.
The Viet Nam War was ending, and Collins was undergoing change. I left and joined
Motorola Land Mobile Communications. Got to work on systems that went to military bases,
U.S. Secret Service, and U.S. Border Patrol. I got to meet some pilots from all walks of life
that I would have never met had I not had the hobbies that were in my life.
The years spent at Motorola (some 33+ years) introduced me to others who encouraged me
to obtain my FAA Instrument Rating and Instrument Ground Instructors Rating. I went on to
get my MBA and completed getting the other three FCC Commercial radio operator’s licenses.
(I have every license from the FCC for operators they can issue.)
In 2001, airplanes hit the WTC [World Trade Center] in New York City. I will always
remember the day. It was the day I quit flying privately. The government and the airlines were
all now clamoring to get private pilots out of the air. They could be a threat to national security.
Private flying took a dramatic turn that day. I haven’t flown since. I felt, and this is just me,
my “freedom of flight” was taken from me. Now I see the same thing happening to model
aviation. Anyone can build a story that is negative to get rid of anything they want. I feel our
country is heading the same way. Anything can be a threat to national security if you build a
good enough story.
As a private pilot and a modeling pilot, I think the government could actually ban, yes ban,
radio controlled models from U.S. airspace. After all any large model aircraft could become a
threat not only to other aircraft in the air but could deliver explosives to many targets, i.e.,
drone aircraft.
I am disgusted with so called “experts” who continue to drum up stories to bring up
programs that are taking away our rights as a free Americans. Now I read in AMA’s Model
Aviation that the FAA could bring harshness to a wonder hobby that is a “trigger point” to
those who have a true love for flying.
The airplane has become one complex flying engineering platform. It encompasses so
many areas of technology. Triggering a young mind today by flying an R/C plane on a
Saturday morning could just be a trigger point of meeting someone who is in engineering, an
air traffic controller, or even a 747 captain. Those contacts open doors.
Our country, and that includes all agencies, needs to evaluate the long-term impact of what
they legislate under the guise of national security. We need to encourage things like model
aviation to foster the talents of younger folks to become our future engineers, technicians,
pilots, and airframe and power-plant mechanics. Decisions today will have a long lasting
ramification on our youth, you know, the kids who look up at an airplane and wonder what
“keeps it up there”.
I sincerely hope this issue is resolved with the least impact on AMA members and their
love for flying.
—Don Backys, P.E.
via email
Support from Tower Hobbies
Thanks to the hard-working people at the AMA for helping the R/C aircraft industry avoid
unnecessary regulation. Tower Hobbies, our customers and our suppliers are fortunate to have
such an active industry organization such as the AMA. MA
—Kevin Hisel
Vice President, Tower Hobbies
June 2011 7
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